Jay Chou is a Taiwanese singer, songwriter, actor, and movie director. He has won three World Music Awards and is a big star throughout Asia. He is a trained classical musician who has successfully crossed over into pop, and combines Western and Chinese styles. He has sold more than 25 million albums and has a successful movie career. Chou has a growing influence on Chinese culture.

 

Chou was born in 1979 and grew up in Taiwan. He started learning the piano when he was four. He loved music and recorded sounds and songs on the tape recorder he carried everywhere. He studied piano and cello at high school and began to write the music and lyrics to pop songs. He found it easy to combine classical with pop.

 

In 1998, Chou appeared on a TV talent show playing the piano. His piano composition impressed a top judge, who offered him a contract to write pop songs. He spent the next two years in the studio and learnt the techniques of song production. The studio manager encouraged him to become a singer. In 2000, he released his debut album ‘Jay’.

 

Chou became an overnight success. He releases a new album every year, all of which sell millions. He has won more than 350 music awards in Asia. He also wrote the official song for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His acting career is also taking off. He won a Best Newcomer award for his debut role in ‘Initial D’ in 2005.