The Story of Jose Mari Chan

Jose Mari Chan is a famous Filipino singer and an excellent songwriter. He is considered as one of the most foremost popular music writers of the Philippines. His songs were very popular nowadays as it was on 1960’s. His pseudonyms were Joe Mari, Mr. Music Man or the Filipino Jimmy Web.

He was born on March 11, 1945 in Iloilo. His father is Antonio Chan and Florencia Chan was his mother. He studies college and graduated in Ateneo de Manila University on 1967 with a degree in Economics. He is married to Mary Ann and has five siblings.

released his first hit single, “Afterglow” in 1967. He entered the mainstream of the Philippines music industry in spite of the influence of foreign acts as the Beatles and the Beach Boys. He released his first album in 1969. For more or less than four years from 1970-1974, Jose Mari Chan was able to compose more than 20 songs for movies and earned him different recognitions and nominations at the FAMAS Awards. He stayed for more than 10 years in United States but still keep on composing songs and some of them were recorded by foreign artists.

On 1989, he released his album Constant Change. The album was named Album of the Year by Awit Awards. Aside from that, it reached Diamond Record by its sales and took pleasure on the high patronage of international countries like Malaysia and Indonesia.

Christmas In Our Hearts was released and reached its triple platinum status in 1990. He became the first and the only recording artist who achieved Double Diamond Record Award for The Christmas In Our Hearts. Even until today, his album is quite sellable during Christmas seasons. In 2005, Joe Mari composed the theme song of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games “We’re All Just One”.

On his 40th year, Jose Mari Chan gathered 21 of his favorite songs in one album entitled Love Letters and Other Souvenirs carrying its single “How Do You Fall In Love”. The album featured several singers like Jojo Chan, Aiza Seguerra, Agoit Isidro, Rachelle Gerodias, Samantha Chavez, Suzy Unas and Laine Laudico. Of course, the main attractions of the album were Jose Mari Chan’s solo numbers. His voice of unique luster seems to transform this old world into a younger, romantic one.

He is considered as the “Filipino Jimmy Webb” because of his lyrics which is totally different from others. His songs were continually played over different radio stations and strengthening his popularity over his admirers. He is known for his “Beautiful Girl” and become one of the most-respected and most-enduring singer-songwriter of the country. He is the only singer/composer/producer that has been bestowed lifetime achievement awards by The Philippine Association of the Record Industry’s Awit Awards, the composer’s group Katha Awards and Aliw Award.