Jonathan Leong
Encyclopedia
Jon Leong, 梁偉鑛, (Born Jonathan Ken Leong, 2 June 1982) is a Singaporean
performing artist, singer-songrwriter, music producer and actor. His first steps into the world of entertainment started when he played in bands at pubs and clubs before achieving public prominence after finishing as the runner-up during the second season of Singapore Idol
, a franchise of the popular Pop Idol
series. He is currently playing the principal role of "The Boy" in the Cirque Du Soleil
-esque circus musical, Voyage De La Vie. Leong has also recorded a full length studio album, which was released on 22nd September 2011.
. Leong finished his academic life graduating in 2007 from The National University of Singapore
with a degree in Political Science
(Leong was preparing himself for a career in Journalism
and writing). Leong was very active in sports during his school days, notably so in the sport of fencing
. He had earned himself the school colors from both his secondary school and junior college for his contribution to the respective schools through the sport. Leong had won many national fencing competitions and was part of the Singapore national team, representing the country in the sport from the year 2000-2001. From 2001 to 2003, Leong enlisted in the military, joining the Singapore Armed Forces
. During his time in the military, Leong became part of the Airborne trained Commando
unit in the Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation
.
Trained electric organ and classical piano from an early age, Leong developed a deep love with music. Leong often cites his father and his family as very strong musical influences in many interviews, saying that his father's one time stint as a singer for a band and the many musical jam sessions that surrounded the young singer-to be weaned him for his career in entertainment.
His first memorable experience on the stage was when he won a school singing contest at the age of 15 and got the opportunity to give a solo performance at a school event as a result. In an interview with Channel NewsAsia
, he mentioned that he took part in the singing contest "in order to get out of detention, not to win and fate decided the rest." Towards the end of his miltary term, he formed the rock band Reverie, taking the role of lead singer with other members of his unit.
Leong fronted rock band, Reverie in the pub and club scene for four years as a means of income while attending university. The band was reasonably successful and they were often hired to play private events, the most notable being FHM
Singapore's Girl next door competition finals and various university parties alongside other bands. The band also recorded an original song for a World Harmony Day event for the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
.
Coming from a musical family, it was no surprise that Leong's singing style finds roots from a wide range of artists, the rocker cites his early influences to be a lot of old mainstream pop music
, classic rock
, heavy metal
and hard rock
. In many interviews, he has mentioned the vocal stylings of Rob Thomas
, Elvis Presley
, Dave Gahan, David Bowie
, Scott Weiland
, Frank Sinatra
, Dean Martin
and Charon
as strong influences.
In late 2004, Leong was signed on to Upfront Models a very well known, modeling agency in Singapore. His involvement in the fashion industry led him to branch out as a solo singer with performances at various fashion events such as DKNY
's store launch at Palais renaissance, an upmarket shopping arcade in Singapore, The Takashimaya
Singapore Retailer's show, The New Paper
New Face pageant finals and as a guest performer at the Concert in the park held at the Singapore Botanic Gardens
in 2005.
, is Leong's first foray into mainstream media attention.
In the early part of the competition, Leong sang Matchbox Twenty
's "If You're Gone
" to cinch his place in the top 12 and was an early media and crowd favourite after that performance. During jazz week, his rendition of Nat King Cole
's "Unforgettable
" cemented his position as a hot favourite in the competition. However, the performance that won the hearts of the Singaporean population was his take on Irish indie rock band Snow Patrol
's hit song, "Chasing Cars
", which placed Leong as the media's favourite for the title. Leong finished the competition as 1st runner up in the finals held in the Singapore Indoor Stadium
where he performed to a full crowd of more than 12,000 people.
The nationally televised singing competition put Leong's distinctive baritone voice on the map and made him one of the most recognizable faces and voices in the Singaporean entertainment scene. It did not come as a surprise when Leong was offered a record deal (from chief Singapore Idol
judge, Ken Lim
) a year later, the chief judge was remembered to have said on air (after the announcement of the final results) that Leong had what it took to "be a regional star, anytime."
.
During the competition he garnered a huge fanbase, self named the 'Jonatics'. Leong has mentioned on some occasions that he was initially uncomfortable with the word, "fan" and prefers to refer to his fanbase as "supporters" as he felt that the "fan" sounded 'rather snooty'. His fanbase has been well aware of Leong's longtime affinity with animals and have adopted a dog and a monkey in his name at a dog society in the case of the former and the Night Safari
for the latter.
, Leong has performed at many high profile events, television shows and many concert venues including Miss Singapore Universe
, the President's Star Charity Singapore, a Levi's jeans launch and an FHM
event.
