William So Wing-hong may have walked a long and winding road before he finally became a household name, but he is not complaining.
The hottest Canto-pop singer in town this month is convinced artists like him do not always have a sad story to tell.
'The media expect to hear a sad and bitter tale from me, but I really don't have one. Even though my singing career did not run smoothly in the first few years, I was not on the verge of giving it up.
'If I've to worry about the rent money or if I've a big family to support and I'm jobless, that's sad. I never had that hard a life, not even close,' says the 31-year-old.
In 1985, So, then 17, came second in TVB's New Talent Singing Contest and was immediately offered a record deal. But it was not until 1989 that he finally released his debut album. His peers, Alex To Tak-wai and dance trio Grasshopper, had begun their recording careers much earlier.
'Taking part in New Talent was a way for me to expand my horizons, to experience life outside school. I was very excited when I won because it was such an important singing contest at that time.
