José Mari Chan

Biography

Jose Mari Lim Chan (Tagalog: [hoˈse mɐˈɾi ˈtʃan]; born José Mari Chan y Lim; March 11, 1945), is a Filipino singer and songwriter. Regarded as one of the country's most renowned balladeers and composers, he is popularly dubbed as the "King of Philippine Christmas Carols". As of 2001, Chan has sold two million albums and has garnered 37 platinum records to his credit, becoming one of the best-selling Filipino recording artists of all time. He is best known for his signature song "Christmas in Our Hearts×Christmas In Our HeartsNovember 1990 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1A Wish On Christmas Night3:322Do You Hear What I Hear2:453Mary's Boy Child3:594Christmas In Our Hearts3:275A Christmas Carol2:316A Perfect Christmas4:137Give Me Your Heart For Christmas2:108This Beautiful Day2:029The Sound Of Life2:3010Christmas Children2:3911Little Christmas Tree3:2012When a Child Is Born4:0913It Is The Lord!2:2514The Lord's Prayer2:2015Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)3:4016May The Good Lord Bless and Keep You3:26", which is the biggest selling Filipino Christmas song in history, including hits such as "A Perfect Christmas", "Beautiful Girl" and "Please Be Careful with My Heart".
Chan began a career in 1967 and released his debut album Deep in My Heart×Deep In My Heart1969 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Here Am I2:26A2When Love Is Young2:33A3Victim of People2:29A4Deep in My Heart2:40A5Strange and Funny2:43A6That’s What It Took2:55B1A World Within Another World2:43B2A Moment’s Dream Come True2:30B3Lover’s Quarrel2:25B4One Day (Someday Soon)3:35B5Walk on Girl2:02B6Leave You2:22 in 1969. He has since released 14 studio albums, most notable being Constant Change×Constant Change25 May 1989 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Constant Change2:452Beautiful Girl3:173Please Be Careful With My Heart3:364No Rewind No Replay3:195Sing Me Your Song Again Daddy3:226Can't We Start Over Again5:247The Sound Of Life (Instrumental)0:358My Girl My Woman My Friend4:529I Have Fallen In Love (With The Same Girl Three Times)3:3610Stay My Love4:2811Be Gentle2:5112So I'll Go2:5513Can't We Start Over Again (Reprise)2:46 (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. 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, 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 and was the first-born child of Antonio Chan and Florencia Lim. His father was an immigrant from Fujian, China who came to the Philippines at age 13 and started a sugar trading company in Bacolod. Chan's mother was the only child of a Chinese-Filipino couple.
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 an alumnus of Sacred Heart School-Jesuit (the now Ateneo de Cebu). 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. 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.
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".
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.

Early career

Chan first appeared on the local scene as a guest on Pilita Corrales's program An Evening with Pilita in 1965. 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. His first single "Afterglow" was released in 1967. He would release his first album two years later, after he was approached by an independent record producer.

1969-1975

His first long playing album, Deep in My Heart×Deep In My Heart1969 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Here Am I2:26A2When Love Is Young2:33A3Victim of People2:29A4Deep in My Heart2:40A5Strange and Funny2:43A6That’s What It Took2:55B1A World Within Another World2:43B2A Moment’s Dream Come True2:30B3Lover’s Quarrel2:25B4One Day (Someday Soon)3:35B5Walk on Girl2:02B6Leave You2:22, was issued in 1969 by Dyna Records. In 1973, he represented the Philippines in at 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.

1975-1988

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 and made a comeback to the music industry with the release of his album A Golden Collection×A Golden Collection1985 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Afterglow2:402Deep in My Heart2:403Leave You2:264Mr. Songwriter (Mamang Sorbetero)2:555Here, There & Everywhere (Counterpoint to Lennon and McCartney's)2:336Big Beautiful Country1:467Love at Thirty Thousand Feet2:368Good Old Fashioned Romance1:489Tell Me Your Name3:1110Refrain3:2311Can We Just Stop and Talk Awhile2:4612Here and Now3:2313Afraid for Love to Fade2:3514A Love to Last a Lifetime2:4415Constant Change2:4516Beautiful Girl3:1517So I'll Go2:53, a compilation of his hits, along with a brand-new composition "Tell Me Your Name×Tell Me Your Name1985 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksATell Me Your Name3:00BOne Of Many3:40" which re-introduced him to a younger audience. The album was released in the Philippines by WEA Records. On February 14, 1988, Chan performed at the Manila 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.

