Pianist & Vocalist, PianoBar Entertainer, Band Leader, Tribute Artist, and Entertainment Planner, Chris Chan is regarded as a both a naturally gifted musician and business entrepreneur. His creative abilities, unique musical skill-set, and outstanding reputation have made him a true success in both live entertainment performance and special event planning. Chris Chan has developed his name throughout the years by successfully combining his keen musical and party sense with a “Can Do!” attitude that translates into successful events organized for his clientele. He continues to evolve with both music and creativity at his core and with one single purpose in mind: “A Good Time To Be Had By All."
It all begins in Charleston, West Virginia with two very dedicated parents who strongly encouraged piano lessons at the age of 8. Chris was very fortunate to have an excellent classical piano teacher for all ten years of his formal music training that concluded with high school graduation. Chris then enrolled in the College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University and graduated with a degree in Finance. In 1986, anxious to put his business degree to work in a city with a creative community and a professional music scene, Chris moved to New York and began his professional business career in finance with Kidder Peabody & Co., and Smith Barney, Inc. Chris pursued his music dream by performing in his first original rock band “The Stand” at venues throughout Greenwich Village and lower and upper Manhattan. In 1990, excited and ready to put his business and finance skills to use in the field of entertainment, Chris left his investment career with Smith Barney and began his own events / talent company in Orlando, Florida, with the primary focus being to provide entertainment for the developing Orlando hospitality and convention industry. With a unique combination of creativity, music performance, and business efficiency, his company “The Entertainment Company” has provided over 18 years of exceptional service to Central Florida’s top convention hotels and Fortune 500 companies nationwide. And true to form, Chris performs regularly at many of these events as a soloist or with his band. Chris also engages corporate audiences with his interactive “PianoBar” at venues throughout the country ranging from Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York to resort hotels in Las Vegas.
Chris has served on the board of The National Association of Catering Executives and has worked with leading hospitality organizations including Meeting Planners International and The Society of Incentive Travel Executives. He has been recognized by The Peabody Orlando with an “Outstanding Vendor” award, and by Safari's Destination Management Company with their first "Vendor Of The Year" award.
In 2004, Chris began working on perhaps his most unique project yet with his “Musical Tribute to Barry Manilow.” In only his second Manilow tribute performance, he took top honors at the annual Sunburst Convention for Musical Tribute Artists and Celebrity Impersonators. In 2006, he was awarded the coveted Cloney Award for Best Male Musical Tribute Artist as voted on by his industry peers and the International Guild of Celebrity Impersonators and Tribute Artists. In December of 2006, Chris was asked to perform in “Stars In Concert”, a successful long running musical production in Berlin, Germany, featuring a cast of the top tribute artists in the world. In November of 2007, Chris performed in a nine show tour throughout Sydney and Melbourne in the Australia production, “Las Vegas Headliners.” His tribute show has also been booked in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Hollywood, Honolulu, and Toronto for many audiences and special events.
Chris Chan continues to learn and create, entertain, innovate, and plan entertainment. Chris lives in Orlando, Florida with his wife Jenny and his two young children, Ryan and Ella.
