Alex To
Alex To (Chinese: 杜德偉; born Alejandro Delfino, 10 February 1962) is a Hong Kong-born Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor of Filipino and Chinese descent, renowned for his contributions to Cantopop music and roles in Hong Kong films.[1][2] Born to Filipino singer Ollie Delfino and Shanghainese singer Zhang Lu (張露), To grew up in Hong Kong before moving to Canada for studies in 1980, where he adopted his stage name and honed his bilingual skills in English and Cantonese.[1] He rose to fame as the winner of the 4th Hong Kong New Talent Singing Awards in 1985, a competition that also launched careers for contemporaries like Hacken Lee and Vivian Chow. Throughout his four-decade career, To has released over 20 studio albums, blending R&B influences with Cantopop, including his debut Zhi Xiang Liu Xia (只想留下) in 1986 and Mandarin breakthrough Tan Qing Shuo Ai (談情說愛) in 1990.[3][4] Notable hits include "Wu Xin Shang Hai" (無心傷害), a 1996 ballad that topped charts, and "Qing Ren" (情人), showcasing his emotive vocals.[3] In acting, he debuted in the 1980s and gained international recognition for his role in Jackie Chan's Rumble in the Bronx (1995), alongside appearances in The Thieves (2012) and TV dramas.[5] To has maintained a steady presence in the industry, performing at concerts and releasing music into the 2020s, including plans for 40th anniversary shows in 2025.[6]Early life
Family background
Alex To was born Alejandro Delfino on February 10, 1962, in Hong Kong.[7] He is the son of Filipino singer and musician Ollie Delfino and Chinese singer Chang Loo, also known as Zhang Lu (張露), who was born in Suzhou but raised in Shanghai after her family relocated there in her early childhood.[8][9][10] To's mixed Filipino-Chinese heritage reflected the diverse cultural influences in his family, with his parents having met while performing in Singapore in the late 1950s before settling in Hong Kong, where he was raised.[9][10] As established performers in the Asian music scene—his father known for Filipino and international performances, and his mother a prominent Mandarin and Cantonese vocalist—To's parents immersed him in a household centered on music and entertainment from an early age.[8][9]Education and early influences
At the age of 18 in 1980, Alex To relocated to Vancouver, Canada, to pursue higher education.[11] He enrolled in studies focused on commercial design, reflecting an initial career interest in the creative fields of advertising and visual arts.[12] This period abroad marked a significant transition, exposing him to a multicultural environment that broadened his perspectives beyond his Hong Kong upbringing. To graduated in 1985 with a degree in commercial design, completing his formal education at the age of 23.[13] Upon returning to Hong Kong that same year, he briefly worked as an art director, applying his training in a professional capacity for one year before shifting paths.[11] To's early interest in music stemmed from his family's artistic heritage, where both parents were established performers—his father a Filipino band leader and drummer, and his mother a renowned Chinese singer—which instilled a foundational passion from childhood.[14] This innate affinity was further shaped during his time in Canada, where immersion in Western popular music, particularly R&B and black music genres, profoundly influenced his stylistic development through interactions in diverse social circles.[15]Career
Entry into entertainment
Alex To made his breakthrough into the entertainment industry in 1985 at the age of 23, when he participated in and won the gold award at the 4th New Talent Singing Awards in Hong Kong.[16][17] This victory provided him with immediate recognition and launched his professional career in music and performance.[18] Following the win, To signed a management contract with Capital Artists, a prominent Hong Kong entertainment company, which facilitated his debut as a recording artist and performer.[19] Under their guidance, he began releasing music and establishing himself in the Cantopop scene.[13] In 1987, during Michael Jackson's promotional visit to Hong Kong, To had the opportunity to meet the global superstar at TVB City, an encounter that highlighted his rising status in the local entertainment circle.[20]Music career
Alex To began his music career in the mid-1980s after winning the New Talent Singing Awards, signing with Capital Artists and releasing his debut Cantonese album Just Want to Stay (只想留下) in 1986.[21] This was preceded by his appearance on the compilation album New Rhythm of TVB Newcomers (華星新秀新節奏) earlier that year, marking his entry into the Cantopop scene.[22] His early work focused on romantic ballads and pop tracks, establishing him as a versatile vocalist in Hong Kong's entertainment industry. In 1990, To expanded into the Mandarin market with his debut album Talk of Love (談情說愛), released in Taiwan under Rock Records, which broadened his appeal across Chinese-speaking regions.[19] Throughout his career, To has been recognized for his preference for R&B-influenced Cantopop and Mandopop songs, blending soulful baritone vocals with rhythmic elements that pioneered the genre in Chinese music.