Jose Mari Chan
曾煥福[1]
Birth nameJosé Mari Chan y Lim
Also known asJoe Mari Chan, Mr. Music Man
Born (1945-03-11) March 11, 1945 (age 78)
Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippine Commonwealth
OriginBacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines
GenresAdult contemporary, easy listening, pop, Christmas
Instrument(s)Vocals (male alto - tenor), piano, guitar
Years active1966–present
Labels
Websitejosemarichan.com
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese曾煥福
Simplified Chinese曾焕福

Jose Mari Lim Chan (Tagalog: [hoˈse ˈmɐɾi ˈtʃan]; born March 11, 1945), born José Mari Chan y Lim, is a Filipino singer, songwriter, businessman and TV presenter. Regarded as one of the country’s most renowned balladeers and composers,[3] he is popularly dubbed as the "King of Philippine Christmas Carols".[4][5] As of 2001, Chan's repertoire has sold two million albums and has garnered 37 platinum records to his credit,[6] becoming one of the best-selling Filipino recording artist of all time.[7][8] He is best-known for his signature song "Christmas In Our Hearts", which is the biggest selling Filipino Christmas song in history,[9] including hits such as "A Perfect Christmas", "Beautiful Girl" and "Please Be Careful with My Heart".[10]

Chan began a career in 1967 and released his debut album Deep in My Heart in 1969.[11] He has since released 14 studio albums, most notable being Constant Change (1989) and Christmas In Our Hearts (1990). The two albums became major successes for Chan, both were certified double Diamond by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry and becoming two of the best-selling albums in the Philippines.[12] With a career spanning five decades, he has been honored by various award-giving bodies such as the Lifetime Achievement Award from PMPC Star Awards for Music,[13] and two "Album of the Year" from Awit Awards.

Early life

Chan was born José Mari Chan y Lim on March 11, 1945, in Iloilo City[14] and was the first-born child of Antonio Chan and Florencia Lim.[15] His father was an immigrant from Fujian, China who came to the Philippines at age 13[16] and started a sugar trading company in Bacolod.[17] Chan's mother was the only child of a Chinese-Filipino couple.[16]

Chan was exposed to music in his childhood with his maternal grandmother from Cebu often playing music at their house and his mother being a pianist. He was also accompanied by the family's house helper to participate in the radio program Children's Hour on DYRI where children performed the piano, sang, and recited poetry.[16] At school he was often selected to perform in school programs. Paul Anka and Neil Sedaka are among the songwriters which served as his inspiration in his childhood. Chan wrote his first song at age 13.[16]

Chan's father was supportive of his involvement in Children's Hour but was reluctant of supporting his music career by the time he was age 14 or 15 when he began composing songs. His father was concerned their Chinese background would put Chan at a disadvantage in the music industry and encouraged him to relegate his music pursuits as a hobby and to pursue a business career instead. When Chan reminded the older gentleman that he did have a flair for composing, he was told that that particular field "would not be enough to support a family".[18]

He attended the Ateneo de Manila University where he met fellow musician Ramon Jacinto of RJ & the Riots. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics in 1967.[19]

Musical career

Chan first appeared on the local scene as a guest on Pilita Corrales's program An Evening with Pilita in 1965.[20] The next year, he became the host and singer of a television show called 9 Teeners of ABS-CBN 3 (now ABS-CBN 2) which aired on weekdays and Saturday in 1966. Since he was a junior student at that time at Ateneo and he was being encouraged to become a businessman, his father only consented his involvement if he was not paid salary for the stint.[18] His first single "Afterglow" was released in 1967. He would release his first album two years later.[21] after he was approached by an independent record producer.[18]

His first long playing album Deep in My Heart was issued in 1969. In 1973, he represented the Philippines in the World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo where his song "Can We Just Stop And Talk Awhile" went into the final entries. For more or less than four years from 1970 to 1974, Jose Mari Chan was able to compose more than 20 songs for movies and earned him different recognitions and nominations at the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards (FAMAS Awards). He also wrote several well-loved commercial jingles, among which are the Philippine Airlines' "Love at Thirty Thousand Feet", the Knorr Chinese Soup jingle, and the Alaska Milk jingle. Between 1974 and 1975 he was the Star of a series of Television Network Specials spotlighting his words and music.[22]

In 1975, he moved to the United States to run a branch office of their family's sugar business and remained there for 11 years, continuously composing songs as well. Some of which were recorded by foreign artists. In 1986, he returned to the Philippines[23] and made a comeback to the music industry with the release of his album A Golden Collection, a compilation of his hits along with a brand new composition "Tell Me Your Name" which re-introduced him to a younger audience. The album was released by Universal Records.[24]

On February 14, 1988, Chan performed at the Maynila restaurant within the Manila Hotel as a guest act for Joey Albert's Valentine's Day dinner concert "Here's to Love", his first live performance in years.[25]

