Childhood and Musical Enlightenment: David Tao was born in Hong Kong. His father, David Tao Sr., was a famous Taiwanese singer, and his mother, Catherine Tao, was a renowned Peking Opera performer (the 2005 song 'Catherine' was about their mother-son relationship). His maternal grandfather, Wang Zhenzu, also came from a Peking Opera background and founded Taiwan's Fu Hsing Dramatic School. His paternal grandfather, Tao Yishan, was the former head of the Taiwan Provincial Police Department. His cousin, Julia Tao, is a well-known VJ for MTV Taiwan. David Tao cites The Beatles, Queen, Led Zeppelin, and Lo Ta-yu as early influences, which is why his music often carries a strong critical tone. Education: He attended Bethany American School in Taipei and moved to the U.S. at age 15, settling in California. He studied at the University of California, Irvine and UCLA, majoring in psychology and film. At 17, he formed a band called 'Instant Pictures' with classmates and later worked as a civilian employee at the LAPD for 18 months after graduation.
