Jose Mari Lim Chan (Tagalog: [hoˈse mɐˈɾi ˈtʃan]; born March 11, 1945), born José Mari Chan y Lim, is a Filipino singer, songwriter, businessman and TV presenter.
Regarded as one of the country’s most renowned balladeers and composers,[3] he is popularly dubbed as the "King of Philippine Christmas Carols".
[11] He has since released 14 studio albums, most notable being Constant Change (1989) and Christmas in Our Hearts (1990).
[15] His father was an immigrant from Fujian, China who came to the Philippines at age 13[16] and started a sugar trading company in Bacolod.
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".
[18] He attended the Ateneo de Manila University where he met fellow musician Ramon Jacinto of RJ & the Riots.
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.
[22] 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.
In 1986, he returned to the Philippines[23] and made a comeback to the music industry with the release of his album A Golden Collection, a compilation of his hits along with a brand new composition "Tell Me Your Name" which re-introduced him to a younger audience.
[21] It reached triple platinum status that same year, eventually earning the Double Diamond Record Award in 1995, for selling over 20 million units.
In 2011, he released his 13th full-length album, The Manhattan Connection: The Songs of Jose Mari Chan.
[18] 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.
[39][40] Although currently based in and residing primarily in Metro Manila with his family, Chan maintains his homes in Iloilo and Cebu.
[28] Jose Mari Chan is also a honorary alumni of Central Philippine University in his hometown in Iloilo City.