Lâm Nhật Tiến
Lâm Nhật Tiến (born September 3, 1971) is a Vietnamese American singer associated with the music label Asia Entertainment Inc. from 1994 to 2016. Lam is well known for his appearances in Asia's Videos, and one of the Vietnamese overseas top male pop stars. Lam debuted in 1994 and rose to prominence as a pop icon of young overseas Vietnamese in the late 1990s and early 2000s. According to musician Nam Loc, he also was the Asia Entertainment Inc.'s best-selling male pop artist of that time. Lam is considered one of the most talented  and successful overseas Vietnamese singers of his generation. Early life and career. 1971–1993: Early life. Lam was born in Saigon and loved music from a young age. In 1981, he and his family immigrated to the United States and settled in Southern California. Before pursuing a career in singing, Lam earned a degree in Medical Radiology at Loma Linda University Medical Center in March 1993. Lam worked as a model for a couple of modeling agencies in Los Angeles and Orange County. 1994–1995: Career beginnings. After photographer Vika Nguyen introduced him to Mr. Bach Dong, he asked Lam to collaborate  with Asia Entertainment Inc. This handsome young singer began learning to play the drums with Mr. Truc Giang, the father of Truc Ho. Lam was also taking voice lessons with a vocal coach to improve his singing technique and Vietnamese pronunciation at a college in Southern California. He is one of a few famous singers who can perform songs in Vietnamese, French, English, and Cantonese. His first appearance in front of audiences was in Asia Video 8 - Đêm Nhạc Hội at Atlantic City, where he beautifully performed the song "Quand le Printemps Revient" (Vietnamese title: "Khi Mùa Xuân Trở Lại ). According to him, one of his most memorable experiences was at the Ritz Ballroom in Houston, where he performed songs in 4 languages. In 1995, Lam enjoyed great success with Gia Huy, Nhat Quan, and Johnny Dung in the CD Bài 20. Rồi Mai Đây" (Vietnamese adaptation of the famous Spanish song Lo mucho Que Te Quiero, lyrics by Vietnamese Canadian musician Truong Ky) was a very successful song from this album. Besides "Rồi Mai Đây", "Bài 20", "Under The Boardwalk" he impressed listeners with "Quên Cả Lối Về" (written by Truc Giang) and "Tình Trong Bão Tố" (a version  of La Maison Est En Ruine, a famous song by French singer Michel Delpech). Lam also dueted with Vina Uyen My on "Only Love Is Real" (an English adaptation of the famous Japanese song "Rouge" / ルージュ by Japanese singer Ayako Fuji) in the CD Giọt Mưa Thu. During this period, he also recorded a few songs, including Em Đẹp Như Mơ (original: Elle était si jolie), released on Nhat Ha label. In the early years, Lam would often perform in a group with fellow singers Johnny Dung, Nhat Quan, and Gia Huy. But he would eventually blow up as a  solo singer with his first major hit "Em Đã Quên Một Giòng Sông" (You forgot a river). 1996–1997: "Một Lần Nữa Thôi", "Em Đã Quên Một Giòng Sông" and "Yêu Em Âm Thầm". Lam's popularity in Overseas soared when Asia debuted music video "Một Lần Nữa Thôi" in 1996, though he had the successful solo song "Quên Cả Lối Về". Throughout 1997, Lam soon became distinguished in Overseas with the video for the song "Em Đã Quên Một Giòng Sông" (launched in 1996). In the same year, he released a debut solo album with Asia Entertainment "Em Đã Quên  Một Giòng Sông" (including cover versions of two well-known songs: "All by Myself" and "Un-Break My Heart"). The title track became one of the biggest hit songs in his career and one of the best pop songs in Overseas Vietnamese Music of the 1990s. Soon after releasing a hit debut album, Lam continued to appear in Asia's Videos and released his second studio album "Yêu Em Âm Thầm" which included 11 songs. Two of them are Vietnamese versions of international songs: "Suy Tư Về Một Lời Nói" (Italian song: "Le Tue Parole") and "Dối Gian" (Spanish song : Miente). The title track "Yêu Em Âm Thầm" continued to become the next hit song of Lam. Some of his other successful songs were released in 1997: Từ Độ Ánh Trăng Tan (music: Anh Bang, lyrics: Dang Hien), Mưa Tình Cuối Đông (composed by Truc Ho), Tôi Với Trời Bơ Vơ (written by Tung Giang), Nơi Ấy Bình Yên (written by Bao Chan); Cõi Mộng, Chợt Như Năm 18 (written by Quoc Dung), Tình Đầu Vẫn Khó Phai (music: Truc Ho, lyrics: Dang Hien), Kiếp Nào Có Yêu Nhau (music: Pham Duy, lyrics: Minh Duc Hoai Trinh), Nhớ Nhau Làm  Gì (written by Tuan Hai & Le Kim Khanh), Hoa Vàng Mấy Độ (written by Trinh Cong Son), Tâm Hồn Cô Đơn (with Le Tam, Duy Linh, Gia Huy, written by Anh Bang), Cát Biển Chiều Nay (duet with Lam Thuy Van, composed by Truc Ho), Những Lời Dối Gian (Yan Bu You Zhong - 言不由衷, written by Liu Yu Rui & Xu Jialiang, Vietnamese lyrics: Khuc Lan), etc. 1998–2001: "Làm Lại Từ Đầu", "The Best of Chinese Melodies" and "Mãi Yêu Người Thôi". In 1998, a 27-year-old Lam co-produced his third solo studio album "Làm Lại Từ Đầu" with  Truc Ho. The album included 11 tracks. Most tracks became popular throughout young overseas Vietnamese, such as Tình Yêu Như Mũi Tên (original song: El Choclo, Vietnamese lyrics by Tran Ngoc Son, the son of musician Anh Bang), I Could Love Again (composed by Vu Tuan Duc), the title track "Làm Lại Từ Đầu", Đừng Nhắc Đến Tình Yêu, Về Đâu Hỡi Em, Đỉnh Gió Hú (composed by Truc Ho), Shalala (Sha-La-La-La-La), and "Những Màu Kỷ Niệm" (duet with Le Tam, original song: "Eye in the Sky"). That same year, Lam dueted with Trish Thuy Trang  on "That's Why (You Go Away)" was released on the album Don't Know Why. He also recorded Sài Gòn Vẫn Mãi Trong Tôi (music: Truc Ho, lyrics: Truc Ho - Anh Bang) and Những Đêm Chờ Sáng (written by Le Minh Bang). The official music videos for the songs released on Asia video 18 - Nhớ Sài Gòn and Asia video 21 - Những Tình Khúc Thời Chinh Chiến. The next Lam's hit songs are "Làm Thơ Tình Em Đọc" and "Lời Dối Gian Chân Thành", which were released by Asia Entertainment Inc. on Asia video 23 - Tình Đầu Một  Thời Áo Trắng and Asia Video 26 - Mưa in 1999. "Diary of Love" is a popular song by Le Tam and Lam from the album "The Best of Chinese Melodies" (released in 1999). The song is an English adaptation of the famous Chinese hit "Liang Ai Ri Ji" (戀愛日記) by Hong Kong singer Leon Lai. Lam continued to launch the release "The Best of Chinese Melodies 2" in 2000, including 11 tracks. Many of these tracks have become famous such as Tình Ngang Trái, Tomorrow Will Come, Kiếp Ve Sầu, Nhớ Người, etc. In particular, Lam recorded two different versions  of the same song: "Nhớ Người" is a Vietnamese version of "Don't Decorate Your Dream" (不装饰你的梦) by Hong Kong singer Terence Tsoi and the Cantonese version with the title "Nhớ Người (Chinese version)". Lam performed background vocal on "Tomorrow Will Come" (recorded by Trish Thuy Trang), an English version of "追梦人" by Fong Fei-fei. The song became famous throughout Overseas later. One of Lam's biggest hits released in 2000 is Tình Yêu. The beautiful slow rock song first came out in the Asia video 30: Dạ Vũ Quốc Tế 2 - Nhịp Bước Trên Sàn Nhảy. He also  released his collaboration with Tu Quyen "Đêm Cô Đơn" on Eagle Productions label with the successful tracks such as the title track, Tình Đơn Phương (original: Let You Listen to My Heart - 心要让你听见 by Samuel Tai), Tình Yêu Muôn Thuở (a duet with Tu Quyen, original: 當愛變成習慣 by Jacky Cheung), Không Gia Đình, Nỗi Nhớ Dịu Êm, etc. In the 1990s, Lam appeared in many of Asia's videos. He quickly made a name for himself as a solo artist. He became a celebrity of Asia and a pop icon of young people in his own right in the late  1990s. In addition to being a solo singer for Asia, Lam is well known as a backup singer, photographer, and producer. He produced both two-CD The Best of Chinese Melodies and co-produced album Mãi Yêu Người Thôi with Thy Van and Truc Ho. He has also contributed to albums by young artists of Asia Entertainment Inc. such as Lam Thuy Van, Le Tam, Gia Huy, Thanh Truc, Shayla, Trish Thuy Trang, etc. The video for the song My Only Regret by Shayla featured Lam as a co-director with Fred Paskiewiz. After Lam had received "Best Asia Artist  of the year 2000" Award, he released his fourth studio album Mãi Yêu Người Thôi in 2001. The highly acclaimed album contained 9 Vietnamese songs and 1 English song (You Make Me Feel, written by Bonfire), which brought him to be at the peak of his career. One of 9 Vietnamese songs titled Làm Sao Anh Nói, is a Vietnamese version of How Could I (a popular song by Marc Anthony, written by Dan Shea, Cory Rooney & Gordon Chambers). In addition to Lam's hit songs Mãi Yêu Người Thôi and Dẫu Có Biết Trước, the album included a very  famous song of Vietnam: "Hà Nội Mùa Vắng Những Cơn Mưa". Lam's emotional voice also subsequently featured on the album "Căn Gác Lưu Đày" (which became one of the most successful songs in his career), singing about exiled humans, recorded by Various Artists. The music video for the title track released by Asia on Asia video 32 - Hành Trình Tìm Tự Do (2001). 