Lam was the lead singer for a band called "Jade" until he went solo with his first English album "Lam" in 1976. His first Cantonese album, having the same name, was also released in the same year. He also recorded two versions of the Billy Joel song "Uptown Girl" in Cantonese. Lam has remained popular in Hong Kong for three decades. He writes a number of his own songs; some of them have also been recorded by other singers including Teresa Carpio, with whom he recorded an album and has given joint concerts, most recently in 2007.