Ren Yan

Biography

Ren Yan is a Chinese singer born in 1961 in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, who later resided in Japan. She grew up in an artistic family; her mother sang local opera and her father was a well-known amateur stage actor. From childhood she loved singing and imitated the singer Guo Laning. She studied under teacher Li Gaoruo from the Heilongjiang Song and Dance Troupe. In 1978, at age 17, she passed the audition for the Central Song and Dance Troupe in Beijing, thanks to the intervention of troupe director Cheng Yun after being recommended by erhu player Zhang Xiaocheng. In 1979, she performed the composer Gu Jinfen's song "Vice-Chairman Zhou Spins Thread" during a tour to the Guangxi frontline, receiving great acclaim. She became Gu Jinfen's first disciple, and the composer wrote songs specifically for her such as "The Shining Star" and "Orchid and Butterfly." The latter was selected by Central People's Broadcasting as "Song of the Week" and aired repeatedly every day. In 1980, Ren Yan first performed "Young Friends Come Together" at the Beijing Workers' Cultural Palace, and later participated in the "Rising Star Concert" organized by the Beijing Evening News, where she sang "Orchid and Butterfly" and "Sister Seeks Brother, Tears Flowing," achieving sudden fame. The China Record Company released her albums which set sales records.