Uncle Ray Brings Curtain Down On 70-year Career

Hong Kong DJ “Uncle” Ray Cordeiro announced on Thursday that he’ll be hanging up his headphones for good after his show on May 14, bringing to a close a career that has spanned seven decades.

“As a DJ, I have a very strong bond with my listeners and have long been unwilling to say goodbye to them,” the 96-year-old said. “I have put off this moment for as long as possible, but the situation created by the pandemic has now made it unavoidable.”

“I have found working these past many months in the presence of Covid-19 difficult, especially knowing that I am in the high-risk demographic both for the virus and the vaccination.”

Uncle Ray was born in Hong Kong in 1924, and has devoted his life to the development of local radio broadcasting and music.

He hosted his first show, “Progressive Jazz”, on Rediffusion in 1949.

Cordeiro joined RTHK as Head of Light Music in 1960, and started his “All the Way with Ray” in 1970.

Besides nurturing local young musicians like Joe Junior, Teddy Robin and The Playboys and Sam Hui and the Lotus, Uncle Ray also interviewed global pop stars such as the Beatles, Cliff Richard and Tony Bennett.

“I have been lucky to have had a career that has brought me so much joy; a career which I have mostly spent playing music and mixing with renowned local and international artists,” he said in a retirement announcement.

His longevity as a DJ was recognised by the Guinness World Records in 2000.

Uncle Ray’s final episodes of “All the Way with Ray” will air on Radio 3, with his final show on May 14. He’ll be back as a guest on Radio 2’s ‘Reunion’, to share details about his newly released autobiography.

“Making the choice to retire will leave a great void in my life. But the memories will never fade and the dreams will never end,” he said. “I sincerely thank RTHK, and my listeners, fans and friends for the enduring support you have given me and my show.”