(VOVWORLD) - Musician Pho Duc Phuong – a big name in contemporary Vietnamese folk music passed away at 76 in Hanoi on September 19 after a long illness.
 Musician Pho Duc Phuong (Photo: VOV) |
Musician Pho Duc Phuong was born in 1944 in the northern province of Hung Yen. At the age of 18, he enrolled in the faculty of physics of the University of Pedagogy, but left school before graduation to become a farm worker in Hoa Binh province.
 Musician Pho Duc Phuong (Photo: Tuoi Tre) |
In 1966, he returned to school to study at the Vietnam National Academy of Music (formerly, the Hanoi National Conservatory of Music). Phuong’s music compositions became popular soon after he graduated in 1972. Inspired by the theme of the homeland, he was drawn to the genre of contemporary folk music.
In 2001, he was awarded the State Prize in Art and Literature.
 Pho Duc Phuong on the stage of the "On top of Phu Van mount" live show in 2016. (Photo: zing.vn) |
 Musician Pho Duc Phuong with his fans in the "On top of Phu Van mount" liveshow in 2016. (Photo: Tuoi Tre) |
 Musician Pho Duc Phuong hugs singer Tung Duong after Duong performs "The Lake on the mountain" in the "What lasts forever" concert in 2016. (Photo: Viet Hung / Zing.vn) |
Phuong had a keen interest in literature, history, fine arts, and poetry. His beautiful melodies and lyrics depicting the land and daily life of the Vietnamese people, particularly in the Red River Delta helped make names for many singers, including Thanh Lam, My Linh, Trong Tan, and Tung Duong.
 "The quartet of the Red River" (from left) Duong Thu, Tran Tien, Nguyen Cuong, and Pho Duc Phuong. (Photo: Internet) |
Together with musicians Duong Thu, Tran Tien, and Nguyen Cuong, Pho Duc Phuong was one of the 4 big names of contemporary Vietnamese music, known as "The quartet of the Red River".
 Pho Duc Phuong is former Director of the Vietnam Center for the Protection of Music Copyright and former Vice President of the Hanoi Musicians' Association. (Photo: Van Hien) |
 In July 2020, Phuong's family, friends, and fans, organize a second music show for him, called "The song of flowing feelings" (Photo: Zing.vn) |
 Pho Duc Phuong and his wife, Ms. Lan Anh (Photo: Internet) |