The renowned musician of Tay Do (Can Tho)

Members of the Hoang Mai Luu Group. From left to right: Huynh Van Tieng, Luu Huu Phuoc, Mai Van Bo. Archival photo.

It wasn't until late 1974 that I arrived in Hanoi from the South. I heard that Uncle Tư – the musician Lưu Hữu Phước – had called Bảo Định Giang, inviting me to his house. That day, he dedicated a day to me in the Southwestern region of Vietnam.

I arrived in the morning, and Uncle Tư was home to greet me. We ate candy, drank tea, and answered a few questions about the current situation in the South. I happily answered Uncle Tư's questions as well. Actually, I wasn't very familiar with Uncle Tư's family in Can Tho ; they were upper-class, so he, Mr. Tiểng, and Mr. Bộ had an easier time studying than others. Uncle Tư said, "This house used to be a mansion of the French, but now the government has assigned it to me as a reception office for the National Liberation Front Committee of South Vietnam with foreign friends." The house was large and luxurious, but very few people lived there. In the back hallway sat a penniless musician named Huỳnh Thơ. Seeing me with Uncle Tư, Huỳnh Thơ ran out to greet me and introduced himself as a Southerner, staying in the back hallway of the building.

Only later did I learn: It was here that Mr. Tu Luu Huu Phuoc had spent months considering when to release the wonderful song by composer Tran Kiet Tuong – "HO CHI MINH, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NAME" – and whether Uncle Ho would be pleased. Mr. Tu had the tape player play so the leaders could listen carefully. The intention was to ask Uncle Ho's permission to disseminate the song, but before they could prepare, singer Quoc Huong impatiently sang it for Uncle Ho first. Uncle Ho remained silent but happily accepted, much to the delight of the entire country's music community. The song repaid a part of Uncle Ho's kindness, especially expressing the affection of the people of the South for him. Mr. Tu boasted to me about the success of Mr. Tran Kiet Tuong.

I said, "We in the Southwest region of Vietnam have arranged your songs into musical scenes. Like 'Dien Hong Conference' and 'Bach Dang Giang'. But your song 'Southeast Asia', you almost forgot about it, you didn't include it in the anthology. I had to sing it again for you."

“The sky lifts its veil, illuminating all corners of Asia: Slave people break free from their prisons. The flag of freedom flies proudly over the Pacific Ocean, covering the hills and mountains, and over the Indian Ocean...”

Uncle Tư was touched. He didn't expect me to know almost all the songs. He thanked me and begged me to write down the poems I had written on the spot as a keepsake. I wrote down "Forests and Seas of My Homeland" and "The Road to the City" as gifts for him.

For me and my comrades, the memories of Comrade Luu Huu Phuoc are even warmer and more heartfelt. In times of danger and hardship, his songs suddenly rose up like sacred encouragement: “From within the trenches, we heard Uncle Ho’s voice, our hearts shone brightly like blossoming flowers…” – from Luu Huu Phuoc’s song “Uncle Ho’s Love Illuminates Our Lives.” And the triumphant anthem urged us on as we all sang the marching song: “Liberating the South, we are determined to march forward, destroy the American imperialists, crush the traitors…” – from his song “Liberating the South.”

Nguyen Ba

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/nhac-si-tai-danh-dat-tay-do-luu-huu-phuoc-a188149.html