Wakin Chau
Encyclopedia
Wakin Chau is a Hong Kong
singer and actor. Chau's popularity has spread throughout Taiwan
, Hong Kong
, Mainland China
, and parts of Southeast Asia
. He was known as Emil Chau through the 1980s and 1990s, and by 2000 he reverted to his given name Wakin. As of August 2007, he has released more than 40 albums and held several international concert tours.
, Hong Kong. Growing up as the fourth son in his seven-member family, Wakin learned to play the guitar when he was about 13 years old. In 1979, he left for Taipei
to major in mathematics at National Taiwan University
. During his college years, he sang and played folk songs in local coffee shops. This activity was a tradition among NTU students, and it is how Wakin learned to sing in Mandarin, which would be key to his future as a music-maker in Taiwan
.
Wakin had high hopes to establish a career as a recording artist, and he actively sought out contacts in the music industry. But a persistent lack of interest eventually led him to give up trying to become a performer — instead, he could sign on as an assistant producer at Rock Records
, where he wrote marketable pop songs for other artists.
Wakin was later encouraged by Chyi Yu
to sing some jingles for commercial advertising spots. One of these tunes was for a car commercial, and it happened to catch the attention of Wakin's boss at Rock, who realized it was the voice of his own assistant producer.
That moment opened the door for Wakin to record and release his first Mandarin album under the Rock Records
label in 1987. For a man who had dreamed of performing professionally but had settled on being a record producer, this was a period of particularly good fortune that launched a succession of chart-topping records.
Shortly before his music career took off, Wakin the record producer met an American girl named Constance Woods, whose father was in Taiwan as a Fulbright scholar. Seeming to have plenty in common (including birthdays only one day apart) Wakin and Constance began to date, got engaged and then on 16 November 1986, they married in Taipei. Four months later there was another ceremony with family and friends in the United States of America on 14 March 1987. They have a son named Andrew and a daughter named Anya.
From 1985, Emil Chau — who has been using his given name Wakin since 1999 — has released more than 40 albums in Mandarin
, Cantonese and English
. He has become a prominent name in the music of Taiwan
and has fans of all ages not only around Asia
but also in North America
, Europe
and elsewhere. His platinum albums such as You Make Me Happy and Sad (讓我歡喜讓我憂), Flower's Heart (花心), Music Brings Us Together (有弦相聚), and Friends (朋友) have won awards in Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Singapore
.
Wakin has appeared in a number of films and made guest appearances on TV and radio programs in China
, Hong Kong
, Taiwan
, Malaysia, Singapore
and Japan
. Alongside his singing career, he is a restaurateur and also is active in international charitable causes, such as kidney dialysis charities in Singapore
, the January 2002 "Take a Deep Breath" concert in Taipei
to raise money for local health-care organizations, Beijing
's 4th Grand Charity Drive for Children in 2005, and Jackie Chan
's all-star concerts in Las Vegas
.
Wakin Chau is currently performing with distinguished artists Jonathan Lee, Chang Chen-yue
, and Lo Ta-yu
in the four-member "Superband
."
Hong Kong people
Hong Kong people refer to people who originate from Hong Kong. The term has no legal definition in Hong Kong. Rather, terms such as Hong Kong permanent resident and Hong Kong resident are used...
singer and actor. Chau's popularity has spread throughout Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
, and parts of Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. He was known as Emil Chau through the 1980s and 1990s, and by 2000 he reverted to his given name Wakin. As of August 2007, he has released more than 40 albums and held several international concert tours.
Biography
Wakin Chau was born in a rice store owned by his family in Sai Ying PunSai Ying Pun
Sai Ying Pun is an area in Western District on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It is part of Central and Western District in district administration....
, Hong Kong. Growing up as the fourth son in his seven-member family, Wakin learned to play the guitar when he was about 13 years old. In 1979, he left for Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
to major in mathematics at National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University is a national co-educational university located in Taipei, Republic of China . In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" . Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan,...
. During his college years, he sang and played folk songs in local coffee shops. This activity was a tradition among NTU students, and it is how Wakin learned to sing in Mandarin, which would be key to his future as a music-maker in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.
Wakin had high hopes to establish a career as a recording artist, and he actively sought out contacts in the music industry. But a persistent lack of interest eventually led him to give up trying to become a performer — instead, he could sign on as an assistant producer at Rock Records
Rock Records
Rock Records is a Taiwanese record label founded in 1980 by Sam and Johnny Duan . The record label had their first multiseller in 1989 with Sarah Chen.It is now Asia's largest independent record label....