In December 2006, Leong hosted a local holiday special series produced by Mediacorp
named "Wish Upon A Star" alongside Hady Mirza
and Gurmit Singh
to fulfill contractual obligations. He was voted Man of the Year 2006 in The Flame Awards organised by The New Paper
. Mediacorp's Channel 5 Fame Awards gave Leong the title of "Best Hunk 2006".
In 2007, Leong was made an ambassador for the Motorola
Singapore (RED) Campaign, an initiative spearheaded by Bono
of U2
to alleviate the spread of HIV
in Africa. In November that year, Leong lent his vocals to a Mandarin track, 情牵二十五, which was included in the tracklist for an album compilation to commemorate Mediacorp
's twenty five year anniversary of broadcasting locally produced mandarin drama serials on Channel 8.
In September 2008, Leong was invited to cameo in an episode in Calefare
, a knock-off of the popular HBO series, Extras, acting as a popular singer named Johnny Chia, a parody of himself. When interviewed if he was aware of the similarities between the two shows, Leong expressed ignorance during filming, but has since "immensely enjoyed" the original British sitcom after the fact. He was featured as a celebrity guest contestant in the premiere episode of the Singaporean version of the popular television gameshow Don't Forget the Lyrics!
. Along with other singers, Leong managed to raised $25,000 for charity. He was also an ambassador for the Passion Card Ad campaign for the People's Association
.
The multi-million dollar theatrical circus spectacular was created by Mark Fisher
, produced by The Generating Company
, and co-conceived and directed by acclaimed Broadway
and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
director Philip Wm. McKinley. "Voyage De La Vie" is currently the resident show at the integrated resort Resorts World Sentosa.
Leong is the only Singaporean performer in "Voyage De La Vie", the Cirque Du Soleil
-esque show boasts a blend of circus performances, elaborate sets, costumes and original music. It features an international cast from 16 different countries and has enjoyed success since it's opening night in June 2010. It is currently the longest-running production in the history of Singapore
.
On his website and official fan page on the social networking site, Facebook
, Leong displays his hobby artwork (predominantly clothing customization, toy making and clay sculpting).
His website is currently under construction but he has expressed that he is working on a podcast program, articles, story writing and film projects.
Leong has always been known to have a very personal touch with the fans of his work. According to the media, he replies emails to his fans personally and makes his electronic mailing address no secret. He is also an avid animal lover.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
performing artist, singer-songrwriter, music producer and actor. His first steps into the world of entertainment started when he played in bands at pubs and clubs before achieving public prominence after finishing as the runner-up during the second season of Singapore Idol
Singapore Idol
Singapore Idol is a television show on Channel 5 of MediaCorp TV. It is a competition among undiscovered singers in Singapore. Like others in the Idol series, it is modelled after Pop Idol. The current judges are singer/songwriter Dick Lee and record producers Florence Lian and Ken Lim. Previous...
, a franchise of the popular Pop Idol
Pop Idol
Pop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
series. He is currently playing the principal role of "The Boy" in the Cirque Du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
-esque circus musical, Voyage De La Vie. Leong has also recorded a full length studio album, which was released on 22nd September 2011.
Early life
Leong was born and raised in Singapore, he is the son of Joseph, an owner of a newspaper stand, and Mary an ex airline ticket sales executive. Leong was raised catholic and received his primary school education at Nan Hua Primary School, secondary school education at St. Joseph's Institution where he won his first singing competition in 1997 and junior college education in Serangoon Junior CollegeSerangoon Junior College
Serangoon Junior College is a junior college in Singapore, offering a two-year course for pre-university students leading up to GCE 'A' Level examinations.-History and Achievements:...
. Leong finished his academic life graduating in 2007 from The National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
with a degree in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
(Leong was preparing himself for a career in Journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
and writing). Leong was very active in sports during his school days, notably so in the sport of fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
. He had earned himself the school colors from both his secondary school and junior college for his contribution to the respective schools through the sport. Leong had won many national fencing competitions and was part of the Singapore national team, representing the country in the sport from the year 2000-2001. From 2001 to 2003, Leong enlisted in the military, joining the Singapore Armed Forces
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
. During his time in the military, Leong became part of the Airborne trained Commando
Commando
In English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
unit in the Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation
Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation
The Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation is an elite branch of the Singapore Armed Forces . An offensive unit, it specialises in pre-emptive operations involving small groups of specially trained soldiers in enemy territory...
.
Trained electric organ and classical piano from an early age, Leong developed a deep love with music. Leong often cites his father and his family as very strong musical influences in many interviews, saying that his father's one time stint as a singer for a band and the many musical jam sessions that surrounded the young singer-to be weaned him for his career in entertainment.
