Wang Leehom

In this Chinese name, the family name is Wang.
Wang Leehom
Wang at the 2018 Golden Lotus Awards
Born
Alexander[1] Leehom Wang

(1976-05-17) May 17, 1976 (age 48)
Rochester, New York, U.S.
EducationWilliams College
Berklee College of Music
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • actor
  • producer
  • film director
  • musician
  • music arranger
  • composer
Years active1995–present
Spouse
Lee Jinglei
​
​
(m. 2013; div. 2021)​
Children3
Musical career
OriginTaiwan, United States
Genres
Instruments
Labels
Chinese name
Chinese王力宏
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinWáng Lìhóng
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingWong4 Lik6 Wang4
Southern Min
Hokkien POJÔng Le̍k-hông
Websitewangleehom.com

Wang Leehom (Chinese: 王力宏; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ông Le̍k-hông; born May 17, 1976), sometimes credited as Leehom Wang, is an American[2] singer-songwriter, actor, producer, and film director. Formally trained at Eastman School of Music, Williams College and Berklee College of Music, his music is known for fusing hip-hop and R&B, with traditional Chinese music.

Since his 1995 debut, Wang has released 25 albums, that have sold over 60 million copies. He is a four-time winner and 19-time nominee of the Golden Melody Awards. His sold-out concert at the Beijing National Stadium on April 14, 2012 was the first solo pop concert to be held at the venue.[3] With over 72 million followers on social media, Wang is one of the most followed celebrities in China. In 2018, CNN dubbed him "King of Chinese Pop"[4] and the Los Angeles Times called him "the biggest American star America has never heard of."[5] Wang was listed as one of Goldsea's 100 Most Inspiring Asian Americans of All Time.

Wang holds honorary doctoral degrees from both Williams College[6] and Berklee College of Music.[7] In addition to his music, Wang has also acted in over twenty films, including Ang Lee's Lust, Caution, Jackie Chan's Little Big Soldier and Michael Mann's Blackhat. He won Best Actor at the 2018 Macau Film Festival.[8][9] Asia Society presented the 2019 Game Changer Award to Wang Leehom at the U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit.[10]

He is an environmental activist, and his album Change Me was dedicated to raising eco-awareness among Chinese youth. Wang was one of the first torchbearers for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, and performed in the Olympics' closing ceremony in Beijing. He was again a torchbearer for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, making him the only person in the Mandarin pop circle to have taken part in the event twice.[11][12] He is a longtime ambassador for World Vision Taiwan[13] and Malaysia.[14]

  1. ^ "Leehom Wang". IMDb. Archived from the original on May 8, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  2. ^ "About Wang Leehom". Wang Leehom's official site. December 17, 2020. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  3. ^ 颜筱箐. "Pop sensation Wang Lee-hom rocks "Bird's Nest" - China.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  4. ^ "'King of Chinese Pop' Wang Leehom launches global tour in Beijing". CNN. Archived from the original on April 15, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  5. ^ "Can Leehom Wang transcend China and America's pop cultures?". Los Angeles Times. July 4, 2014. Archived from the original on April 8, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  6. ^ Center, Williams College : Music Bernhard Music; Williamstown, 54 Chapin Hall Drive. "Wang Leehom '98, Williams honorary degree!". Music. Archived from the original on November 13, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Slideshow: Wang Leehom '99 Brings Symphony Hall to Its Feet | Berklee College of Music". www.berklee.edu. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  8. ^ "新闻详情 -澳门国际电影节". mimf.mtm.mo. Archived from the original on December 23, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference 5ulQQ was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Frater, Patrick (October 8, 2019). "Wang Leehom and Rain to be Honored at U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit". Variety. Archived from the original on December 26, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  11. ^ "Leehom carries torch for Olympics". yahoo.com. June 29, 2012. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  12. ^ "Wang Lee-hom to carry torch for 2012 Olympics". news.asiaone.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  13. ^ "The China Post". The China Post. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  14. ^ "The singing ambassador". ecentral.my. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013.