Self-producing, Lam creates most of his own albums and songs, as well as being especially involved with creative direction of his work outside its musical aspects.

His works are best known for pioneering a variety of genres in the Hong Kong music scene, such as creating the known first Cantorap, "Ah Lam's Diary", and the medley "10 Minutes 12 Inches" from multiple Cantopop hits, with the latter composition's interwoven intricacies creating a derivative for Lam's eponymous concert Lamusical with his own hits.

Possibly his most memorable role was as Shiomi Akutagawa, a Japanese journalist in Boat People (1982), directed by Ann Hui, in which he was nominated for Best Actor in the Hong Kong Film Awards.

In 1980, two of his compositions ("In The Middle of The Water"《在水中央》and "Need You Every Minute"《分分鐘需要你》) won Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Awards.

[8] During a May 2003 guest performance for Liza Wang at the Hong Kong Coliseum, Lam accidentally fell 2.5 metres through a stage floor opening.

[9][10] A few months after his injury, he gave a series of concerts across southern China for the purpose of acclimating himself to performing with his altered hearing.

[citation needed] Lam's experiences abroad is the strongest influence within his work, where he has introduced a wide variety of song styles to the Hong Kong pop music scene, with many originals and covers becoming Cantopop classics.

[citation needed] Lam's four decade-long career has shaped a significant part of the Hong Kong music scene.

Many of today's top Cantopop singers such as Eason Chan, Hacken Lee, and Andy Lau have been influenced by his music.