1989-1994

In 1989, he released his album Constant Change×Constant Change25 May 1989 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Constant Change2:452Beautiful Girl3:173Please Be Careful With My Heart3:364No Rewind No Replay3:195Sing Me Your Song Again Daddy3:226Can't We Start Over Again5:247The Sound Of Life (Instrumental)0:358My Girl My Woman My Friend4:529I Have Fallen In Love (With The Same Girl Three Times)3:3610Stay My Love4:2811Be Gentle2:5112So I'll Go2:5513Can't We Start Over Again (Reprise)2:46. 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×Christmas In Our HeartsNovember 1990 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1A Wish On Christmas Night3:322Do You Hear What I Hear2:453Mary's Boy Child3:594Christmas In Our Hearts3:275A Christmas Carol2:316A Perfect Christmas4:137Give Me Your Heart For Christmas2:108This Beautiful Day2:029The Sound Of Life2:3010Christmas Children2:3911Little Christmas Tree3:2012When a Child Is Born4:0913It Is The Lord!2:2514The Lord's Prayer2:2015Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)3:4016May The Good Lord Bless and Keep You3:26 was released. 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".

1994-present

In 1994, he released his eighth album, Thank You Love×Thank You Love1994 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Thank You Love2:422Is She Thinking About Me2:563Walking In The Moonlight3:074Hurry Back4:315Love Lost3:396Give Me The Old Big Band Anytime2:577Like Night And Day3:548Part Of Your Life3:329Spellbound1:5510Christmas Past4:41, where he has another song "Is She Thinking About Me" with Christine Bersola-Babao and another Christmas song, "Christmas Past". 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. In 2007, he released his 12th album Love Letters and Other Souvenirs×Love Letters and Other Souvenirs1 January 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks1You and I3:332My Foolish Heart2:593Windmills of Your Mind3:304April Fools4:235Love Letters3:086So in Love4:437Moment to Moment3:428We Can Be Kind4:319Just for a While3:4510Unexpected Song3:5611God Only Knows2:3912I Just Want to Dance With You3:2413How Do You Fall in Love2:5314It's Not for Me to Say3:1815September in the Rain2:2216Moonglow and the Theme from "Picnic"4:2717Our Love Is Here to Stay3:0118I Talk to the Tress3:0519If We Were in Love4:2420Anywhere the Heart Goes3:0721Too Beautiful to Last3:18.
In 2009, Chan was inducted to the Philippines Eastwood City Walk Of Fame. 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. In 2012, he released his 14th overall album Going Home to Christmas×Going Home To Christmas29 October 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 22 tracks1Ring In The New2:192The Bells At Christmas1:523Let Love Be The Gift3:224Christmas Air (Instrumental)3:475Christmas Moments3:406Song Of The Firefly2:377Going Home To Christmas3:598Come Let Us Adore Him2:389December 252:4810The Christmas Story2:5911Pagdating Ng Pasko2:2012Starlight4:0913It’S Christmas!2:2014Christmas Anyway2:5515With The Eyes Of A Child4:1716Christmas Air3:0917A Child Again At Christmas2:2718That Time Of Year2:4419December 25 (Instrumental)4:0520Christmas Mem'ries2:1321A Christmas Song For You3:2022Pinoy Na Krismas2:56. It was his second Christmas album after 22 years since Christmas in Our Hearts×Christmas In Our HeartsNovember 1990 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1A Wish On Christmas Night3:322Do You Hear What I Hear2:453Mary's Boy Child3:594Christmas In Our Hearts3:275A Christmas Carol2:316A Perfect Christmas4:137Give Me Your Heart For Christmas2:108This Beautiful Day2:029The Sound Of Life2:3010Christmas Children2:3911Little Christmas Tree3:2012When a Child Is Born4:0913It Is The Lord!2:2514The Lord's Prayer2:2015Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)3:4016May The Good Lord Bless and Keep You3:26 was released in 1990.

