Leehom Wang (born May 17, 1976) is an American-born singer-songwriter, record producer, actor and film director of Chinese descent based in Taiwan. Formally trained at the Eastman School of Music, Williams College and Berklee College of Music, his musical style is known for fusing Chinese elements (such as Beijing opera, traditional styles of ethnic minorities, Chinese classical orchestra) with hip-hop and R&B. Wang Leehom has been active since 1995 and contributed in 25 albums. He is also a four-time winner of Taiwan's Golden Melody Awards, the "Grammys"of Chinese music.
In addition to his music, Wang Leehom also acted in several films, including Ang Lee's Lust, Caution and Jackie Chan's film Little Big Soldier. He is also an environmental activist, and his album Change Me was dedicated to raising eco-awareness among Chinese youth. Wang Leehom was one of the first torchbearers for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, and performed in the Olympics' closing ceremony in Beijing. Wang Leehom is ranked Number 76 on the Goldsea compilation of "The 100 Most Inspiring Asian Americans of All Time"
Childhood and early beginnings
Wang Leehom was born in Rochester, New York. He is the second of three sons of immigrants from Taiwan of waishengren heritage. His father, apediatrician, and his mother, a vocal teacher, moved to the United States to further their college studies in the early 1960s. Influenced by his older brother, Leo Wang, who had been taking violin lessons since he was seven, Wang began to develop a curious interest towards the violin and its musical counterparts when he was three. Wang Leehom begged his mother to put him in violin lessons with his brother but his mother was against it, reasoning that he was too young. When Wang Leehom turned six, his mother enrolled him in violin classes, performing along with his brother. As he became a teenager, Wang Leehom began taking piano lessons, also self-teaching himself the guitar. Wang Leehom also worked several jobs to earn money to buy a second hand drum kit.
He attended Jefferson Road Elementary School, Pittsford Middle School, and Pittsford Sutherland High School in Pittsford, New York. Wang Leehom graduated from Pittsford Sutherland with a perfect 1600 SAT score. He was accepted to both Yale and Princeton. Passionate for a career in music, he chose to attend Williams College double majoring in music and Asian studies. He joined an all-male a cappella group, Springstreeters, and the group recorded several demo tracks.
