Chí Tài

Chí Tài (1958-2020) was a famous Vietnamese musician, comedian and actor.  He had first risen to prominence in the Vietnamese-American community in the 1980s as the lead guitarist of the popular band, Chí Tài Brothers.

Nguyễn Chí Tài was born on August 15, 1958 in Saigon, South Vietnam.  At the age of 23, he left Vietnam to resettle in the United States.  A few years later, Chí Tài (lead guitar) along with his two brothers, Chí Thiện (keyboard) and Chí Thái (drums) would form the band, Chí Tài Brothers.  Other band members included his future wife, Phương Loan (lead vocals), Quang Mỹ (bass), Kiều Linh (trumpet), and then unknown singer/songwriter Trịnh Nam Sơn (saxophone).  Chi Tai Brothers which initially played for weddings and private parties quickly rose to prominence landing such major gigs at the Ritz Nightclub in Anaheim, California and the Lunar New Year Tet Festival held in Little Saigon.  Soon after, Chi Tai Brothers landed a steady gig performing weekly as the primary band at Au Baccara Nightclub in Fountain Valley, California and eventually toured throughout the United States, Canada and Europe playing at live shows for overseas Vietnamese audiences.  In 1987, Chi Tai wrote the lyrics to the song, Nguoi Yeu Dau, which became a big hit for singer Ngoc Lan.

In the 1990s, Chi Tai owned and operated Chi Tai Recording Studio in Santa Ana, California.  He did music arrangements and recorded for some of the biggest names among overseas Vietnamese singers.  In 1992, Chi Tai began collaborating with Thuy Nga and made his debut appearance on Paris By Night Volume 18 as the lead guitarist in his band accompanying his wife, singer Phuong Loan.  He would then become the music arranger of the Paris By Night series where he would continue to make many more appearances as a musician throughout the 1990s decade.   

Hoai Linh and Chi Tai

During a live show performance in 1997, Chi Tai filled in at the last minute as Hoai Linh's sidekick in a comedy sketch.  The overwhelming positive response of his performance that night paved the way for a new career for Chi Tai as a comedic actor.  Since 2000, Chi Tai has performed in numerous comedy sketches on Paris By Night alongside Hoai Linh, Hong Dao, Quang Minh, Trang Thanh Lan, My Huyen, Bang Kieu, Việt Hương, Thuy Nga, Kieu Oanh and Huong Thuy.  He has also performed in comedy sketches on video for Van Son Entertainment and Tinh Productions.   

Chí Tài and Phương Loan married in 1987.  The couple had no children. In 2010, Chí Tài embarked on a highly successful film career starring in his first feature comedy, Cong Chua Teen va Ngu Ho Tuong (2010) with Bao Thy, Yen Trang and Khong Tu Quynh, The blockbuster success from that movie led to a string of other well-received comedy movie roles for Chí Tài including Gia Dai Chien (2011) costarring Miu Le and his former bandmember turned comedic actor Kiều Linh, Gia Su Nu Quai (2012) also starring Bao Thy and Tran Thanh, Nha Co 5 Nang Tien (2013) with Hoai Linh, Viet Huong and Ngan Khanh, Nam Sau Con Lai Ve (2014) and Trung So (2015) with Ninh Duong Lan Ngoc and Dustin Nguyen.  His newly established career throughout the 2010s decade in Vietnamese comedy films caused Chí Tài to have to divide his time between homes in Orange County, California and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  Unfortunately, Chí Tài met his untimely death on December 9, 3009 as a result of a massive stroke he had suffered right after returning from a morning stroll to the park nearby the Botanic Towers where the actor had maintained a penthouse apartment in the Phú Nhuận District of Ho Chi Minh City.  He was 62.