Jose Mari Chan
After publishing this post I realised that the introduction I had written for this post disappeared into the Ether it would seem! So here it is again.
I was leaving Iloilo on a Philippine Airlines flight with Marcelina and Denzel heading back to Australia when from my aisle seat I glanced up and saw an unassuming man walking down the aisle with a natural smile, I leaned over to Marcelina and said "isn't that Jose Mari Chan?" She said "I am not sure, but I was!" As he approached I stood and asked "are you Jose Mari Chan?" and he of course was, and over the next hour as the flight was heading to Manila I had the chance to converse with him about a range of topics. I asked why he had not been to Australia for a concert, he indicated that would depend on a promoter, and knowing a couple of promoters I said I would ask the question. He was such a warm person, I sensed no pretense or hesitation whatsoever in his conversation or demeanor. Once I identified him on the plane, there were a couple of others in the seats behind who stood up to look at him and smiled once they confirmed it was as well. The lady in front of me became animated as well. He was generous and warm to each of us. I could be wrong, but I think he was pleasantly surprised that a foreigner had recognised him. I mentioned that I had one of his CD's, and he said I will send you the others, and true to his word, the FedEx package arrived to me yesterday. I opened it without even reading the senders info, and was very pleasantly surprised.
Here is a little bit of a bio about him with some clips.
Jose Mari Chan is a renowned Chinese Filipino singer-songwriter and businessman. He was born in Iloilo on March 11, 1945. He graduated with a degree in economics from Ateneo de Manila University in 1967.
His first single Afterglow was released in 1967 and became popular in the Philippines. He was able to release his first long playing album in 1969.
From 1970 to 1974, he composed more than 20 theme songs for movies, some of which earned for him several nominations at the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Award. He continued to write songs even as he stayed in the United States for more than 10 years. Even when we were on the Philippine Airlines flight one of his songs was playing in the background of the in-flight travel preparedness video, Love at Thirty Thousand feet. What a thrill. His songs have been recorded by many artists including foreign artists. He had a breakthrough in 1989, when his album "Constant Change" not only was named Album of the Year by the Awit Awards but also reached Diamond Record status in terms of sales. it was also sold internationally. His Christmas album "Christmas In Our Hearts" reached triple platinum status in 1990 and is today the biggest selling all time album in the Philippines. In 2005 he composed "We're All Just One", the theme song of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.
Chan is known as the "Filipino Jimmy Webb" due to his intricate use of the English language in his lyrics. some of his earlier songs were also revived by other artists such as Lea Salonga, Regine Velasquez and many others. He also shared with me his latest triumph having had 12 of his songs recorded recently by Janis Siegel a member of the internationally successful recording group The Manhattan Transfer. That album will be released soon, and as yet they have no cover artwork done, and so with a high degree of shameless self promotion I let him know "I could do that!" - in his unique style he said "lets talk more" So who knows. I would love to though.
I just wanted to share something of this warm and gentle man whom Filipinos love. I guess it would not be too ambitious to suggest that he is the Filipino version of Tony Bennett. He sings and composes because he obviously loves it. He is a man imbued with class and style and no pretense. Hard to believe that he is also the chairman and CEO of a major Philippine company with assets in the tens of millions of dollars. His note that came with the CD's and personally written was an interesting thing. I wonder how many other CEO's can say they have a second job as an internationally recognised singer / composer! It was a complete honour to meet this man, I do hope it isn't the last time, and am also hoping he gives me a shot at the CD cover.
There are two clips here, both sung in English. The first is of Jose singing a duet with Lea Salonga - for those who do not know, she is the actual singing voice of most all of the disney female animated songs. Her repertoire ranges from the original Miss Saigon to Disney's Mulan, The Little Mermaid, and many, many others. SHe is a real talent...and a Filipino!
The second clip is a a duet with Regine Velasquez, an artist I have photographed three times. They are singing a song written by Jose Mari Chan. If I am not mistaken it was also one of Regine's first hits. I am including a picture collage I did for Regine, I never had a picture with Jose, which was a pity, my cameras were all locked away in the flight. Sayang (too bad in Filipino!)
