May Pang

May Pang (Fung Yee) was born to Chinese-American parents in Spanish Harlem in New York on October 27, 1950. After graduating from high school in New York, she sought work in the music industry. Having worked briefly for other music related companies, May was hired as assistant at ABKCO, Allen Klein's management company who represented three former Beatles, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. When the opportunity came to help John and Yoko Ono on a project, May accepted, and flew to England with them. May's work for John and Yoko led to a stint as their personal assistant, as they moved from England to New York.

Related Topics:
Spanish Harlem - October 27 - 1950 - Beatles - John Lennon - George Harrison - Ringo Starr

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In the fall of 1973, during a time when John and Yoko were having marital problems, Yoko suggested that May be both a friend and lover for John, knowing that they cared for each other and that she would look out for his welfare. Yoko may not have considered that they would get emotionally involved when May agreed to the request. When John decided to fly to Los Angeles to "get out of the house awhile" and record an album with Phil Spector, he asked May to come along. They lived together, staying in a series of rented and borrowed apartments.

Related Topics:
Los Angeles - Phil Spector

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May lived with John from late 1973 until the first weeks of 1975, working during the day on the business end of his recording projects (including albums for Harry Nilsson and Ringo Starr as well as John's Mind Games and Rock 'N' Roll LPs). In her book, Loving John, May related how John worked in his studio from mid morning to evening as he continued to create.

Related Topics:
1973 - 1975 - Harry Nilsson - Ringo Starr - Mind Games - Rock 'N' Roll

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In late summer 1974, while John was working on Walls And Bridges, the couple returned to New York City and moved into a penthouse apartment. Walls and Bridges features May's voice saying his name on the song "#9 Dream,"* though Yoko Ono Lennon later created a video in which Ono lipsyncs May's vocals.

Related Topics:
1974 - Walls And Bridges - Yoko Ono

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After having returned to New York, John had begun visiting Yoko, for business matters. By early 1975, John and Yoko had decided to reconcile and their separation ended. Shortly afterwards, Yoko became pregnant with Sean Ono Lennon and John remained in the Dakota with Yoko henceforth. May reiterates what she said in her 1983 book Loving John... "the official announcement said we ended in early '75 but continued to see each other secretly" Though they were lovers for 7 years , they remained friends until his death.

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She later married producer Tony Visconti, with whom she had two children Sebastian and Lara. May Pang is currently divorced and living with her children in New York. She creates an original line of jewelry available on her website.

Related Topics:
Producer - Tony Visconti

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