Richie Jen | |||||||||||||||||||
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 Jen in 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 23 June 1966 Tianzhong, Changhua, Taiwan | ||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Chinese Culture University | ||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer, songwriter | ||||||||||||||||||
| Years active | 1990–present | ||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Awards |
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| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 任賢齊 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 任贤齐 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Musical career | |||||||||||||||||||
| Origin | Taiwan | ||||||||||||||||||
| Genres | Mandopop | ||||||||||||||||||
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, harmonica | ||||||||||||||||||
| Labels | Rock Records | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website | blog | ||||||||||||||||||
Richie Jen Hsien-chi (Chinese: 任賢齊; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Jîm Hiân-chê / Jîm Hiân-chôe, born 23 June 1966)[1] is a Taiwanese singer and actor. He graduated from the Chinese Culture University's physical education department.[2]
Jen was born and grew up in Tianzhong Township, Changhua County, Taiwan. He attended Changhua County Tianzhong Senior High School[3] and at the age of 21 he entered the physical education department of Chinese Culture University.[2] He also started to work at a musical instrument store while learning how to play guitar.[4]
In 1990, while a senior at CCU, Richie Jen signed a contract with Synco Cultural Corporation and released a complication album named Towards the Rainbow (奔向彩虹).[5] In December of that year, he released his first solo album Ask Again (再問一次). He released two more albums in 1991, Cold & Tender (冷漠與温柔), and Fly to My Own Sky (飛向自己的天空),[6] before enlisting in the military.
In 1996, he joined Rock Records, and released the album I Feel Good! (依靠, lit. 'Rely On'), which sold 160,000 copies.[7] His breakthrough came when the album Too Softhearted (心太軟) was released, which sold millions of copies and the title track became popular in China and Taiwan.[7][8][9]
In 1998, Jen's album Love Like Pacific Ocean (愛像太平洋) was released. The tracks "Unknown Pleasures" (任逍遥) "The Sad Pacific" (傷心太平洋) from the album were the opening and closing theme songs of the 1998 series The Return of the Condor Heroes, respectively.[10] Jen also starred in the Condor Heroes, playing Yang Guo.[11]
In 2005, Jen joined EMI, and his first album from EMI Old Place (老地方) was released a year later.[12]
In 2008, Jen signed a contract with East Asia Records (東亞唱片).[13]
In 2002, Richie Jen married former fashion designer Tina Chen (陳則妤). They have two children together, a daughter and a son. They live in Hong Kong.[14]
Album + EP, single[18]
Jen also appeared in the 2008 music video of Beijing Welcomes You.