His first memorable experience on the stage was when he won a school singing contest at the age of 15 and got the opportunity to give a solo performance at a school event as a result. In an interview with Channel NewsAsia
Channel NewsAsia
Channel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
, he mentioned that he took part in the singing contest "in order to get out of detention, not to win and fate decided the rest." Towards the end of his miltary term, he formed the rock band Reverie, taking the role of lead singer with other members of his unit.
Leong fronted rock band, Reverie in the pub and club scene for four years as a means of income while attending university. The band was reasonably successful and they were often hired to play private events, the most notable being FHM
FHM
FHM, originally published as For Him Magazine, is an international monthly men's lifestyle magazine.- History :The magazine began publication in 1985 in the United Kingdom under the name For Him and changed its title to FHM in 1994 when Emap Consumer Media bought the magazine, although the full For...
Singapore's Girl next door competition finals and various university parties alongside other bands. The band also recorded an original song for a World Harmony Day event for the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts is one of the oldest and most established tertiary arts institution in Singapore....
.
Coming from a musical family, it was no surprise that Leong's singing style finds roots from a wide range of artists, the rocker cites his early influences to be a lot of old mainstream pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
, heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
and hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
. In many interviews, he has mentioned the vocal stylings of Rob Thomas
Rob Thomas (musician)
Robert Kelly "Rob" Thomas is an American rock recording artist and songwriter. He is the primary songwriter and lead singer of the band Matchbox Twenty. Thomas also records and performs as a solo artist...
, Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, Dave Gahan, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, Scott Weiland
Scott Weiland
Scott Weiland is an American musician, lyricist, and vocalist, most notable for his work with Grammy Award-winning rock band Stone Temple Pilots. Weiland is also known for his five-year career with supergroup Velvet Revolver as well as his own solo career...
, Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
and Charon
Charon
Charon may refer to:Ancient world*Charon , in Greek mythology, the ferryman who ferried the dead to the underworld*Charon of Lampsacus, ancient Greek logographer...
as strong influences.
In late 2004, Leong was signed on to Upfront Models a very well known, modeling agency in Singapore. His involvement in the fashion industry led him to branch out as a solo singer with performances at various fashion events such as DKNY
DKNY
DKNY is a label of fashion designer Donna Karan. It is also the name of a clothing store in New York City featuring Donna Karan's associated line.-History:...
's store launch at Palais renaissance, an upmarket shopping arcade in Singapore, The Takashimaya
Takashimaya
is a large Japanese department store chain.Founded in 1829 in Kyoto by Iida Shinkichi as a retailer of used clothing and cotton cloth, the store now has outlets throughout Japan and also in Taipei, Paris and Singapore....
Singapore Retailer's show, The New Paper
The New Paper
The New Paper is Singapore's second-highest circulating paid English-language newspaper, first launched on July 26, 1988, by Singapore Press Holdings . According to SPH, its average daily circulation for August 2010 was 101600....
New Face pageant finals and as a guest performer at the Concert in the park held at the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Singapore Botanic Gardens
The Singapore Botanic Gardens is a 74-hectare botanical garden in Singapore. It is half the size of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew or around one-fifth the size of Central Park in New York. It is the only botanic garden in the world that opens from 5 a.m...
in 2005.
Singapore Idol
Auditioning for the popular reality series among thousands and eventually reaching the finals held at the Singapore indoor Stadium of the television show with eventual winner, Hady MirzaHady Mirza
Hady Mirza is a Singaporean singer of Bugis descent, with his grandparents hailing from Sulawesi. He is the winner of the second season of the reality TV show Singapore Idol...
, is Leong's first foray into mainstream media attention.
In the early part of the competition, Leong sang Matchbox Twenty
Matchbox Twenty
Matchbox Twenty is an American rock band, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1995...
's "If You're Gone
If You're Gone
"If You're Gone" is the title of a song by the rock band Matchbox Twenty. It was the second single off Mad Season. The song, written by Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas, became a hit on adult contemporary radio, spending two weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
" to cinch his place in the top 12 and was an early media and crowd favourite after that performance. During jazz week, his rendition of Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
's "Unforgettable
Unforgettable (song)
"Unforgettable" is a popular song written by Irving Gordon. The song's original working title was "Uncomparable". The music publishing company asked Irving to change it to "Unforgettable". The song was published in 1951....
