Veteran Chinese pop music songwriter Chen Dieyi is seen in a file photo. Chen Dieyi died on Sunday, October 14, 2007, in a Hong Kong hospital at the age of 99. [File Photo: ent.sina.com.cn]

One of China's earliest pop music songwriters, Chen Dieyi, died on Sunday in a Hong Kong hospital at the age of 99.

His family confirmed the death, saying Chen passed away peacefully while he was sleeping.

Mrs. Chen told local media that the celebrated lyricist had been healthy, and the cause of his death might be his ripe old age.

This coming Thursday would have been Chen's 100th birthday.

The family is waiting for the final report from the hospital.

File photo of Chen Dieyi couple.

Chen Dieyi's oldest son, top Chinese conductor Chen Xieyang, will soon head for Hong Kong from Shanghai. Chen Xieyang just completed his overseas tour.

In his fruitful life, Chen Dieyi had written hit songs for several generations of pop queens, among them the 1930s singing star Zhou Xuan, the late love ballad sensation Teresa Teng, and veteran Taiwan singer Tsai Chin, who has been popular since the 1980s.
 
(CRI.cn October 16, 2007)