Yan Su, Chinese military lyricist, Died at 85

  Military

Yan Su/阎肃 was born on May 9, 1930, and died on February 12, 2016.

He was a Chinese military lyricist and previously serves as vice-president of China Theatre Association.

Yan was also set to judge a CCTV talent show.

Su held the civilian rank of general in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Naval Song and Dance Troupe.

Yan was a National Class-A Screenwriter.

Yan su was a member of the China Writers Association and China Music Copyright Association.

And served as a visiting professor at Heibei Institute of Communications.

Yan joined the Communist Youth League in the Chinese Civil War and joined the Communist Party of China in 1953.

He was transferred to Xinan Military Region Youth Song and Dance Troupe as an actor, in 1950.

Yan once performed in the front of the Korean War.

During 1955 he was transferred again to PLA Air Force Political Department Song and Dance Troupe.

In 1964, Yan first rose to prominence for playing in the opera Sister Jiang, earned critical acclaim, and he was personally interviewed by then President Mao Zedong.

After two years, in the Cultural Revolution, the song was labeled as “poisonous weed” and he was cast as rightists.

In 1982, his adventures to the West broadcasted on CCTV, the series reached number one in the ratings when it aired in China.

Hence, the opening theme, Dare to Ask Where is the Road, was written by Yan Su.

Yan joined the China Writers Association, in 1986.

Yan Su passed away at 85 yrs old.