Kelvin Tan facts for kids

Kelvin Tan Wei Lian (born October 5, 1981) is a famous singer from Singapore. He sings Mandopop music, which is Chinese pop music. Before he became famous, Kelvin sang and played music on the streets as a busker. In 2005, he won the first season of a TV show called Project SuperStar.

Kelvin has released three music albums. These include All I Want Is... (2006), i-Weilian (2007), and Moving Notes...Kelvin Tan (2009). He also performed in a big concert in Singapore. He even led a choir at the opening of the 2008 Summer Paralympics. In 2009, he sang the theme song for Singapore's National Day Parade.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Kelvin Tan was born blind. This was due to a condition called Leber's congenital amaurosis. This condition affects the eyes and causes the retina to break down. Growing up, Kelvin loved listening to Mandopop songs from the 1980s. These songs inspired him to learn how to play the piano and guitar.

He went to the Singapore School for the Visually Handicapped. Later, he studied at Dunearn Secondary School. After finishing his O-Levels, he worked as a massage therapist. He also sang at a café. Kelvin often performed on the streets in Jurong East and Waterloo Street. He would play his guitar and sing Mandopop songs for many hours each day. People loved his music. Some would even sit on the pavement for an hour just to listen to him.

Winning Project SuperStar

Kelvin and four of his blind friends tried out for the first season of Project SuperStar. Kelvin was the only one who was chosen to be a contestant. During the competition, some people wondered if viewers were voting for him because they felt sorry for him. Others debated if a blind person who could not dance deserved to win.

Kelvin became the male champion of the show. He then competed against the female champion, Kelly Poon, in the grand final. The judges thought Kelly Poon performed better. However, Kelvin received 64% of the more than 533,000 phone votes. Both finalists also released special songs. Kelvin's song, a cover of Fairytale (童话) by Michael Wong, sold over 12,000 copies. Kelly Poon's song sold over 11,000 copies. Because of this, Kelvin Tan became the grand champion. He won a recording contract with Play Music.

Kelvin's Music Career

Kelvin's first album was called All I Want Is... (我只是想要). It had four new songs and all his popular competition songs. These included Fairytale (童话) and Matchstick Heaven (火柴天堂). This album became very popular in Singapore. It sold so well that it was certified platinum within five days. This means it sold over 15,000 copies.

The main song from the album, "All I Want Is...", was number one on the Singapore music charts in February 2006. Another song, "Touch" (触摸), won Best Theme Song at the 2006 Star Awards. The album sold 45,000 copies in Singapore and 15,000 copies in Malaysia.

In 2006, Kelvin had his own concert at the Max Pavilion in the Singapore Expo. About 5,000 people came to watch him perform.

More Albums and Performances

In 2007, Kelvin released his second album, i-Weilian (i伟联). The song "Ordinary Man" (普通的人) from this album was number one on the Singapore charts in October. Another song, "I Love You," also reached number one on a global music chart. This chart combined results from Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, and Singapore. This album sold 15,000 copies in Singapore and 20,000 copies in Taiwan.

In 2008, Kelvin Tan and Sun Yajun led a choir. They sang the song "On The Same Blue Planet" (同在蓝色星球上). This was at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Paralympics sailing event in Qingdao, China.

In 2009, Kelvin released his third album, Moving Notes...Kelvin Tan (走场陈伟联). This album was highly praised. It included songs with melodies Kelvin wrote himself. Famous lyricists like Liang Wern Fook and Albert Leung wrote the words. Songs from this album, "Forever Friends" (永远的朋友) and "Break Up Letter" (分手的请书), were number one in Singapore in October 2009. The album also reached number five on the Taiwan charts in February 2010. "Break Up Letter" won two awards at the 2010 Singapore Entertainment Awards. The song "Together" (我们) won Best Theme Song at the 2010 Star Awards.

In 2009, Kelvin was chosen to sing "Right Here" (就在这里). This was the Mandarin version of the National Day Parade theme song, "What Do You See?". Four years later, he sang a tribute song to Singapore called "Treasure Every Moment."

In July 2017, Kelvin released a new album called 新谣 (The Singapore Songbook). This album honored local writers and songs from Singapore's past. Kelvin sang classic tunes from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. These included "Friendship Forever" (细水长流) by Liang Wern Fook and "Home" by Dick Lee. The album was released online and topped the charts on iTunes.

In 2017, Kelvin's video of a National Day song medley became very popular. It had over 300,000 views. He sang National Day songs in English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil. People praised his sensitive and fluent singing. The same video became popular again in 2019.

In 2019, Kelvin sang the theme song for a TV show called You Can Be An Angel 3. The song was called "守护你的善良". It was a big hit and won Best TV Drama Theme Song at the 2019 Star Awards.

Acting and TV Appearances

Kelvin acted in the movie 881. He also appeared in several TV shows, like "The Dream Chasers." He won Most Popular Newcomer at the 2006 Star Awards. However, he decided not to take on more acting roles. He felt that acting was "not his cup of tea." He said he could only play blind characters.

Kelvin also appeared on TV variety shows in Singapore and Taiwan. He was a guest judge on Campus Superstar. He also appeared on shows like Happy Sunday. Some Taiwanese hosts were worried about making jokes that might offend him. Another time, he was on the Singapore Mandarin version of Don't Forget The Lyrics. Some people were concerned that he would be at a disadvantage because he could not see the monitor.

Sports Career

In 2015, Kelvin Tan represented Singapore in Goalball. This is a team sport designed for athletes with visual impairments. He played at the 2015 ASEAN Para Games held in Singapore.

Awards and Achievements

Kelvin Tan has won several awards for his music and performances.

Helping Others

Because of his disability and his success, Kelvin has become an ambassador for campaigns that raise awareness about disabilities. He has performed in many charity shows. This includes a concert to raise money for people affected by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. In his free time, he works as a guide for the Singapore version of Dialogue in the Dark. This is an exhibition that helps people who can see understand what it's like to be blind.

Personal Life

Kelvin Tan lives in a four-room HDB flat in western Singapore. He lives with his father, who is a mechanic, his mother, who is a housewife, and his younger sister, who is a research analyst. Even though he is famous, he still uses public transport. He also eats at hawker centres and spends time with his friends.

Kelvin enjoys bowling. He was one of only two totally blind Singaporeans who played the sport in competitions. He even won a competition organized by blind associations from Singapore and Perth. In 2012, he started running. He joined RunningHour, a running club for people with disabilities. He took part in the 10 km run of the Singapore Marathon.

In 2020, Kelvin got engaged. Two years later, in 2022, Kelvin married his wife, Inez Hung. They met while playing goalball games.