By the mid-1960s his band was playing in hotels.[2]
In 1975, Tan flew to Nashville, Tennessee, United States, where the country and western action was. There, he performed at the Grand Ole Opry and did a duet with Skeeter Davis.[3] He spent 18 months there before returning to Singapore.[4]
By the 1970s his group had achieved a large following. Following their signing to EMI Singapore in 1978, his band performed in Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and the United States.[5]
Along with Bristow Hopper, he co-wrote "Singapore Cowboy".[6] The song became a number 1 hit in Singapore.[7] It was featured on the Matthew And The Mandarins 1978 album.[6] With Hopper, he also co-wrote "Let's Put The Sing In Singapore". This song was included on the Matthew and the Mandarins II album, released in 1979.[8]
Tan became the subject of a 2012 documentary titled Singapore Country. The filmmaker, Wee Li Lin, paid tribute to "Singapore Cowboy" as well as Tan.[9][10]
On November 8, 2013, Tan was the musical director of a concert which featured Jimmy Chan, Gina Vadham, Henry Suriya, Hillary Francis, Mel and Joe, and Frank and Robyn. His band, The Mandarins was also the house band for the event.[11]
In 2014, Tan played at the Canberra Country Blues & Roots Festival. He was one of two artists to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, the Asia-Pacific Lifetime Achievement Award.[12][13]