{{Short description|Hong Kong broadcaster and DJ (1924–2023)}} {{Use Hong Kong English|date=January 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} {{For|the Cuban baseball coach|Reinaldo Cordeiro (baseball)}} {{Infobox person | name = Ray Cordeiro | honorific_suffix = {{postnom|country=HKG|MBE|SBS|size=100%}} | image = China Coast Jazzmen with Ray Cordeiro 2008 (cropped).jpeg | caption = Cordeiro in 2008 | birth_name = Reinaldo Maria Cordeiro | birth_date = {{Birth date|1924|12|12|df=y}} | birth_place = Wan Chai, Hong Kong<!-- DO NOT LINK, see MOS:GEOLINK for further guidance --> | death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|01|13|1924|12|12|df=y}} | death_place = Ma Liu Shui, Hong Kong<!-- DO NOT LINK, see MOS:GEOLINK for further guidance --> | other_names = Uncle Ray | occupation = {{hlist|Broadcaster|disc jockey|actor}} | website = {{Official URL}} | module = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes|order=ts | c = 郭利民 | y = gwok leih màhn | j = {{Jpingauto|Gwok3 Lei6 Man4}} }} }}
'''Reinaldo Maria Cordeiro''' {{Post-nominals|country=HKG|MBE|SBS}} ({{Lang-zh|c=|s=|t=郭利民|order=ts}};<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://hd.stheadline.com/news/columns/0/20180223/648231/|title=Executive日記——長壽DJ停播疑雲 Uncle Ray動人舊歌|work=頭條日報 Headline Daily|access-date=1 June 2018|language=zh-HK}}</ref> 12 December 1924 – 13 January 2023), known professionally as '''Uncle Ray''', was a Hong Kong broadcaster, disc jockey and actor.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/arts-music/article/1006141/record|title=For the record|date=8 July 2012|work=South China Morning Post|access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref> He was known for hosting ''All the Way with Ray'' on RTHK Radio 3 from 1970 to 2021, which was the longest-running radio programme in Hong Kong. He was named "The World's Most Durable DJ" in 2000 by the Guinness Book of World Records.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2123885/bittersweet-93rd-birthday-veteran-hong-kong-dj-uncle-ray-he|title=Bittersweet 93rd birthday for DJ 'Uncle Ray' as he mourns Mona Fong|work=South China Morning Post|access-date=22 May 2018|language=en}}</ref>
== Early life and career == Born Reinaldo Maria Cordeiro in Wan Chai, Hong Kong,<!-- DO NOT LINK, see MOS:GEOLINK for further guidance --> on 12 December 1924, Uncle Ray was one of six siblings.<ref name="rthk_20230113_i">{{cite news |title=Uncle Ray Cordeiro, 1924–2023 |work=RTHK News |url=https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1683870-20230114.htm}}</ref> His family descended from Portuguese immigrants to China. Cordeiro's paternal grandfather was born in Shanghai and met his grandmother in the Portuguese colony of Macau, before moving to Hong Kong in 1868.<ref name="SCMPprofile">{{Cite web |date=4 July 2021 |title='Uncle Ray' Cordeiro, 96, on a lifetime of DJing and how he got started |url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/3139594/dj-uncle-ray-cordeiro-96-how-he-got-music-interviewed |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> Cordeiro's father was born in Hong Kong while his mother immigrated from Macau to Hong Kong in the early 20th century.<ref name="SCMPprofile" /> His father abandoned the family when Cordeiro was six, leaving his mother to take on extra work to raise the family, which lived in poverty.<ref name="SCMPprofile" /> Cordeiro went to St Francis' Canossian School as a child. He recalled being mocked for his stuttering, which he eventually overcame with the help of his mother.<ref name="SCMPprofile" />
Cordeiro attended St Joseph's College shortly before World War II. During the war, his mother and sisters moved to Macau while Cordeiro stayed with his father, who worked with HSBC in Hong Kong. In 1943, Cordeiro joined the rest of the family living at a refugee camp in Macau.<ref name="SCMPprofile" /> A big band performed at the camp on New Year's Eve in 1944, which developed Cordeiro's interest in the drums.<ref name="SCMPprofile" />
After the war, Cordeiro worked as a warden in Stanley Prison. He befriended a young prisoner, but left the job after he refused to help the prisoner escape.<ref name="SCMPprofile" /> On the advice of his father, Cordeiro got a job at HSBC, while also moonlighting as a drummer.<ref name="SCMPprofile" /> He described two jobs as a "pretty good life", though he was "bored to death working at the bank."<ref name="SCMPprofile" />
== Radio career == In 1949, at the age of 25, he started his broadcasting career as a scriptwriter with Radio Rediffusion.<ref name=":1" /> He eventually became a DJ and hosted a programme called ''Progressive Jazz''.<ref name="SCMPprofile" /> He joined Radio Television Hong Kong (then known as Radio Hong Kong) in 1960 as a light music producer.<ref name="SCMPprofile" /> In 1970, he started the series ''All the Way with Ray'', the longest-running radio programme in Hong Kong which ran for 51 years until 15 May 2021.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=SCED expresses sorrow over passing of Dr Reinaldo Maria Cordeiro |url=https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202301/14/P2023011400295.htm?fontSize=1 |access-date=14 January 2023 |publisher=Government of Hong Kong}}</ref> He had also cameoed in various Hong Kong films in the 1970s and 80s.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://hkmdb.com/db/people/view.mhtml?id=19075|title=Ray Cordeiro|website=hkmdb.com|access-date=1 June 2018}}</ref>
