John Chan (restaurateur)

John Chan is a restaurateur and proprietor of Chan's Fine Oriental Dining in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, also known as Chan's Egg Rolls and Jazz. He is known for supporting the jazz scene in Rhode Island.

Chan migrated to the United States with the his family from Hong Kong when he was 10 years old.[1] In 1965 Chan's family took over the restaurant, Chan's Fine Oriental Dining, from a cousin of John Chan's father relocated. The restaurant has been in business since 1905.

Chan went to Providence College to study business and graduated in 1974.[1] In 1977 Chan organized the first jazz performance at Chan's and the model proved successful over time. Since the inception of jazz performances at Chan's, Leon Redbone, John Hammond and Dizzy Gillespie have played at the restaurant, and the restaurant has earned mentions in Jennifer 8. Lee's book The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food and USA Today's 10 Great Places to Savor Chinese Food.[2] The restaurant is now known colloquially as Chan's Egg Rolls and Jazz.[3]

Artists occasionally record their performances at Chan's, typically using the subtitle "live at chan's," including Rebecca Parris (1985), Nick Moss (2006 and 2009) and Greg Abate (2016).[4]

Chan is friends with Rhode Island filmmakers the Farrelly brothers and appeared briefly in Me, Myself and Irene.

Awards

2011 - Keeping the Blues Alive Award, awarded by the Blues Foundation [5]

2013 - Pell Award for Excellence In the Arts [6]

2018 - Inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame [7]

References
  1. "John Chan '74 is the most interesting Chan in the world". PC News. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  2. "10 great places to savor Chinese food - USATODAY.com". usatoday30.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  3. Ciampa, Gail (2 February 2011). [infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/152422C1D37FE1E0 "Food Frenzy: Foodie city; Chan's is noticed; chef Jennings wins again"] Check |url= value (help). Providence Journal. p. E10. Retrieved 2 July 2019 – via NewsBank.
  4. "Search for ""Live at chan's""". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  5. "Awards Winners and Nominees". Blues Foundation. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  6. "Pell Awards Gala – Trinity Repertory Company". www.trinityrep.com. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  7. "John Chan". RI Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
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