Li Guyi

Li Guyi (Chinese: 李谷一; born November 10, 1944) is a Chinese singer and dancer.

Li was born in 1944 in Kunming, Yunnan province, at Huidian Hospital (惠滇医院), she graduated from Hunan Art College (now part of Hunan Normal University) in 1961. From 1961 to 1974, Li worked in Hunan Opera Theatre.

In 1970, Li performed Tinker a Pan (补锅). Chinese officials thought she was a revisionist black talent. Officials searched her house, confiscated her property, and she was sentenced to hard labor.

From 1974 to 1984, Li was transferred to Central Philharmonic Orchestra as a solo.

In 1980, the Chinese officials criticized Li as "mainland China's Teresa Teng" for singing Township Love (乡恋), considered the first pop song in mainland China. The song was prohibited for several years.

In 1986, Li worked in Chinese Light Music Group as the head.

In 1996, Li transferred to Central Oriental Song and Dance Troupe as the CPC party secretary.

Li is actively involved in politics, and was a member of the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Li was twice married. Originally wed to musician Jin Tielin. After a turbulent divorce, she remarried in 1976. Xiao Zhuoneng (肖卓能), her second husband, the son of Xiao Jinguang, who was one of the ten senior commanders of the People's Liberation Army. The couple has a daughter, Xiao Yi (肖一).