MusicTibet.com

Yadong out of danger

Mcleod Ganj, India, 8 July 2005

Yadong, the most celebrated Tibetan singer, who was stabbed in a nightclub in Chengdu city in the wee hours of April 22, is now out of danger according to a source close to him.

"Yadong has perfectly recovered now and is getting ready for a concert in August in a big city in China," according to the source, who did not want to be identified.

It remains to be known who the culprit was and his motivations of the stabbing.

The singer had earlier planned to bring out an album this year. Due to the stabbing incident, the album could be expected only next year, the source explained.

Yadong was born in Derge, Kham. He couldn't pursue schooling due to family circumstances. His father passed away when he was three years of age. He became a soldier at age 16. However, he left army after two years and joined a music school.

In 1992, Yadong released his first music album: Dompoe sem, which became an instant success with 6,00,000 album sales within six months.

His second album in Chinese: Lha char moenpa (Prayers to the godly birds) won awards in China.

Yadong is also known for his social and environmental services. He has been specially campaigning for the education of children, preservation of natural beauties and antelope, which is facing extinction on the Tibetan plateau.

He has the biggest fan following in the entire Tibetan populace around the world. In the first Tibetan Music Awards held in Mcleod Ganj, India in the year 2003, he was adjudged the Best Male Singer. The Best Song category also went to him.