Wang Feng

Wang Feng (born 29 June 1971) is a Chinese rock musician and composer.

He was the founder and lead vocals of the rock band No. 43 Baojia Street.

In his senior year in college (1994), Wang and his friends formed the band No. 43 Baojia Street.

Wang Feng and the band No. 43 Baojia Street (鲍家街43号), which was named after the street address of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.

After two albums No. 43 Baojia Street (1997) and No. 43 Baojia Street 2 (1998), he signed a solo contract with Warner Music Beijing Co., Ltd. The third album Fireworks (2000) was the beginning of his solo career.

They released their first album in 1997, three years after the band was formed.

During these three years the band practiced in a basement in the college and performed in local clubs and bars.

To comply with his father's will and to have a stable income, Wang took the offer of the vice concertmaster of the National Ballet of China Symphony Orchestra.

However Wang quit the job after a year even with a promotion of the concertmaster position, and put himself completely into Rock music.

In the beginning, the band was sponsored by "Xiao Wei" (nickname), an alumnus of the Central Conservatory of Music.

Xiao Wei's sponsorship allowed the band to practice and perform.

They gradually built up their reputation in Beijing, which led the band to a record deal from Beijing Jingwen Record Co., Ltd on 31 May 1997.

The band was not profitable under Xiao Wei's sponsorship.

Wang could not even pay his rent at that time.

The record deal with Beijing Jingwen Record was an opportunity for the band to officially enter the music business and to solve the money issue.

Xiao Wei understood the benefit of the deal for Wang Feng and the whole band.

He terminated the sponsorship himself and left Beijing.

Later that year the band made their first studio album, No. 43 Baojia Street (1997).

This album included songs like "Little Bird" and "Good Night Beijing", which became famous afterwards.

One year later the band made their second album, No. 43 Baojia Street 2 – Storm Approaching (1998).

While the albums were sold in the market, the economic issue of the band and Wang himself did not resolve.

In other words, the band was not making a profit.

Wang decided to terminate the contract with Beijing Jingwen Record.

In 2000, the Warner Music Beijing Co., Ltd found Wang Feng and offered him a record deal but not the whole band.

Wang signed the contract and put out the album Fireworks (2000) in the same year.

The songs from this album were made before the band broke up.

During his years with Warner Music, Wang had the boost of his career.

He also composed the music for Wang Xiaoshuai's 2001 film Beijing Bicycle.

With a number of songs like Flying Higher (飞得更高) (2004), and Blooming Life (怒放的生命) (2005) on his following albums, Wang Feng entered the media spotlight and became popular in China.

His 2009 album Belief Flies in the Wind won him an award as the Most Popular Male Singer in China at the Channel V's 14th Chinese Music Awards.

He is also a coach on The Voice of China, and Sing! China, both TV shows which helped him gain immense popularity.

Wang Feng was born in Beijing to a musicians' family.

Under his father's suggestion, Wang started practicing violin when he was five years old.

He attended the middle school attached to the Central Conservatory of Music at the age of eleven.

Wang did not understand the purpose of playing violin, or why he had to stay home practising while other kids of his age could play outside.

At the age of 14, for the first time in his life, Wang realized the beauty of music through a piece composed by Tchaikovsky.

After that experience, Wang decided to pursue music for the rest of his life.

By the age of 17, Wang started listening to rock music.

Wang studied in the Central Conservatory of Music majoring in violin and viola.

In his college years Wang joined the Chinese Youth Orchestra and performed overseas.