[16] Notable releases include the 2004 album Take Off (脫掉, also romanized as To Teao), which showcased his mature style through tracks exploring themes of freedom and introspection.[23] By the 1990s, To shifted his base to Taiwan, continuing to release albums and build a regional fanbase while occasionally returning to Hong Kong for performances.[24] This transition supported his evolution into a more international artist, culminating in world tours such as the "Get Up" tour, which resumed in 2023 after pandemic delays, featuring stops in Macau on July 29, 2023, Malaysia on December 28, 2024, and Singapore in 2023 with additional dates extending into 2025 across Asia and North America.[25][26][17] In a personal highlight, following Michael Jackson's death in 2009, To funded and unveiled a life-size copper statue of the singer at Shan Yuan Temple in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong, on October 7, 2009, as a tribute stemming from their 1987 meeting.[27] His contributions to music have earned him several singing awards over the decades.[16]Acting and television career
Alex To began his foray into acting and television in the late 1980s, marking an early overlap with his musical endeavors through contributions to television soundtracks. In 1989, he provided the theme song "Abyss" for the TVB series Flying Squads, which highlighted his talents in visual media performance.[28][5] To's film roles emerged in the 1990s and continued sporadically into the 2010s, showcasing minor but memorable supporting characters in high-profile action and heist productions. He portrayed an ice cream customer in the 1995 martial arts action film Rumble in the Bronx, directed by Stanley Tong and starring Jackie Chan, contributing to the film's depiction of everyday Hong Kong life amid chaotic sequences.[29] Later, in the 2012 South Korean-Chinese heist comedy The Thieves, directed by Choi Dong-hoon, To played a Hong Kong hotel pool employee, adding to the ensemble cast that included international stars like Kim Yoon-seok and Simon Yam.[30] On television, To took on more substantial dramatic roles in the mid-2000s. In the 2006 Taiwanese series Engagement for Love, he embodied the character Hsing Tien, a figure central to the romantic and familial conflicts driving the plot.[31] This role underscored his versatility in serialized storytelling, distinct from his primary singing career. In recent years, To expanded into reality television formats, participating as a regular contestant in the 2022 second season of the Chinese singing competition variety show Call Me by Fire on Mango TV, where he competed alongside artists like Alec Su and Jordan Chan, performing group numbers and showcasing his enduring stage presence at age 60.[32] In 2025, To appeared as Maddox Li in the Hong Kong crime thriller Sons of the Neon Night, directed by Juno Mak. Overall, To's acting portfolio remains limited in scope but diverse, encompassing action cameos, dramatic television parts, and reality show engagements that complement his multimedia career without overshadowing his musical achievements.[5]Personal life
Relationships and marriage
Alex To entered a long-term romantic relationship with photographer and filmmaker Ice Lee (李曉冰) around 2007, after meeting through professional work where she later served as his personal photographer.[8][33] Lee, who is 24 years younger than To, had been his partner for five years by the time of their marriage.[8][33] Ice Lee's father initially opposed the marriage due to the significant age difference but eventually accepted To after their first meeting.[8][33] The couple wed on November 11, 2012, in a private ceremony attended by family and close friends in Hong Kong.[34][35] News of the wedding broke publicly the following day, generating significant media attention due to the couple's age gap and To's prominence in the entertainment industry.[34][35]Family
Alex To and his wife, Ice Lee, welcomed their first child, son Alex Junior (AJ), on October 2, 2016, after four years of marriage.[36] The family has been based in Taiwan since their marriage, where To has established a stable home life while continuing his entertainment career across Hong Kong and the region.[37] As a father, To has frequently shared heartwarming public anecdotes about AJ, such as the toddler performing a "magic trick" as a birthday gift in 2019 and once being upset for two days over an unwanted haircut in 2018, highlighting his hands-on involvement in daily parenting.[38][39] In interviews as of 2024, To has expressed a strong desire to expand their family, noting ongoing efforts to conceive a second child while managing his professional commitments, underscoring his commitment to balancing fatherhood with his longstanding music and acting pursuits; as of November 2025, the couple has not announced a second child.[37]Awards and recognition
Singing awards