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.
Upon the 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. 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.

Personal life

He is married to Mary Ann Ansaldo and has five children, who likewise have had careers in music. 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. 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. Jose Mari Chan is also an honorary alumnus of Central Philippine University in his hometown in Iloilo City.

Legacy

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"; a title of which he later disavowed. He is also known as a "renowned Christmas singer" and has been compared to Mariah Carey. He has sold two million albums, gaining 37 platinum records. Due to this, he is known as one of the best-selling Filipino singers of all time.

Albums

Deep in My Heart (1969)
Can We Just Stop and Talk Awhile (1973)
Afterthoughts (1974)
Here and Now (1975)
A Golden Collection (1985)
Constant Change (1989) - 2× Diamond
Christmas in Our Hearts (1990) - 2× Diamond
Thank You, Love (1994)
Strictly Commercial: The Jingles Collection (1997)
Souvenirs (1998)
A Heart's Journey (2001) - Awit Awards, Album of the Year
Love Letters and Other Souvenirs (2007)
The Manhattan Connection (2011)
Going Home to Christmas (2012)
Christmas in Our Hearts: 25th Anniversary Edition (2015)

Songs

"Afterglow"/"Pines" (1967)
"Run Jimmy Run"
"I Only Live to Love You"/"Night Time"
"Love Me as Though There Were No Tomorrow"
"High and Mighty"/"Seventh Dawn" (accompanied by the Sandpipers)
"This Guy's in Love with You"
"Deep in My Heart×Deep In My Heart1969 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Here Am I2:26A2When Love Is Young2:33A3Victim of People2:29A4Deep in My Heart2:40A5Strange and Funny2:43A6That’s What It Took2:55B1A World Within Another World2:43B2A Moment’s Dream Come True2:30B3Lover’s Quarrel2:25B4One Day (Someday Soon)3:35B5Walk on Girl2:02B6Leave You2:22"/"Leave You" (1969)
"Walk on Girl"
"Love Is for the Two of Us" (with Pilar Pilapil)
"Can We Just Stop and Talk Awhile"/"From Day to Day" (1973) - Philippine entry, Yamaha World Popular Song Festival
"Refrain"/"Times We're In" (1973)
"What Is a Sweetheart" (1976)
"A Love to Last a Lifetime"/"A Love Song" (1978)
"Tell Me Your Name×Tell Me Your Name1985 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksATell Me Your Name3:00BOne Of Many3:40"/"One of Many" (1985)
"Beautiful Girl" (1989) (also covered by Martin Nievera, Christian Bautista, Parokya Ni Edgar & Ben&Ben)
"Can't We Start Over Again" (1989)
"A Perfect Christmas" (1990) (also covered by various OPM artists featuring Ben&Ben, December Avenue, Moira Dela Torre and more)
"Christmas in Our Hearts×Christmas In Our HeartsNovember 1990 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1A Wish On Christmas Night3:322Do You Hear What I Hear2:453Mary's Boy Child3:594Christmas In Our Hearts3:275A Christmas Carol2:316A Perfect Christmas4:137Give Me Your Heart For Christmas2:108This Beautiful Day2:029The Sound Of Life2:3010Christmas Children2:3911Little Christmas Tree3:2012When a Child Is Born4:0913It Is The Lord!2:2514The Lord's Prayer2:2015Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)3:4016May The Good Lord Bless and Keep You3:26" (1990) (also covered by American pop acapella vocal group Pentatonix featuring the Filipino singer Lea Salonga in 2022)
