David Tao Biography: Wife, Age, Net Worth, Songs, Height, Albums, Parents, Career

Tao Xuzhong, known professionally as David Tao, is a Taiwanese singer-songwriter, known as a cornerstone of Mandopop for fusing R&B, rock, and pop into a fresh, soulful sound that reshaped the genre in the late 1990s and beyond.

He earned the nickname “Godfather of Mandarin R&B” through his innovative self-titled debut album in 1997, which snagged five Golden Melody Award nominations and launched hits like “Airport 10:30” and “I Love You.”

Over nearly three decades, Tao has dropped 17 studio albums, collaborated with giants like Jay Chou and A-Mei, and claimed six Golden Melody Awards, all while weaving sharp social commentary and emotional depth into tracks that still pack arenas today.

Profile

• Full Name: Tao Xuzhong
• Stage Name: David Tao
• Born: July 11, 1969
• Age: 56 years old
• Birthplace: Hong Kong
• Nationality: Taiwanese
• Occupation: Singer-songwriter, Music Producer, Musician
• Height: 1.78m
• Parents: Tao Dawei and Wang Furong
• Siblings: None
• Spouse: Penny Chiang (m. 2014)
• Children: None
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

David Tao was born on July 11, 1969, in bustling Hong Kong.

His father, Tao Dawei, is known as an actor, singer, composer, and TV host, while his mother, Wang Furong, is a renowned Chinese opera performer.

He grew up without siblings, spending his formative years shuttling between cultures.

Tao attended kindergarten through junior high at the Bethany Campus of Morrison Academy in Taipei, then followed his family to Arcadia, California, where he navigated high school at Arcadia High School largely on his own after his parents headed back to Taiwan.

He started at the University of California, Irvine, before earning a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles.

He is of mixed Chinese heritage, and he keeps his religious beliefs private.

Career

David Tao kicked off his path far from the stage, scraping by in Los Angeles with odd jobs like sales gigs and even a civilian role at the LAPD to fund his studies.

Music pulled him back after Taiwanese heavyweight Wang Chih-ping spotted his demo tapes and lured him home in the mid-1990s.

Tao cut his teeth writing and producing for stars like Sandy Lam and Wang Fei, honing a signature blend of silky R&B grooves and gritty rock edges that felt worlds away from the ballads dominating Mandopop.

His solo splash came with the 1997 self-titled debut on Shock Records, a raw breakout that nabbed five Golden Melody nods—including Best New Artist and Best Album—and exploded with tracks like “Airport 10:30,” turning him into an overnight sensation despite the whirlwind forcing a brief retreat to the U.S. to regroup.

Tao’s momentum built fast through the early 2000s, with albums like I’m OK (1999) and Black Tangerine (2002) layering personal heartbreak and societal jabs over infectious hooks—he penned the gut-wrenching “Dear God” post-9/11, sampling real news clips to call out indifference.

The Great Leap (2005) sealed his elite status, sweeping Best Album at the Golden Melody Awards and experimenting with everything from disco-metal hybrids in “Ghost” to orchestral clashes in “Art of War” featuring the 12 Girls Band.

He branched into production for A-Mei and S.H.E., mentored rising acts like JJ Lin, and kept the hits rolling, all while dodging burnout by balancing studio time with selective tours that drew massive crowds across Asia.

David Tao sustains his grip on Mandopop’s evolution through packed residencies and fresh drops that nod to his roots while pushing boundaries.

His 2024 Soul Power II tour lit up venues in Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Macau, blending classics with reimagined cuts that pull in multigenerational fans.

A July 2025 pact with Universal Music Greater China signals more collaborations on the horizon, amplifying his role as a bridge between eras.

Tracks like “Melody” endure as anthems, and his influence ripples in every young artist chasing that R&B-rock sweet spot, cementing a legacy of bold, heartfelt innovation that redefined Mandarin music for good.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @davidztao
• Facebook Handle: David Tao Official
• Twitter Handle: Unknown

Personal Life

David Tao tied the knot with actress Penny Chiang in 2014 after a low-key courtship that kept fans guessing until the wedding bells.

The couple shares no children and carves out a grounded routine away from the spotlight, splitting time between Taipei and occasional U.S. escapes where he indulges in his love for classic cars like his prized 1970 Ford Mustang.

Discography

• David Tao (1997)
• I’m OK (1999)
• Black Tangerine (2002)
• The Great Leap (2005)
• Beautiful (2006)
• Taoism (2008)
• 12 Great Songs (2011)
• Soul Power (2013)

Net Worth

David Tao has an estimated net worth of $5 million through steady royalties from his 17-album catalog and production credits on megahits for peers like Jay Chou.

Concert tours, including the blockbuster Soul Power series, pad his earnings alongside endorsement deals and a recent Universal Music label shift that boosts streaming cuts from platforms like Spotify and KKBOX.