Tai Phong are a French symphonic prog band with a remarkable backstory: founded by two Vietnamese-born brothers, and featuring — before he became one of France’s best-loved pop stars — a young Jean-Jacques Goldman. Their melodic, English-sung progressive rock, full of soaring vocals and memorable hooks, made them one of the most accessible and appealing prog bands to come out of 1970s France.

The short version

Tai Phong are a French progressive rock band, formed near Paris in 1972 by Vietnamese brothers Khanh Mai and Tai Sinh. Their sound is melodic, romantic symphonic prog — sung in English, rich in vocal harmony and hooks, and often compared to Camel and Barclay James Harvest. They released three albums in their classic era, from their 1975 debut to “Last Flight” (1979), and are remembered both for the hit ‘Sister Jane’ and for launching the career of Jean-Jacques Goldman.

From Vietnam to Paris

The story of Tai Phong begins with brothers Khanh Mai and Tai Sinh, born in Vietnam and raised with a love of music. After an earlier band, The Monsoons, won a regional championship four years running, family pressure sent them to study in Britain — but the pull of music won out. Back in the Paris suburb of Sceaux, they founded Tai Phong (Vietnamese for ‘great wind’) in 1972. Early contract disputes held them back, but by late 1974 the classic line-up had come together, and in June 1975 their debut album arrived.

Sister Jane and a star in waiting

That debut, “Tai Phong” (1975), was a real success — selling over 50,000 copies and spawning the radio hit ‘Sister Jane,’ written by Khanh Mai, which reached the French top 20. Among the band was a young guitarist, singer and violinist named Jean-Jacques Goldman, then at the very start of his career. Tai Phong’s melodic, vocal-rich prog — warm, romantic and tuneful — earned them a reputation as ‘France’s answer to Barclay James Harvest,’ with echoes of Camel and Novalis.

If this is your scene, the books go deeper →

Three albums, then the wind drops

Tai Phong followed their debut with “Windows” (1976), often considered their finest and most cohesive record — the band famously voting by secret ballot on which songs to include. But success cooled, and tensions grew: Goldman, increasingly uneasy about singing in English and reluctant to tour, began to drift. By 1978 Tai Sinh and keyboardist Jean-Alain Gardet had left, and though Goldman played on the third album, “Last Flight” (1979), the band quietly dissolved soon after. Goldman went on to extraordinary solo fame, while founder Khanh Mai would keep the Tai Phong name alive for decades to come.

Album by album

Tai Phong’s classic albums, in order. Tap any title to explore.

The players

The classic Tai Phong line-up was the brothers Khanh Mai (guitar, vocals) and Tai Sinh (bass, keyboards, vocals), with Jean-Jacques Goldman (guitar, vocals, violin), Jean-Alain Gardet (keyboards) and Stephan Caussarieu (drums). When Tai Sinh and Gardet left in 1978, Welsh musician Michael Jones — later Goldman’s long-time collaborator — came in alongside keyboardist Pascal Wuthrich. The band’s many later incarnations have all centred on Khanh Mai, who has remained its constant leader and driving force, keeping Tai Phong active well into the 2000s and beyond.

Where to start

Start with the self-titled debut “Tai Phong” (1975) — home to ‘Sister Jane’ and the perfect introduction to the band’s melodic, vocal-led prog. From there, “Windows” (1976) is for many their high point, a more cohesive and ambitious record. “Last Flight” (1979) makes a fascinating, if more fragmented, finale to their original run. The first two albums are where the magic lies.

Why they still matter

Tai Phong matter as one of the most melodic and approachable bands in 1970s French prog — proof that symphonic rock could be tuneful, emotional and built for the heart as much as the head. Their multicultural origins and gorgeous vocal arrangements set them apart, and the early presence of Jean-Jacques Goldman gives their story an extra spark. For anyone who loves Camel, Barclay James Harvest, or simply beautifully sung progressive rock, Tai Phong are a discovery worth making.

Browse the bookshelf in the footer →