I was leaving Iloilo on a Philippine Airlines flight with Marcelina and Denzel heading back to Australia when from my aisle seat I glanced up and saw an unassuming man walking down the aisle with a natural smile, I leaned over to Marcelina and said "isn't that Jose Mari Chan?" She said "I am not sure, but I was!" As he approached I stood and asked "are you Jose Mari Chan?" and he of course was, and over the next hour as the flight was heading to Manila I had the chance to converse with him about a range of topics. I asked why he had not been to Australia for a concert, he indicated that would depend on a promoter, and knowing a couple of promoters I said I would ask the question. He was such a warm person, I sensed no pretense or hesitation whatsoever in his conversation or demeanor. Once I identified him on the plane, there were a couple of others in the seats behind who stood up to look at him and smiled once they confirmed it was as well. The lady in front of me became animated as well. He was generous and warm to each of us. I could be wrong, but I think he was pleasantly surprised that a foreigner had recognised him. I mentioned that I had one of his CD's, and he said I will send you the others, and true to his word, the FedEx package arrived to me yesterday. I opened it without even reading the senders info, and was very pleasantly surprised.
Here is a little bit of a bio about him with some clips.
Jose Mari Chan is a renowned Chinese Filipino singer-songwriter and businessman. He was born in Iloilo on March 11, 1945. He graduated with a degree in economics from Ateneo de Manila University in 1967.
His first single Afterglow was released in 1967 and became popular in the Philippines. He was able to release his first long playing album in 1969.
From 1970 to 1974, he composed more than 20 theme songs for movies, some of which earned for him several nominations at the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Award. He continued to write songs even as he stayed in the United States for more than 10 years. Even when we were on the Philippine Airlines flight one of his songs was playing in the background of the in-flight travel preparedness video, Love at Thirty Thousand feet. What a thrill. His songs have been recorded by many artists including foreign artists. He had a breakthrough in 1989, when his album "Constant Change" not only was named Album of the Year by the Awit Awards but also reached Diamond Record status in terms of sales. it was also sold internationally. His Christmas album "Christmas In Our Hearts" reached triple platinum status in 1990 and is today the biggest selling all time album in the Philippines. In 2005 he composed "We're All Just One", the theme song of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.
Chan is known as the "Filipino Jimmy Webb" due to his intricate use of the English language in his lyrics. some of his earlier songs were also revived by other artists such as Lea Salonga, Regine Velasquez and many others. He also shared with me his latest triumph having had 12 of his songs recorded recently by Janis Siegel a member of the internationally successful recording group The Manhattan Transfer. That album will be released soon, and as yet they have no cover artwork done, and so with a high degree of shameless self promotion I let him know "I could do that!" - in his unique style he said "lets talk more" So who knows. I would love to though.
I just wanted to share something of this warm and gentle man whom Filipinos love. I guess it would not be too ambitious to suggest that he is the Filipino version of Tony Bennett. He sings and composes because he obviously loves it. He is a man imbued with class and style and no pretense. Hard to believe that he is also the chairman and CEO of a major Philippine company with assets in the tens of millions of dollars. His note that came with the CD's and personally written was an interesting thing. I wonder how many other CEO's can say they have a second job as an internationally recognised singer / composer! It was a complete honour to meet this man, I do hope it isn't the last time, and am also hoping he gives me a shot at the CD cover.
There are two clips here, both sung in English. The first is of Jose singing a duet with Lea Salonga - for those who do not know, she is the actual singing voice of most all of the disney female animated songs. Her repertoire ranges from the original Miss Saigon to Disney's Mulan, The Little Mermaid, and many, many others. SHe is a real talent...and a Filipino!
The second clip is a a duet with Regine Velasquez, an artist I have photographed three times. They are singing a song written by Jose Mari Chan. If I am not mistaken it was also one of Regine's first hits. I am including a picture collage I did for Regine, I never had a picture with Jose, which was a pity, my cameras were all locked away in the flight. Sayang (too bad in Filipino!)
Comments
I got a kick out of you telling us this: "one of his songs was playing in the background of the in-flight travel preparedness video, Love at Thirty Thousand feet."
You always meet fabulous artists!
And how nice of him to send you the rest of the CD's! I kinda know someone like that. ;)