" cemented his position as a hot favourite in the competition. However, the performance that won the hearts of the Singaporean population was his take on Irish indie rock band Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
's hit song, "Chasing Cars
Chasing Cars
"Chasing Cars" is the second single from Snow Patrol's fourth album, Eyes Open. It was recorded in 2005 and released on 6 June 2006 in the US and 24 July 2006 in the UK as the album's second single....
", which placed Leong as the media's favourite for the title. Leong finished the competition as 1st runner up in the finals held in the Singapore Indoor Stadium
Singapore Indoor Stadium
Singapore Indoor Stadium is an indoor sports arena, located in Kallang, Singapore.It was completed in 1989 and was officially opened by the, then, prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, on 31 December 1989. The building was built at a cost of S$ 90 million...
where he performed to a full crowd of more than 12,000 people.
The nationally televised singing competition put Leong's distinctive baritone voice on the map and made him one of the most recognizable faces and voices in the Singaporean entertainment scene. It did not come as a surprise when Leong was offered a record deal (from chief Singapore Idol
Singapore Idol
Singapore Idol is a television show on Channel 5 of MediaCorp TV. It is a competition among undiscovered singers in Singapore. Like others in the Idol series, it is modelled after Pop Idol. The current judges are singer/songwriter Dick Lee and record producers Florence Lian and Ken Lim. Previous...
judge, Ken Lim
Ken Lim
Ken Lim is an album producer, composer, publisher, artist manager and concert promoter from Singapore who came under the spotlight in 2004 as a chief judge of the Singapore Idol series...
) a year later, the chief judge was remembered to have said on air (after the announcement of the final results) that Leong had what it took to "be a regional star, anytime."
.
During the competition he garnered a huge fanbase, self named the 'Jonatics'. Leong has mentioned on some occasions that he was initially uncomfortable with the word, "fan" and prefers to refer to his fanbase as "supporters" as he felt that the "fan" sounded 'rather snooty'. His fanbase has been well aware of Leong's longtime affinity with animals and have adopted a dog and a monkey in his name at a dog society in the case of the former and the Night Safari
Night Safari
The Night Safari is the world's first nocturnal zoo and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Singapore.The concept of a nocturnal park in Singapore was mooted in the 1980s by the former executive chairman of the Singapore Zoo, Dr Ong Swee Law...
for the latter.
2006-2009: Collaborations with MediaCorp
Following his commercial success on Singapore IdolSingapore Idol
Singapore Idol is a television show on Channel 5 of MediaCorp TV. It is a competition among undiscovered singers in Singapore. Like others in the Idol series, it is modelled after Pop Idol. The current judges are singer/songwriter Dick Lee and record producers Florence Lian and Ken Lim. Previous...
, Leong has performed at many high profile events, television shows and many concert venues including Miss Singapore Universe
Miss Singapore Universe
Miss Singapore Universe is an annual beauty contest held in Singapore and organised by Derrol Stepenny Promotions to select the country's representative to the Miss Universe pageant. Between 2001 and 2007, the contest was telecast 'live' by the local television station Mediacorp's Channel 5...
, the President's Star Charity Singapore, a Levi's jeans launch and an FHM
FHM
FHM, originally published as For Him Magazine, is an international monthly men's lifestyle magazine.- History :The magazine began publication in 1985 in the United Kingdom under the name For Him and changed its title to FHM in 1994 when Emap Consumer Media bought the magazine, although the full For...
event.
In December 2006, Leong hosted a local holiday special series produced by Mediacorp
MediaCorp
Media Corporation of Singapore, better known as MediaCorp, is a group of commercial media companies in Singapore, with business interests in television and radio broadcasting, interactive media, and, to a lesser extent, print publishing and film-making....
named "Wish Upon A Star" alongside Hady Mirza
Hady Mirza
Hady Mirza is a Singaporean singer of Bugis descent, with his grandparents hailing from Sulawesi. He is the winner of the second season of the reality TV show Singapore Idol...
and Gurmit Singh
Gurmit Singh
Gurmit Ottawan Singh Gurmit Ottawan Singh Gurmit Ottawan Singh (born March 24, 1965; is a popular Singaporean actor, host and comedy performer. He is best known for his role in Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd, and is one of the leading artistes in MediaCorp.-Life:...
to fulfill contractual obligations. He was voted Man of the Year 2006 in The Flame Awards organised by The New Paper
The New Paper
The New Paper is Singapore's second-highest circulating paid English-language newspaper, first launched on July 26, 1988, by Singapore Press Holdings . According to SPH, its average daily circulation for August 2010 was 101600....
. Mediacorp's Channel 5 Fame Awards gave Leong the title of "Best Hunk 2006".