, where he wrote marketable pop songs for other artists.
Wakin was later encouraged by Chyi Yu
Chyi Yu
Chyi Yu , is a Taiwanese singer. She is also the older sister of Taiwanese singer songwriter Chyi Chin, and is best known for her 1979 hit, "The Olive Tree" .-Discography:*1979 橄欖樹 *1982 祝福*1983 你是我所有的回憶*1984 有一個人...
to sing some jingles for commercial advertising spots. One of these tunes was for a car commercial, and it happened to catch the attention of Wakin's boss at Rock, who realized it was the voice of his own assistant producer.
That moment opened the door for Wakin to record and release his first Mandarin album under the Rock Records
Rock Records
Rock Records is a Taiwanese record label founded in 1980 by Sam and Johnny Duan . The record label had their first multiseller in 1989 with Sarah Chen.It is now Asia's largest independent record label....
label in 1987. For a man who had dreamed of performing professionally but had settled on being a record producer, this was a period of particularly good fortune that launched a succession of chart-topping records.
Shortly before his music career took off, Wakin the record producer met an American girl named Constance Woods, whose father was in Taiwan as a Fulbright scholar. Seeming to have plenty in common (including birthdays only one day apart) Wakin and Constance began to date, got engaged and then on 16 November 1986, they married in Taipei. Four months later there was another ceremony with family and friends in the United States of America on 14 March 1987. They have a son named Andrew and a daughter named Anya.
From 1985, Emil Chau — who has been using his given name Wakin since 1999 — has released more than 40 albums in Mandarin
Standard Mandarin
Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
, Cantonese and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. He has become a prominent name in the music of Taiwan
Music of Taiwan
Taiwan is densely-populated and culturally diverse, including a majority of Bensheng ren , a powerful faction waishengren who arrived with Chiang Kai-shek in the middle of the 20th century and the minority of aboriginal peoples.With the arrival of the KMT led Republic of China government in 1949,...
and has fans of all ages not only around Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
but also in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and elsewhere. His platinum albums such as You Make Me Happy and Sad (讓我歡喜讓我憂), Flower's Heart (花心), Music Brings Us Together (有弦相聚), and Friends (朋友) have won awards in Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong and 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...
.
Wakin has appeared in a number of films and made guest appearances on TV and radio programs in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, Malaysia, 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...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Alongside his singing career, he is a restaurateur and also is active in international charitable causes, such as kidney dialysis charities in 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...
, the January 2002 "Take a Deep Breath" concert in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
to raise money for local health-care organizations, Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
's 4th Grand Charity Drive for Children in 2005, and Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
's all-star concerts in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
.
Wakin Chau is currently performing with distinguished artists Jonathan Lee, Chang Chen-yue
Chang Chen-yue
Chang Chen-yue, also known as A-Yue is a Taiwanese rock musician known for his 1998 hit song "Ai Wo Bie Zou". He is a songwriter, singer and guitarist, and also a dance music DJ under the name DJ Orange. Chang is also the frontman of his band, Free Night, also known as Free9...
, and Lo Ta-yu
Lo Ta-yu
Lo Ta-yu or Luo Dayou is a Taiwanese singer and songwriter who, during the 1980s, affected Chinese pop and rock music with his melodic lyrics, his love songs, and his witty social and political commentary that he infused in his more political songs, often to the point that some of his songs were...
in the four-member "Superband
Superband (band)
Superband is a mandopop band formed by 4 veteran singers Lo Ta-yu, Jonathan Lee, Wakin Chau and Chang Chen-yue.The group was formed in 2008...
."
