David Tao

The reigning godfather of Mandarin R&B, David Tao is responsible for many of the R&B and rock influences heard in modern Mandopop. Born in Hong Kong to musician parents, Tao later moved to California, studying Psychology at UCLA and working a myriad of jobs before debuting his eponymous album in 1997. R&B has always been his foundation, but the singer/songwriter/producer has experimented with everything from pop to heavy metal and rock. But beyond his musical contributions, Tao’s willingness to speak his mind on taboo topics over the decades distinguishes his legacy.