Don Ho

Don Ho:  Overseas Vietnamese Singer of Pop Music 

Don Ho (1962-     ) is a famous Vietnamese singer who started his career in the United States.  Born in Saigon, South Vietnam, he moved to the United States in 1980 with his family and attended Valley High School in Santa Ana, California.  Upon graduating from high school, Don Ho immediately set his sights on a professional singing career.  His journey to stardom would be a long one, as he began singing for local bands and then onto performing at Vietnamese nightclubs in Orange County, California.  After a few professional recordings for several Vietnamese music production labels toward the end of the 1980s decade, Don Ho began to make a name for himself in the overseas Vietnamese music industry as audiences, as well as music executives of other major Vietnamese music production labels, began to take notice of his unique style of singing.  One particular label was Thuy Nga Paris, the most prolific overseas Vietnamese music production company which produces the immensely popular Paris By Night music video series.  After Don Ho made his first video appearance for Thuy Nga Paris teamed up in an ensemble with other singers for a couple of medleys, he was invited to return in 1992 where he would appear on a Paris By Night live show, this time performing as a solo act with a cover to Paul Anka's classic, Diana, sung in both English and Vietnamese translated lyrics.  That night the audience rewarded Don Ho with a thunderous applause which singled him out from the rest of the performers.  Almost overnight, Don Ho had become the new singing sensation among overseas Vietnamese communities worldwide.

For the rest of the 1990s decade, Don Ho consistently reigned as the top Vietnamese male vocalist with skyrocketing album sales, sold out live shows across the globe and had a huge following that would only get bigger with each of his unforgettable appearances on the Paris By Night music video series.  With a lengthy professional association with Thuy Nga Paris of 15 years, Don Ho is undoubtedly one of the most sought after musical performers to have ever graced the Paris By Night stage.  No other overseas Vietnamese male vocalist has ever had such an impact in the Vietnamese music industry, especially with the overseas Vietnamese younger generation.  Among his most popular signature songs include Dancing All Night, Trai Tim Mua Dong (Winter's Heart), Tinh Nhat Phai (Caravan of Life) and a cover of an old Tom Jones classic, I Who Have Nothing.  He has recorded duets with Ngoc Lan, Thanh Ha and Lam Thuy Van. 

Currently a resident of Santa Monica, California, Don Ho continues to tour relentlessly performing at live shows for Vietnamese audiences around the globe.  In recent years, Don Ho had formed his own music label, Don Ho Production, which has released several of his solo studio albums.


Link(s):

Don Ho Production
Don Ho's Official Facebook Page