Final encore for Uncle Ray as 70-year DJ career ends

With his signature baritone voice and flat cap, Uncle Ray has become a perennial fixture of Hong Kong broadcasting, and his late-night show is RTHK’s longest-running radio programme, playing a selection of nostalgic hits dating back to the 1940s.

But after seven decades spinning the decks, he’s decided to call it a day, and “All The Way With Ray” will air for the last time on Radio 3 at 10pm on Friday.

“I will miss going back and doing my show because I know I am pleasing a lot of people around the world, but I also feel that I am getting tired, after all I’m 96 and going to be 97 in December, so I think it’s time I call it a day and relax,” he told RTHK’s Vicky Wong.

Ray’s career in radio began just after the second world war in 1949. He started working as a scriptwriter for Rediffusion at the age of 25, before going on to host his own show, where he got to know some of the biggest names in the music world, including The Beatles, Cliff Richard and Tony Bennett.

But his talents weren’t limited to just spinning discs and interviewing celebrities, he also had a hand in nurturing local talent such as Sam Hui and Teddy Robin & The Playboys.

In 1960, he joined RTHK as Head of Light Music, and in 1970 started his long-running show.