Through the years, Cordeiro had interviewed many prominent musicians, including the Beatles. He was recognised by Elvis Presley Enterprises for his lifelong contribution to Presley. He was voted top DJ in Hong Kong for four consecutive years. He was awarded an MBE in 1987 by Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace.<ref name=":0" />
Cordeiro received an honorary fellowship from the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts in 2012 and an honorary doctorate of Social Science from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2022.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |title=RTHK's 'Uncle Ray' Cordeiro dies aged 98 |url=https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1683864-20230114.htm |access-date=14 January 2023 |work=RTHK News |language=en-gb}}</ref>
On 15 May 2021, Cordeiro retired at the age of 96 after hosting his final radio show, which had been running on public broadcaster RTHK since 1970.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|date=15 May 2021|title=Hong Kong's Ray Cordeiro, 'world's most durable DJ', retires at 96|language=en-GB|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57129010|access-date=15 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Uncle Ray brings curtain down on 70-year career – RTHK|url=https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1589570-20210506.htm?|access-date=17 May 2021|work=RTHK News|publisher=RTHK|language=en-gb}}</ref>
''All the Way with Ray: My Autobiography'', a career-focused memoir by Cordeiro, was published in 2021 by Hong Kong-based Blacksmith Books.<ref>{{cite web|year=2021|title=All The Way With Ray: My Autobiography|language=en-GB|url=https://www.blacksmithbooks.com/books/all-the-way-with-ray-my-autobiography/|website=Blacksmith Books}}</ref>
== Death == Cordeiro died at the CUHK Medical Centre in Hong Kong on 13 January 2023, aged 98.<ref name=":4" /><ref name="SCMPobit" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=14 January 2023 |title=Ray Cordeiro, 'Uncle Ray,' World's Most Durable DJ, Dies at 98 |url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/ray-cordeiro-dead-dies-durable-hong-kong-dj-1235489637/ |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> Government officials expressed their condolences with the news of his death.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SCST expresses deep sorrow over passing of Dr Reinaldo Maria Cordeiro |url=https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202301/14/P2023011400260.htm?fontSize=1 |access-date=14 January 2023 |publisher=Government of Hong Kong}}</ref><ref name=":3" />
== Programmes hosted ==
=== Radio Rediffusion === * ''Progressive Jazz'' (1949–1960)<ref name="SCMPprofile" /> * ''Talent Time''<!-- (1950–1956) --><ref name="SCMPobit">{{Cite web |date=14 January 2023 |title='World's most durable DJ', Hong Kong's 'Uncle' Ray Cordeiro, dies at 98 |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3206817/worlds-most-durable-dj-uncle-ray-cordeiro-warm-voice-late-night-hours-generations-hong-kong-dies-98 |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> * ''The Beginners Please''<ref name="SCMPobit" /> * ''The Diamond Music Show''<ref name="SCMPobit" /> * ''Shriro Hit Parade''<ref name="SCMPobit" /> * ''Rumpus Time'' (1950s<!--–1956 -->)<ref name="SCMPobit" /> * ''Swing and Sway with Ray'' (–1960)<ref name="SCMPprofile" />
=== RTHK === <!-- * ''Just For You'' (1964–1969) --> * ''From Me To You''<!-- (1964–1969) --><ref name="SCMPobit" /> * ''Hit Parade''<!-- (1964–1969 ) --><ref name="SCMPobit" /> * ''Lucky Dip''<!-- (1964–1969) --><ref name="SCMPobit" /> * ''All the Way with Ray'' (1970 – 15 May 2021)<ref name="SCMPprofile" /> * ''Just Jazz with Uncle Ray''<ref>{{Cite web |title=RTHK Radio 4 Just Jazz with Uncle Ray |url=https://www.rthk.hk/radio/radio4/programme/just_jazz_with_uncle_ray?lang=en |access-date=14 January 2023 |publisher=RTHK |language=en}}</ref>
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role !Notes |- !scope="row"| 1974 | ''Games Gamblers Play'' | |<ref name=":2" /> |- !scope="row"| 1975 | ''Let's Rock'' | |<ref name=":2" /> |- !scope="row"| 1975 | ''The Last Message'' | Assassin, policeman |<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> |- !scope="row"|1976 |''The Private Eyes'' | |<ref name=":2" /> |- !scope="row"|1981 | ''Security Unlimited'' |Horse race trickster |<ref name=":2" /> |- !scope="row"|1981 |''{{Ill|Job Hunter|zh|失業生}}'' | |<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 January 2023 |title= |script-title=zh:著名唱片騎師Uncle Ray 離世 享年98歲 |trans-title=Famous DJ Uncle Ray has passed away at the age of 98 |url=https://www.inmediahk.net/node/%E8%91%97%E5%90%8D%E5%94%B1%E7%89%87%E9%A8%8E%E5%B8%ABuncle-ray-%E9%9B%A2%E4%B8%96-%E4%BA%AB%E5%B9%B498%E6%AD%B2 |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=inmediahk.net}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|1983 |''All the Wrong Spies'' |The Jew |<ref name=":2" /> |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website}} * [http://www.rthk.org.hk/channel/radio3/r3/r3_90_profile.htm Radio Television Hong Kong] * {{HKMDB name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cordeiro, Ray}} Category:1924 births Category:2023 deaths Category:20th-century Hong Kong male actors Category:Hong Kong people of Macanese descent Category:Hong Kong people of Portuguese descent Category:Hong Kong radio presenters Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire Category:Recipients of the Silver Bauhinia Star Category:RTHK Category:World record holders Category:Macanese people