In 2007, Leong was made an ambassador for the Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
Singapore (RED) Campaign, an initiative spearheaded by Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
of U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
to alleviate the spread of HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
in Africa. In November that year, Leong lent his vocals to a Mandarin track, 情牵二十五, which was included in the tracklist for an album compilation to commemorate Mediacorp
MediaCorp
Media Corporation of Singapore, better known as MediaCorp, is a group of commercial media companies in Singapore, with business interests in television and radio broadcasting, interactive media, and, to a lesser extent, print publishing and film-making....
's twenty five year anniversary of broadcasting locally produced mandarin drama serials on Channel 8.
In September 2008, Leong was invited to cameo in an episode in Calefare
Calefare
Calefare is an English-language Singaporean comedy series that debuted on Saturday August 9, 2008 on MediaCorp TV's Channel 5 as a "Sneak Preview," airing right after the National Day Parade. The series then began their regular Tuesday night 8:00pm airing on August 19, 2008 for its 13-week run...
, a knock-off of the popular HBO series, Extras, acting as a popular singer named Johnny Chia, a parody of himself. When interviewed if he was aware of the similarities between the two shows, Leong expressed ignorance during filming, but has since "immensely enjoyed" the original British sitcom after the fact. He was featured as a celebrity guest contestant in the premiere episode of the Singaporean version of the popular television gameshow Don't Forget the Lyrics!
Don't Forget the Lyrics!
Don't Forget the Lyrics! is a game show that originally aired on Fox from July 11, 2007 to June 19, 2009, hosted by Wayne Brady and produced by RDF USA, part of RDF Media. The launch of this show prompted NBC to move up the launch of their similar game show The Singing Bee...
. Along with other singers, Leong managed to raised $25,000 for charity. He was also an ambassador for the Passion Card Ad campaign for the People's Association
People's Association
The People’s Association was established in Singapore as a statutory board on 1 July 1960 to promote racial harmony and social cohesion. PA commemorated its 50th Anniversary in 2010....
.
Theatrical Circus Career
In April 2010, it was announced that Leong would star in the original theatrical production, "Voyage De La Vie" along with a cast of international performers. After several rounds of auditions, Leong got the lead role of "The Boy".The multi-million dollar theatrical circus spectacular was created by Mark Fisher
Mark Fisher
Mark Fisher is a British Labour Party politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent Central from 1983 to 2010 and Minister for the Arts between 1997-98.-Early life:...
, produced by The Generating Company
The Generating Company
The Generating Company is an international touring circus company producing large scale commercially successful shows and events around the world. Most recent shows include 'Voyage de la Vie' at Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore and 'Aqua' the worlds largest water show in Shenzhen southern China...
, and co-conceived and directed by acclaimed Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is an American circus company. The company was started when the circus created by James Anthony Bailey and P. T. Barnum was merged with the Ringling Brothers Circus. The Ringling brothers purchased the Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1907, but ran the circuses...
director Philip Wm. McKinley. "Voyage De La Vie" is currently the resident show at the integrated resort Resorts World Sentosa.
Leong is the only Singaporean performer in "Voyage De La Vie", the Cirque Du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
-esque show boasts a blend of circus performances, elaborate sets, costumes and original music. It features an international cast from 16 different countries and has enjoyed success since it's opening night in June 2010. It is currently the longest-running production in the history of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
Solo Album
On the 22nd September 2011, Leong's solo album was released. Leong contributed writing, production and arrangement skills for the album. titled, 神秘英雄 which translates in English to Mystery Man is predominantly recorded in Mandarin but features one English single titled, For You. The single 多一次机会 (One more chance) peaked at number 7 on the Top 20 Countdown chart on the most popular radio station in Singapore, Y.E.S. 93.3FM.Internet blog and Podcast Show
In August 2011, Leong started a web blog named Life In Stereo- Jonathan Leong's guide to Life and an accompanying monthly podcast show that is available for free download on his website.Personal life
Away from the limelight, Leong leads a quiet life. In many of his interviews, he has emphasized his priority away from work is always his family, loved one, his pets and close friends. Leong has always shown a great love and respect for films and good writing. He has mentioned on several occasion that enjoys writing, reading and art.On his website and official fan page on the social networking site, Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
, Leong displays his hobby artwork (predominantly clothing customization, toy making and clay sculpting).
His website is currently under construction but he has expressed that he is working on a podcast program, articles, story writing and film projects.
Leong has always been known to have a very personal touch with the fans of his work. According to the media, he replies emails to his fans personally and makes his electronic mailing address no secret. He is also an avid animal lover.
External links
- http://www.jonleong.com/
- http://www.facebook/jonleongpage/