In 1989, he released his album Constant Change.[21] It was named Album of the Year by the Awit Awards, the local equivalent of the American Grammy Awards and reached the Diamond Record in terms of sales. The Diamond Award is given to albums or singles selling ten million units or more. It was also sold in other Asian countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

In 1990, his Christmas album, Christmas in Our Hearts was released.[21] It reached triple platinum status that same year, eventually earning the Double Diamond Record Award in 1995, for selling over 20 million units. The significant popularity of his iconic Christmas songs and the album during the holiday season annually earned him the title "Father of Philippine Christmas Music".[26][27]

In 1994, he released his eighth album, Thank You Love, where he has another song "Is She Thinking About Me" with Christine Bersola-Babao and another Christmas song, "Christmas Past".[28] His 2001 album A Heart's Journey won Album of the year in the Awit Awards. In 2005, he composed "We're All Just One" as the theme song of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.[23] In 2007, he released his 12th album Love Letters and Other Souvenirs.[29]

In 2009, Chan was inducted to the Philippines Eastwood City Walk Of Fame.[30]

In 2010, Chan was awarded as MYX Magna Award Winner in the MYX Music Awards 2010 for awarding as a contribution for being a singer, composer and also a businessman & TV host.

In 2011, he released his 13th full-length album, The Manhattan Connection: The Songs of Jose Mari Chan. The album, which was produced by Janis Siegel of The Manhattan Transfer. The songs were reimagined by music producer Yaron Gershovsky.[31]

In 2012, he released his 14th overall album Going Home to Christmas. It was his second Christmas album after 22 years since Christmas In Our Hearts was released in 1990.[32]

Due to Chan's association with Christmas music in the Philippines, he has been a frequent subject of internet memes during the Christmas season in the country which traditionally starts in September. Because of his popularity during these seasons, he was known as the "King of Filipino Christmas Carols"[33][34][35][36][37][38]

Business career

He is the chairman and chief executive officer of Binalbagan-Isabela Sugar Company Inc. (BISCOM) and A. Chan Sugar Corporation as of 2018.[17] Upon encouragement of his father, Chan became involved in the family business in 1967 right after he graduated from Ateneo. He later inherited the business from his father. Chan has described his business career as his second priority behind his family affairs and ahead of his music career.[18] In 1975, he had to move to the United States in relation to his family's sugar business and returned to the Philippines in 1986.[23]

Personal life

He is married to Mary Ann Ansaldo and has five children, who have inherited their musical talent from him. His daughter, Liza, has been featured in several duets with him. His sons Joe and Mike Chan formed a musical duo and released their debut album in 2019 under Star Music.[39][40] Although currently based in and residing primarily in Metro Manila with his family, Chan maintains his homes in Iloilo and Cebu.

Chan is a devout Roman Catholic.[28]

Awards

Award Award Giving Body Date
Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines for the Arts[41] Ten Outstanding Young Men Awards 1974
Lifetime Achievement Award[42] Philippine Association of the Recording Industry --
Dangal ng Musikang Pilipino Award[43] Philippine Association of the Recording Industry --
Antonio C. Barreiro Lifetime Achievement Award[43] Metro Pop Foundation --
Elite Platinum Award[44] ABS-CBN 2005
Dangal ng OPM[45] Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit 2011
Puso ng Saya Award[46] GMA Network Sunday Pinasaya 2019

The Bacolod city government in 2018 named him as their adopted son by the Bacolod City Council, and as their honorary mayor during the administration of Mayor Evelio Leonardia for his role in the growth of the Bacolod's sugar industry.[17]

Year Award Giving Body Category Nominated Work Results
2008 Awit Awards Best Performance by a Male Recording Artist (Performance Award) "Windmills of Your Mind" Nominated
Best Performance by a Male Recording Artist (People's Choice Award) "Windmills of Your Mind" Nominated
2009 Eastwood City Walk Of Fame Celebrity Inductee — Won
2010 MYX Music Awards MYX Magna Award — Won
2019 PMPC Star Awards for Music Levi Celerio Lifetime Achievement Award — Won[47]

