Nhu Mai

Nhu Mai (1960-    ) is a popular overseas Vietnamese singer who began her career during the early 1980s after resettling in the United States.  She along with Ngoc Lan and Kieu Nga were the three primary divas who dominated the overseas Vietnamese music industry for much of the 1980s and well into the 1990s.

At the age of 20, Nhu Mai had made the courageous decision to flee from the communist regime in her native Vietnam by boat in search of freedom.  As fate would have it, the boat landed safely on Christmas Day of 1980 at a refugee camp in Thailand and she would arrive to the United States on Independence Day of 1981.  Once resettled in Orange County, Southern California, Nhu Mai began singing with a local Vietnamese band at parties and weddings.  Prior to that, Nhu Mai had never sung professionally back in her native homeland and her only experience with performing live on stage was singing for her local church choir.  On one night sometime in 1983, she along with several of her friends decided to stop by Lang Van, which was then a popular Vietnamese cabaret located in Santa Ana.  During open mic, per her friends' request Nhu Mai went on stage and sang a song.  Her amazing performance of Thuyền Viễn Xứ written by Pham Duy that night took everybody in the audience by complete surprise.  Tung Giang, who was leader of the accompanying band, along with Lan, the owner of the cabaret were so deeply enchanted with her singing voice that Nhu Mai was offered a job as a regular performer on weekends three nights a week there on the spot.  That same year, Nhu Mai recorded her debut solo studio album, Mộng Ban Đầu, for Thanh Lan, then the the most prolific overseas Vietnamese music production label and officially launched her career.  

The exposure Nhu Mai had received from the impressive sales of her debut album would lead her to numerous collaborations with other major overseas Vietnamese music production labels such as Lang Van, Da Lan, Giang Ngoc, Tung Giang Entertainment, Doi Magazine, Nguoi Dep Binh Duong, Phuong Hoang and Asia Entertainment.  Within a short period of time thereafter, Nhu Mai was in high demand as one of the most marketable names in the overseas Vietnamese music industry.  She headlined at major Vietnamese cabarets in Orange County, Calfornia such as Au Baccara and Diamond and recorded several more studio albums for various music production labels during the 1980s, most notable were Em Đi Qua Chuyến Đò (1987) released by Doi Magazine and Tình Hận (1988) released by Lang Van.  She has also recorded duets and medleys with numerous other artists such as Ngoc Lan, Kieu Nga, Anh Dung, Vu Khanh, Cong Thanh & Lynn, Elvis Phuong, Duy Quang, Kim Anh, Thai Thao, Carol Kim, Tuan Vu and Julie Quang.  

In 1986 upon the invitation of musician Quoc Si, Nhu Mai became the lead singer of The Magic.  Their professional relationship would develop into an intimate relationship through the years.  For the remainder of the 1980s Nhu Mai & the Magic were one of the most successful overseas Vietnamese acts with performances at live shows all over the world.  Among her most well received signature songs recorded include Tuổi 13 written by Ngo Thuy Mien, Biết Đâu Nguồn Cội written by Trinh Cong Son, Em Đi Rồi written by Lam Phuong, Gái Xuân written by Tu Vu, Bài không tên số 8 written by Vu Thanh An, Cô Ðơn written by Nguyen Anh 9 and Giấc Mơ Mùa Thu written by Vo Thien Thanh. In 1989, Nhu Mai & the Magic finished out the decade with a highly successful European tour alongside a gala of other overseas Vietnamese performers including Duy Quang, Ngoc Lan, legendary chanteuse Thai Thanh and Kim Ngan.  

Nhu Mai began the Nineties decade with another solo studio album, Như Giọt Sầu Rơi (1990), released by Nguoi Dep Binh Duong.  That same year she also made a memorable appearance on Asia Entertainment's very first video production, Tình Yêu Tuổi Trẻ (Young Love), in a duet performance with singer Thuy Vi of the song, Chỉ Là Giấc Mơ.  In 1991 Nhu Mai & the Magic Band made their very first appearance for Thuy Nga on volume 12 of the popular live show music video series, Paris By Night, performing a ChaChaCha medley of cover songs together with Lynda Trang Dai.  Nhu Mai & The Magic Band would appear on three more volumes of Paris By Night with similar performances of medleys.  From 1992 until 1994, Nhu Mai would appear on three more volumes of Paris By Night without the accompaniment of The Magic singing the following songs, Gọi Giấc Mơ Xưa written by Le Hoang Long, Nhớ Người Thương Binh written by Pham Duy and Giáng Ngọc written by Ngo Thuy Mien, respectively.  In 1994, Nhu Mai went on one of her most successful concert tours in Australia performing with Lynda Trang Dai, Don Ho, Thanh Tuyen, Thai Chau and Randy.  Aside from their busy touring and recording schedules, Nhu Mai & the Magic had formed two music production labels of their own, Mat Biec Productions headed by Quoc Si and Nhu Mai Productions headed by Nhu Mai, during the early 1990s.  Under her own production label, Nhu Mai released a series of well received solo studio albums which included several gospel albums and albums recorded with various other artists such as Don Ho, Ngoc Lan, Ngoc Minh, Khanh Ly, Viet Dzung and Thanh Lan.  

During the 1990s, Nhu Mai & the Magic would experience several challenges which would lead to changes in personnel.  In the winter of 1992, keyboardist/vocalist Duy Tuong underwent surgery for a bone marrow transplant after being stricken with leukemia and had to take some time off for his recovery.  This would be followed by the untimely passing of their drummer, known affectionately as Tuan Hy, several years later.  Toward the end of the 1990s, Nhu Mai and Quoc Si ended their long-term personal, as well as professional relationship.  

Out on her own, Nhu Mai changed the name of her production label from Nhu Mai Productions to Nhu Mai Entertainment with the releases of studio albums, Cơn Mưa Chiều Chủ Nhật (1998) and Tình Phai (2000).  In 2003, she appeared on Asia Entertainment's live show music video series, Mùa Hè Rực Rỡ 2003, as a part of an ensemble performing a medley of songs penned by Nhat Truong alongside Nhat Truong, himself, My Lan and Ha Lan.  Now settled into married life, Nhu Mai has purposely slowed down her career in music during recent years, but still performs at live shows occasionally.  She currently makes her home in West Anaheim, California.