{{short description|Singaporean musician and bandleader (born 1945)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Matthew Tan | image = | image_upright = | image_size = | landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank --> | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | alias = Matthew L.K. Tan, Bristow Hopper | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1945}} | birth_place = | origin = | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date first) --> | death_place = | genre = Country | occupation = Musician, bandleader | instrument = Guitar | years_active = <!-- YYYY–YYYY (or –present) --> | label = Life, EMI | associated_acts = Matthew and the Mandarins | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} or {{Official URL}} --> }} '''Matthew Tan''' is a Singaporean musician and bandleader. He has led Matthew and the Mandarins in its various forms since the 1960s. He is also the co-composer of the hit songs "Singapore Cowboy" and "Let's Put The Sing In Singapore".

==Background== Tan leads the band Matthew and the Mandarins,<ref>Urbanwire.com, Tue, 22 Nov 2011 - [https://www.theurbanwire.com/2011/11/meradio-rocks-the-marina-%E2%80%93-not-too-young-not-too-old/ MeRadio Rocks the Marina! – Not too young, not too old - Justine Koh]</ref> formed in 1961.<ref name="mother1"/>

Tan was the first Asian to ever perform at the Grand Ole Opry.<ref name="celebrating1">''Today'', 18 January 2013 - [https://admin.todayonline.com/blogs/poparazzi/celebrating-matthew-tan-and-singapore-country "Celebrating Matthew Tan and Singapore Country", by Christopher Toh]</ref>

==Career==

===1960s to 1970s=== By the mid-1960s his band was playing in hotels.<ref name="mother1">Mothership.sg, December 22, 2014 - [https://mothership.sg/2014/12/8-pop-acts-you-boogied-to-if-you-were-alive-in-the-60s/ "8 Pop acts you boogied to if you were alive in the 60s", by Joshua Lee]</ref>

In 1975, Tan flew to Nashville, Tennessee, United States, where the country and western action was. There, he performed at the Grand Ole Opry and did a duet with Skeeter Davis.<ref name="celebrating1"/> He spent 18 months there before returning to Singapore.<ref>''United Press International'', March 10, 1989 - [https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/03/10/Singapore-Cowboy-brings-country-to-Asia/3858605509200/ "'Singapore Cowboy' brings country to Asia", by Ruth Youngblood]</ref>

By the 1970s his group had achieved a large following. Following their signing to EMI Singapore in 1978, his band performed in Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and the United States.<ref>''The Straits Times'', Nov 15, 2014 - [http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/singapore-cowboy-matthew-tan-riding-high Singapore Cowboy Matthew Tan riding high - Phoebe Low]</ref>

Along with Bristow Hopper, he co-wrote "Singapore Cowboy".<ref name="discogs1">Discogs - [https://www.discogs.com/Matthew-The-Mandarins-Matthew-And-The-Mandarins/release/2620266 Matthew & The Mandarins – Matthew And The Mandarins]</ref> The song became a number 1 hit in Singapore.<ref>Bandwagon - [https://www.bandwagon.asia/artists/matthew-the-mandarins Matthew & The Mandarins, Biography]</ref> It was featured on the ''Matthew And The Mandarins'' 1978 album.<ref name="discogs1"/> With Hopper, he also co-wrote "Let's Put The Sing In Singapore". This song was included on the Matthew and the Mandarins ''II'' album, released in 1979.<ref>Discogs - [https://www.discogs.com/Matthew-The-Mandarins-II/release/5767315 Matthew* & The Mandarins – II]</ref>

===Later years=== Tan became the subject of a 2012 documentary titled ''Singapore Country''. The filmmaker, Wee Li Lin, paid tribute to "Singapore Cowboy" as well as Tan.<ref>''The Straits Times'', November 15, 2014 - [http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/singapore-cowboy-matthew-tan-riding-high "Singer Matthew Tan will receive a lifetime achievement award for the 1978 country hit song" - Phoebe Low]</ref><ref>South East Asia + Indie Films (SINDIE) Saturday, May 12, 2012 - [http://www.sindie.sg/2012/05/singapore-cowboy-more-than-just-pipe.html Singapore Cowboy... more than just a pipe dream]</ref>

On November 8, 2013, Tan was the musical director of a concert which featured Jimmy Chan, Gina Vadham, Henry Suriya, Hillary Francis, Mel and Joe, and Frank and Robyn. His band, The Mandarins was also the house band for the event.<ref>''Today'', 05 November, 2013 - [https://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/music/blast-past-spore-veteran-musicians "Blast from the past from S’pore veteran musicians", by Christopher Toh]</ref>

In 2014, Tan played at the Canberra Country Blues & Roots Festival. He was one of two artists to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, the Asia-Pacific Lifetime Achievement Award.<ref>Canberra Country Blues & Roots Festival - [http://www.canberracountry.com/news.html NEWS 2014, 2. Lifetime Achievement Awards]</ref><ref>''The Straits Times'', Nov 15, 2014 - [http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/singapore-cowboy-matthew-tan-riding-high "Singapore Cowboy Matthew Tan riding high" - Phoebe Low]</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tan, Matthew}} Category:Living people Category:Singaporean guitarists Category:Singaporean musicians Category:Singaporean composers Category:Asian country singers Category:20th-century Singaporean male singers Category:1945 births