"A Whole New World" (duet with Lea Salonga) - as part for the Philippine soundtrack release of Disney's Aladdin (1992)
"Please Be Careful with My Heart" (1989) (duet with Regine Velasquez) - used as the theme for the TV series of ABS-CBN, Be Careful with my Heart
"Constant Change×Constant Change25 May 1989 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Constant Change2:452Beautiful Girl3:173Please Be Careful With My Heart3:364No Rewind No Replay3:195Sing Me Your Song Again Daddy3:226Can't We Start Over Again5:247The Sound Of Life (Instrumental)0:358My Girl My Woman My Friend4:529I Have Fallen In Love (With The Same Girl Three Times)3:3610Stay My Love4:2811Be Gentle2:5112So I'll Go2:5513Can't We Start Over Again (Reprise)2:46" (1989)
"Is She Thinking About Me?" (featuring Christine Bersola-Babao)
"If We Only Had More Time Together"
"Easier Said Than Done"
"Love at Thirty Thousand Feet" (1976) - commercial jingle of the flag carrier of the Philippines, Philippine Airlines
"My Girl, My Woman, My Friend" (1988) - featuring Janet Basco
"Perhaps Love" - featuring Liza Chan
"So I'll Go"
"Here and Now"
"Emmanuel" (2001) - official anthem of the 15th World Youth Day in 2000.
"We're All Just One" (2005) - official anthem of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games (reworked for SM Supermalls during Christmas Season as "Celebrate Christmas at SM Malls")
"Afraid for Love to Fade" (1976)
Counterpoint to Lennon & McCartney's "Here, There & Everywhere"
"Radio Romance" - station identification jingle of Radio Romance 101.9 (now MOR 101.9)
"Big Beautiful Country" - station identification jingle of the now-defunct television station Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation (BBC2) "now ABS-CBN 2 or now currently known as Kapamilya Channel, A2Z 11 & ALLTV 2"
"Good Old Fashioned Romance"
"Part of Your Life"
"Mr. Songwriter"
"Sing Me Your Song Again, Daddy" - song by Samantha Chavez (Samantha) on its lead vocals and Mari Chan on its backing vocals
"No Rewind, No Replay" (1989)
"Thank You, Love" (2007)
"The Sound of Life" (1990)
"Empty Space" (2003) - original by the Bukas Palad Music Ministry
"Going to the Past"
"Christmas Past" (1994)
"Constantly" (2012)
"Pagdating ng Pasko" (2013) - first Filipino Christmas song

Collaborations

Gold Ito! (Dyna Music, 1988)
Ginintuang Diwa ng Pasko (Universal Records/WEA Records, 1989)
Maayong Pasko (Universal Records/WEA Records, 1989)
Jamie Rivera – Lord, Heal Our Land (Star Music, 2001)
Presence (Universal Records 2002)
Only Selfless Love 2 (Universal Records, 2003)
Something More (JesCom Music, 2004)
Best of OPM Love Songs (Universal Records, 2005)
Best of OPM Acoustic Hits (Universal Records, 2005)
OPM Gold Christmas (Universal Records, 2006)
OPM Superstars Christmas (Universal Records, 2006)
Sail On...His Most Holy Face (Universal Records, 2006)
OPM Platinum Christmas (Universal Records, 2007)
Isang Kinabukasan: A GMA Kapuso Foundation Benefit Album (GMA Music, 2007)
HOPE... Healing of Pain and Enlightenment (Star Music, 2007)
No. 1 Signature Hits OPM's Best (Vicor Music Corp., 2008)
Senti 18 Pinoy Love Hits (Vicor Music Corp., 2008)
Bongga! (The Biggest Retro OPM Hits) (Universal Records, 2008)
Bongga! 2 (The Biggest Retro OPM Hits) (Universal Records, 2009)
Paalam, Maraming Salamat Pres. Aquino (A Memorial Tribute Soundtrack) (Star Music, 2009)
RJ Duets (MCA Music, 2012)
A Love to Last (The Official Soundtrack) (Star Music, 2017)