2002–2004: "The Best of Truc Ho & Lam Nhat Tien: Giữa Hai Mùa Mưa Nắng" and collaboration with Thuy Nga. Lam recorded a number of original songs and many of them became his hit songs, namely Một  Lần Nữa thôi, Em Đã Quên Một Giòng Sông, Yêu Em Âm Thầm, Đỉnh Gió Hú, Nếu Không Có Em, Và Hôm Nay, Làm Lại Từ Đầu, Đừng Nhắc Đến Tình Yêu, Làm Thơ Tình Em Đọc, Lời Dối Gian Chân Thành, Tình Yêu, Sẽ Hơn Bao Giờ Hết, Dẫu Có Biết Trước, Giữa Hai Mùa Mưa Nắng, Sài Gòn Vẫn Mãi Trong Tôi. Released in 2002, "The Best of Truc Ho - Lam Nhat Tien: Giữa Hai Mùa Mưa Nắng" is an album consisted of 22 selected songs were composed by Truc Ho. Lam debuted at the 67th event of  the show Paris by Night (In San Jose) with the song Thế Giới Không Tình Yêu, which was written by Nguyen Duy An. This song quickly became a big hit, which helped him get more fans at that time. In the period from 2002 to 2004, he has appeared in a total of 8 Paris by Night's shows, dueted with five famous female artists, including Khanh Ha, Luu Bich, Nhu Quynh, Minh Tuyet, and Nhu Loan. In 2002, he released his collaboration album with Lam Thuy Van and Phuong Nghi: Liên Khúc Tình Yêu 4. He continued to record  the highly successful album "Liên Khúc Chinese Top Hits" (2003) with Johnny Dung, Thien Kim, and Ho Ngoc Nhu, which included four medleys of the Vietnamese adaptations' famous Chinese hits. In 2004, Lam beautifully covered "Ne me quitte pas" (Vietnamese title: Người Yêu Nếu Ra Đi) in French and Vietnamese at Live show Asia 42 - Âm Nhạc Vòng Quanh Thế Giới. The version also released in 2005 on the album "Giờ Đã Không Còn Nữa". 2005–2009: "Thiên Thai", "Nói Với Tôi Một Lời" and "Tình Ca Anh Bằng 2 - Từ Thuở Yêu Em". In 2005, Lam moved up the career  ladder, when he successfully performed one of the classic songs of Vietnam "Thiên Thai" at Live show Asia 48 - 75 Năm Âm Nhạc Việt Nam. Soon after Thiên Thai, Lam released a Vietnamese version of "(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story" - Chuyện Tình in Asia's video 49 - Âm Nhạc Vòng Quanh Thế Giới 2. One year later, Lam's success continued with the release of his sixth studio album, "Nói Với Tôi Một Lời", which contained both Thiên Thai and Chuyện Tình. At Live show Asia 56 - Yêu Đời & Yêu Người - Mùa Hè Rực Rỡ 2007, Lam and Don  Ho performed a medley of the famous French songs (Liên Khúc Nhạc Pháp) and got the positive feedbacks from the audiences. In 2009, Lam made an appearance at Live show Asia 62 - Anh Bằng, Một Đời Cho Âm Nhạc, where he received Best Male Pop Artist Award, with a country-pop song "Từ Thuở Yêu Em". The song was written by Anh Bang and included on the album: Tình Ca Anh Bằng 2 - Từ Thuở Yêu Em. 2010–2012: Bên Kia Bờ Đại Dương. In 2012, Lam launched his seventh studio album: Bên Kia Bờ Đại Dương. 2013–2016: "Triệu Con Tim  and Chúng Tôi Muốn Sống". In 2013, he made an appearance in Asia's video 71 - 32nd Anniversary Celebration together with many artists of Asia Entertainment singing a song was written by Truc Ho titled Triệu Con Tim (Million Hearts). Lam continued to perform for Asia show up until 2016 with his final performance being in Asia 78, where he sang "Chúng Tôi Muốn Sống" (We want to live). 2017-present. In 2016, Lam continued his solo career after leaving Asia Entertainment Inc. Personal life. At a live show ″Asia 54 - Trầm Tử Thiêng, Trúc Hồ (Bước Chân Việt Nam)″  in 2007, Lam told the audience that he has been successful in treating drug addiction and came back to himself. Charity. Lam is a supporter of charities concerning the Army Republic of Vietnam soldiers' welfare. He has participated in the concerts to give thanks for soldier's contribution named Đại Nhạc Hội Cám Ơn Anh together with many other artists. He has also produced several concert programs at homes for the aged and participated in support programs for the homeless.