Alex To's singing career gained early momentum through competitive awards in Hong Kong's burgeoning pop music scene. His breakthrough came in 1985 when he won the Gold Award at the 4th New Talent Singing Awards, a prestigious amateur singing competition organized by TVB that propelled many participants into professional contracts with record labels. This victory marked his entry into the industry, showcasing his vocal range and stage presence in performances of Cantopop hits.[17] Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, To received recognition from Hong Kong's leading music ceremonies for his innovative R&B-influenced tracks and music videos. In 1989, his single "Night Half Past One" (夜半一點鐘) earned the Best Music Video Performer Award at the Annual Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Awards, highlighting his ability to blend emotive lyrics with dynamic visuals. In 1991, his duet "Believe in Yourself" (信自己) with Sally Yeh won the Top Ten Gold Songs Award at the same ceremony, underscoring his versatility in collaborative performances.[40] To's contributions to Mandopop were honored later in his career with lifetime achievement accolades. At the 15th Global Chinese Music Awards in 2015, he received the Honorary Award for his enduring impact on the genre, including pioneering dance-oriented R&B in Chinese music. In 2017, he won three awards at the Huayu Golden Melody Awards: Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs, Best Dance Artist of the Year, and Asia's Most Explosive Singer, for his single "Hold Tight to Handle" (抱緊處理). That same year, To became the first Chinese-language artist to win the 2017 Billboard Radio Icon Award (presented in 2018), recognizing his global influence and chart-topping hits over three decades.[41][42][43]| Year | Award | Ceremony | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Gold Award | New Talent Singing Awards (4th) | Won for overall performance, launching his professional career.[17] |
| 1989 | Best Music Video Performer | Annual Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Awards | For "Night Half Past One" (夜半一點鐘).[40] |
| 1991 | Top Ten Gold Songs | Annual Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Awards | For duet "Believe in Yourself" (信自己) with Sally Yeh.[40] |
| 2015 | Honorary Award | Global Chinese Music Awards (15th) | For contributions to Mandopop.[41] |
| 2017 | Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs, Best Dance Artist of the Year, Asia's Most Explosive Singer | Huayu Golden Melody Awards | For "Hold Tight to Handle" (抱緊處理).[42] |
| 2017 | Radio Icon Award | Billboard | First for a Chinese-language artist; presented in 2018.[43] |
Other honors
In recognition of his pioneering role in introducing R&B and soul influences to Chinese popular music during the 1990s, Alex To has been celebrated as one of the genre's early innovators in the region. His 1995 album Innocent marked a breakthrough by blending Western R&B elements with Cantopop and Mandopop structures, helping to elevate these styles within Hong Kong and mainland China's entertainment landscapes.[44][16] In 2017, To received the Billboard Radio Icon Award, acknowledging his lasting impact on radio play and musical innovation across Asia.[16] Following his participation in the 2023 variety show Call Me by Fire 2, To's career longevity garnered renewed tributes, with media highlighting his influence on subsequent generations of R&B performers in Chinese entertainment. No major new honors were announced through 2025, though his 40-year milestone concerts in Hong Kong that year reaffirmed his status as a foundational figure in the genre.[45][16]Works
Discography
Alex To's discography primarily consists of Cantonese-language studio albums released from 1986 to 2004, alongside select Mandarin releases, compilations, and later works up to the 2020s.[4][19]Studio Albums
| Year | Title | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 只想留下 | Cantonese | First solo studio album.[19] |
| 1987 | 等待黎明 | Cantonese | Studio album.[19][46] |
| 1988 | Anima | Cantonese | Studio album.[4] |
| 1988 | 忘情號 | Cantonese | Studio album.[4] |
| 1989 | One More Night | Cantonese | Studio album.[4] |
| 1990 | One Day In My Life | Cantonese | Studio album.[4] |
| 1990 | 談情說愛 | Mandarin | Key Mandarin release.[19] |
| 1991 | 天生喜歡你 (Because I Love You) | Cantonese | Studio album.[4] |
| 1991 | My Love | Mandarin | Studio album.[4][3] |
| 1992 | 讓自己快樂 | Cantonese | Studio album.[4] |
| 1992 | 狂風 | Mandarin | Studio album.[4] |
| 1993 | 准我自我 / 准我再一次 | Cantonese | Studio album.[4] |
| 1993 | 冒險遊戲 | Mandarin | Studio album.[4] |
| 1994 | All For You | Cantonese | Studio album.[4] |
| 1994 | 絕對 | Cantonese | Studio album.[4] |
| 1995 | 天真 (Innocent) | Cantonese | Studio album.[4][47] |
| 1995 | 我的，杜德偉 (My Alex) | Cantonese | Studio album.[4] |
| 1996 | 發現愛 | Cantonese | Studio album.[4] |
| 1999 | 99情人 | Mandarin | Studio album.[48] |
| 2004 | 脫掉 (To Teao) | Cantonese | Studio album. |
Compilations and Other Releases
- 1986: 華星新秀新節奏 (Cantonese compilation featuring new artists including To).[19]
- 1996: Best Love (Cantonese compilation).[4]
- 2005: 獨領風騷 (compilation).
- 2024: 黑日 (single).[49]
Filmography
Films- Rumble in the Bronx (1995) as Ice Cream Customer.[29]
- The Thieves (2012) as Hong Kong Hotel Pool Employee.[30]
- Sons of the Neon Night (2025) as Maddox Li.[51]
- Flying Squads (1989) (soundtrack performer).[28]
- Engagement for Love (2006) as Hsing Tien.[31]
- Detective Chinatown 2 (2024) as Fa Nan.[52]
- Call Me by Fire Season 2 (2022) as participant (self).