Biography
Who is David Tao?
Early life and education
David Tao was born on July 11, 1969, in Hong Kong. His father was Tao Dawei, a performer who worked as an actor, singer, composer, and TV host. His mother, Catherine Wang Furong, worked as a singer in Chinese opera. He lived in Hong Kong during his early childhood before moving to Taiwan.
While in Taiwan, he attended the Bethany Campus of Morrison Academy in Taipei from kindergarten through junior high school. Later, his family moved to Arcadia, California, where he attended Arcadia High School. After his parents returned to Taiwan to pursue their careers, he stayed in the United States to finish his education. He worked various jobs, including a role as a civilian employee for the Los Angeles Police Department, without his parents knowing. He eventually earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Musical career beginnings
While working as a salesman, David Tao met producer Wang Chih-ping, which led to a return to Taiwan. He began his career by writing and producing songs for other artists. In 1997, he released his debut self-titled album, David Tao, through Shock Records. This release became significant for setting a record at the 9th Golden Melody Awards, earning five nominations, including Best Newcomer and Best Singer.
The debut album featured popular tracks like Airport 10.30 and I Love You. He also included a modern R&B version of the Taiwanese folk song Spring Wind. He eventually won two Golden Melody Awards for this debut, specifically Best Newcomer and Best Producer, making him the first new artist to receive the producer honor. He produced the entire record at his home in Los Angeles, utilizing a distinct Western R&B sound.
Albums and artistic evolution
In 1999, he followed his debut with the album I'm OK, which sold 600,000 copies. The record included diverse tracks like the rock ballad Rain, Angeline and the country-style song Small Town Girl. He continued this output with Black Tangerine in 2002. This album was well-known for its social commentary, incorporating news snippets about family tragedies and public incidents to reflect on Taiwanese society.
His fourth album, The Great Leap, released in 2005, won the Best Album Award at the 17th Golden Melody Awards. It featured tracks like Susan Said, which blended Beijing Opera styles with R&B. He continued releasing music throughout the 2000s and 2010s, including Beautiful in 2006, Opus 69 in 2009, and Hello Goodbye in 2013. In 2024, he returned to large-scale touring with the Soul Power II tour, performing in cities such as Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Macau.
Personal life and controversies
David Tao is fluent in Mandarin, English, and Cantonese. He married Penny Chiang on August 31, 2014. The couple later had a son in 2019.
In 2015, he faced media reports regarding his private life and an extramarital affair with artist manager Yang Ziqing. Initially, David Tao denied the allegations through his representatives and threatened legal action against the publishing website. However, he later held a press conference on July 7, 2015, where he admitted to cheating on his wife during his marriage.
Birthday and age
David Tao was born on July 11, 1969, which makes David 57 years old today. That birthday falls under the Cancer sign. David shares the date with 66 other famous people.
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