Leehom Wang is an artist/producer/writer with SONY BMG Taiwan. He is also a film actor. His recent projects include Ang Lee's "Lust, Caution", in the supporting role of Kuang Yu Min.
After studying music at the Eastman School of Music, Williams College, and the Berklee College of Music, Leehom burst into the Chinese pop music scene in 1998 with his album Revolution, which he both composed and produced, garnering awards for both "Best Male Artist of the Year" and "Best Producer of the Year" in Taiwan's 1999 Golden Melody Awards, the "Grammies" of Chinese pop music. He was 23 years old, making him the youngest person ever to win the award in either of the two categories.
Since his debut, Leehom has consistently been nominated for the "Best Male Artist of the Year" award nine years in a row, solidifying his role as one of the most important, influential and prolific artists in Chinese music. Leehom was awarded again “ The Best Producer” in 2004 and “The Best Male Vocalist” in 2006 by Golden Melody Award Committee.
Leehom plays over 10 musical instruments. In his albums and concerts, Leehom can be heard playing some or all of the instruments including: piano, drums, guitar, bass, violin, vibraphone, erhu, and xun. His concert tours are massive productions, 3 hour long shows in Asia’s largest arenas. In 2006, his solo concert toured in Taiwan, China, Japan, HK, Singapore and Malaysia, including a sold-out performance at the 80,000 seat Shanghai arena.
A solid musical background enables Leehom to pull from a variety of musical styles and invent (and continuously reinvent) his sound, that is distinctly Chinese and international at the same time. For example, his 2005 release, Shangri-la drew heavily from R&B and the musics of Chinese ethnic minorities of Tibet, Mongolia, and Yunan. In 2006, Heroes of Earth centered around Beijing opera and its predecessor, Kun Qu.
One of the greatest aspects of being a public figure is the ability to access international media, and to communicate with and help other young people of the world. Socially active, Leehom's charity work goes hand-in-hand with his career.
In 2002, he was appointed by UNICEF as the Youth Ambassador to Nepal. In 2003, during Asia’s SARS epidemic, he had the honor of writing and producing the benefit song "Hand in Hand". This song was performed and recorded by 85 of the most renowned Chinese artists of yesterday and today, with all proceeds going to SARS research.
He has also been the National Geographic Channel spokesperson in Hong Kong, and as such recorded an album "Nature," dedicated to Jane Goodall; starred in Ashes to Ashes, the Hong Kong government-sponsored anti-smoking short film; recorded, with Tetsuya Komuro, the song "Happiness x3, Loneliness x3" for the Japanese government's anti-drug campaign; wrote "Love Will Never Disappear," performed by A-Mei Chang as a fundraiser for disaster relief following Taiwan's 1999 earthquake; and, with the help of his fans over the Internet, composed the song "Frozen Dreams," the proceeds of which went to Taiwan’s Education Foundation for Youth Leehom’s newest album, released in July 2007 titled “Change Me” is aimed at raising consciousness for global warming, and environmental conservation in Asia.
Leehom did not study Chinese until he was 17, but is now fluent in both speech and writing. Leehom’s work ethic and dedication to Chinese music has inspired the Chinese young generation. Recently, Leehom was listed among "The 80 Most Inspiring Asian Americans of All Time" by Goldsea Asian American Daily.
