HONG KONG (AP) — Fans of singer and songwriter Coco Lee, who was identified for her highly effective voice and reside performances, had been gathering with flowers to pay their respects to their idol at her funeral in Hong Kong on Monday.

The night providers had been anticipated to be attended by her household, mates and supporters. Lee died July 5 at age 48.

She was born in Hong Kong and attended college in San Francisco earlier than releasing her first album in 1994 at age 19. She started her profession as a Mandopop singer however branched out to launch albums in Cantonese and English.

She was the primary Chinese singer to interrupt into the American market, and her English tune “Do You Want My Love” climbed to #4 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Breakouts chart in December 1999. In 2001, she sang “A Love Before Time” from Ang Lee’s film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” on the Academy Awards, changing into the primary Chinese American to carry out on the Oscars.

Lee was additionally the voice of heroine Fa Mulan within the Mandarin model of Disney’s “Mulan,” and sang the Mandarin model of the film’s theme tune “Reflection.”

Lee was married to Bruce Rockowitz, former CEO of Hong Kong provide chain firm Li & Fung. She had two stepdaughters.

Her dying had shocked followers. Her siblings posted on Facebook that she had melancholy for years and had tried suicide at residence on July 2. She died a couple of days later.

On Monday afternoon, greater than 100 followers wearing black had been ready exterior the funeral residence.

Lin Jing, a fan from Fujian province within the southeast, stated she admired Lee’s smile and look, including: “She was really talented. She always tried to improve and she inspired women to feel independent.”

In a video for her memorial service, actors and singers from Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan recalled their recollections with Lee and mourned her dying.

Action star Jackie Chan stated within the video that everybody was pleased with her when she sang on the Oscars.

“To friends like us, Coco was a passionate and kind friend who showed care to us. She was really a good person. That’s why we are so reluctant to accept she has left us,” he stated.

Award-winning director Ang Lee recalled his exchanges with the late singer earlier than the Oscars and stated it was a pity she died so younger. “We miss her very much. Coco, rest in peace,” he stated within the video.

In Coco Lee’s current social media posts, she stored spreading positivity. In March, she posted about having to relearn tips on how to stroll after present process surgical procedure for an outdated leg damage.

“Successful surgery. Even though I’m in a lot of pain and I have to re-learn how to walk again, I know I can do it,” she wrote in a Facebook submit. “Yes I can and I will!”

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Associated Press video journalist Alice Fung and information assistant Annie Cheung contributed to this report.

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