Mandarin albums
(Feb 1985) (Jul 1987) (Aug 1988) (Jan 1989) (Nov 1989) (Nov 1990) (Nov 1991) (Apr 1993) (Jan 1994) (Jun 1994) (Jan 1995) (Jul 1995) (Feb 1996) (Sep 1996) (Apr 1997) (Aug 1998) (Nov 1999) (Oct 2001)- 329 (Mar 2003) (Jul 2003) (Mar 2006)
English albums
- Sad Without You (Sep 1988)
- Blue Bird (Feb 1991)
- I Remember (May 1992)
- Songs of Birds (Aug 1993)
- Forever Young - Best Collection (1996)
- My Oh My (Feb 2001)
- My Favorite Songs (May 2002)
Filmography
- 1987 - Osmanthus Alley (桂花巷)
- 1987 - The Game They Called Sex (黃色故事)
- 1993 - Once a CopOnce a CopOnce a Cop is a 1993 Hong Kong action film directed by Stanley Tong and starring Michelle Yeoh. It is a spin-off of Jackie Chan's Police Story film series involving the character Yeoh portrayed in Police Story 3: Super Cop....
aka. Project S - 1994 - Right Here Waiting (等愛的女人)
- 1995 - Just Married (橫紋刀劈扭紋柴)
- 1995 - I Want To Go On Living (我要活下去)
- 1995 - Faithfully Yours (叛逆情緣)
- 1995 - Rumble in the BronxRumble in the BronxRumble in the Bronx is a 1995 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film starring Jackie Chan and Anita Mui. Released in the US in 1995, Rumble in the Bronx had a successful theater run, and brought Chan into the American mainstream...
(Ice Cream Man) - 1996 - Who's the Woman, Who's the Man?Who's the Woman, Who's the Man?Who's the Woman, Who's the Man? is a 1996 Hong Kong film directed by Peter Chan. It is a sequel to the 1994 film He's a Woman, She's a Man.-Cast and roles:* Jordan Chan - Yu Lo / 'Fish'* Moses Chan - Auditioning gay man...
(金枝玉葉2) - 1997 - All's Well, Ends Well 1997All's Well, Ends Well 1997All's Well, Ends Well 1997 is a 1997 Hong Kong comedy film directed by Alfred Cheung, starring Stephen Chow, Raymond Wong and Francis Ng.-Cast and roles:* Stephen Chow - Lo Kung* Raymond Wong - Lo Leung* Leslie Cheung - Youngest brother...
- 1997 - Walk In (奪舍)
- 1997 - Mr. Nice GuyMr. Nice Guy (1997 film)Mr Nice Guy is a 1997 Hong Kong martial arts action crime comedy film directed by Sammo Hung and starring Jackie Chan. It also stars Richard Norton as the villain, with whom Chan had worked in 1993 film City Hunter and Chan and Hung had worked in Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars. Hung makes a cameo as...
'(Ice Cream Man) - 1997 - 知解時空
- 1997 - Spicy Love SoupSpicy Love SoupSpicy Love Soup is a 1997 Chinese film directed by Zhang Yang and written by Zhang, Liu Fendou, Cai Shangjun, and Diao Yi'nan based on a story by Zhang and Peter Loehr...
(愛情麻辣燙) - 1999 - Gorgeous
- 1999 - Purple StormPurple Storm (film)Purple Storm is a 1999 Hong Kong science-fiction thriller directed by Teddy Chan was released on 25 October, 1999 and was officially released since on 25 November 1999...
(紫雨風暴) - 1999 - TarzanTarzanTarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
- 2001 - HeadlinesHeadlines (film)Headlines is a 2001 Hong Kong comedy-drama film directed by Leo Heung and starring Emil Chau, Maggie Cheung, Daniel Wu, Grace Yip and Wayne Lai...
(頭號人物) - 2003 - HomerunHomerun (film)Homerun Chinese: 跑吧！孩子 pinyin: pǎo bà háizǐ) is a 2003 Singaporean Mandarin-language film. A remake of the award-winning Iranian film Children of Heaven, Homerun is a drama about two poor siblings and their adventures over a lost pair of shoes...
- 2003 - The Pawnshop No. 8
External links
- Wakin.com (Big5-code; his personal website in Taiwan)
- Rock Records (Gogorock) (Big5-code)
- Zhou Huajian International Database 周華健國際資料庫 (In'tl, English & JIS-code)
- Stars Ferry's Friends (Taiwan, Big5-code)
- True Blue Emil's Page (Hong Kong, Big5-code)
- Sunny Stars Ferry — Wakin Chau (China, GB-code)
- Wakin's Malaysia Friends (Malaysia, English)
- Emil Chau Elite Team (Malaysia, English)
- Emil Chau Fan Club Japan (JIS-code)
- Every Wakin's Moment (Singapore, English & GB-code)
- Wakin Chau U.S. (America, English)
- Wakin Oz (Australia, English) (English)
- Super Band (BBS, Chinese)
- Super Band on YouTube