Discography

Albums

Songs

Collaborations

Music videos

See also

References

  1. ^ "Jose Mari Chan（曾焕福）将返桑梓为家乡小学新楼剪彩-菲信网". Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  2. ^ "International Talent Directory" (PDF). Billboard. The Billboard Publishing Company. December 28, 1968. p. 164. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  3. ^ "Meet the Mariah Carey of the Philippines' Christmas Season". Time. December 22, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  4. ^ "How Jose Mari Chan celebrates Christmas". www.philstar.com. December 22, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  5. ^ Villano, Alexa (December 13, 2015). "The stories behind Jose Mari Chan's iconic Christmas songs". RAPPLER. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  6. ^ Katigbak, Fran (2003). He can't fill up Araneta with thousands, but he fills up thousands of hearts. Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. 30.
  7. ^ New love songs from the country's ballad king. Manila Standard. 2001. p. 20.
  8. ^ "Story behind Christmas song". www.philstar.com. December 21, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  9. ^ Leon, Marguerite de (August 10, 2022). "[Only IN Hollywood] We ask Jose Mari Chan what he thinks of each of his hit songs". RAPPLER. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  10. ^ Billones, Trishia (September 2, 2019). "PIPOL: Jose Mari Chan, the little drummer boy of Christmas". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  11. ^ "Jose Mari Chan on revival of his songs: "I'm complimented, because it means that my songs can live on to the next generations."". PEP.ph. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  12. ^ "Filipino song composers of all time (Part 2)". PEP.ph. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  13. ^ "PMPC Star Awards for Music Lifetime Achievement awardee Jose Mari Chan expresses disappointment over lack of support for local musicians". PEP.ph. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  14. ^ "Jose Mari Chan: King of Christmas Carols". 96.3 Easy Rock. December 5, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  15. ^ Logarta, Margie (February 28, 2018). "Sugar in his hearts". Manila Times. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  16. ^ a b c d Ortiga, Kari (December 19, 2016). "Jose Mari Chan". Esquire. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  17. ^ a b c Guadalquiver, Nanette (February 16, 2018). "Jose Mari Chan offers accolade to Chinese immigrant father". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  18. ^ a b c d Gutierrez, Angelica (November 24, 2017). "Jose Mari Chan, (Not) The Father of Philippine Christmas Carols". Esquire. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  19. ^ Godinez, Bong (April 7, 2008). "Filipino song composers of all time (Part 2)". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013.
  20. ^ Mendoza, Meg (October 23, 1988). "Gary's heart and soul". Manila Standard. Manila Standard News, Inc. p. 25. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  21. ^ a b c Valisno, Jeffrey O (July 21, 2011). "Local Support". Business World Online. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015.
  22. ^ Billboard Vol. 85, No. 44. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1973.
  23. ^ a b c Yalong, Bobby (November 21, 2014). "Jose Mari Chan juggles between his music and business enterprise". Asian Journal. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  24. ^ Suryadinata, Leo (2012). Southeast Asian Personalities of Chinese Descent: A Biographical Dictionary, Volume I & II. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 72. ISBN 978-981-4345-21-7. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  25. ^ Flores, Monette (February 1, 1988). "Love according to Joey". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. p. 10. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  26. ^ Red, Isah V. (December 6, 2018). "Christmas is Jose Mari Chan's season". Manila Standard. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  27. ^ Malasig, Jeline (September 1, 2020). "'Bringing our hearts close to Christmas': Jose Mari Chan's classic hit gets revamped in wake of COVID-19". Interaksyon. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  28. ^ a b Flores, Wilson Lee (November 25, 2018). "The story behind Jose Mari Chan's inspiring 'Christmas in Our Hearts'". Philstar.com. Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  29. ^ Lo, Ricky (July 21, 2007). "Love Letters is vintage Jose Mari Chan". philstar.com. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  30. ^ Calderon, Ricky L. (December 4, 2009). "KC gets own star in pinoy walk of fame". philstar.com. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  31. ^ Smith, Chuck (April 19, 2011). "Jose Mari Chan reimagined on 'The Manhattan Connection'". Yahoo! OMG! Philippines. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  32. ^ Policarpio, Allan (May 26, 2018). "Jose Mari Chan hints 'Going Home' may well be his last Christmas album". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  33. ^ "Why does Christmas in the Philippines start in September?". Rappler. September 26, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  34. ^ Cepeda, Cody (September 6, 2018). "It's September — and Jose Mari Chan memes are coming". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  35. ^ "Jose Mari Chan reveals favorite 'Christmas in Our Hearts' meme". GMA News. September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  36. ^ "How Jose Mari Chan stays immortal outside of memes". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  37. ^ "Jose Mari Chan, ikinatutuwa ang mga naglabasang meme". ABS-CBN News (in Tagalog). September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  38. ^ De Guzman, Chad (December 21, 2021). "This 77-Year-Old Sugar Magnate Is the Face and Voice of the Holiday Season in the Philippines. Just Don't Call Him 'Mr. Christmas'". Time. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  39. ^ "Joe and Mike Chan launch first album | ABS-CBN Corporate". ABS-CBN. March 30, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  40. ^ "Brothers Joe and Mike Continue Dad Jose Mari Chan's Musical Legacy". Orange Magazine. April 1, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  41. ^ "1971 – 1980 | TOYM Awardees". Retrieved December 2, 2011.
  42. ^ "Diether Ocampo's the salt in Margarita!". Manila Bulletin. August 2, 2007. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
  43. ^ a b Lo, Ricardo F. (December 14, 2002). "JOSE MARI CHAN IN OUR HEARTS". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on May 3, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
  44. ^ "Jose Mari Chan: Returns to Cebu for Holiday Medley". PhilSTAR. November 8, 2006. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  45. ^ "Dangal ng OPM Awardees bared". Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
  46. ^ Severo, Jan Milo (September 2, 2019). "Jose Marie Chan officially opens Christmas season". philstar.com. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  47. ^ "And the winners of the 11th Star Awards for Music 2020 are..." pep.ph. Retrieved April 24, 2020.

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