World-class chanteuse, Lani Misalucha was last heard in Manila doing a duet titled "The Prayer" with no less than mainstream artist, Josh Groban. It could have been any Filipino singer, but we were told that Groban personally handpicked Lani from the other names and artists offered to do the duet. Lani had to do last minute arrangements with her management to be able to be excused from her Flamingo Las Vegas gig to join Groban in the latter's first concert in Manila. Reports have it that indeed, Josh Groban would like to bring Lani along with him on his next concert tour not only in Asia but also here in the USA.

Lani is the only Filipino headliner in Las Vegas whose performance have been widely accepted by music aficionados of different genres. Her performances always receive the nod of approval from Las Vegas entertainment critics. They always say and write that Lani's voice will "surely astound you."

While happily nestled with Noli and and their two daughters in an exclusive home in Las Vegas, Lani finds time in her busy sked to jet set between here and Manila. She can't quite turn her back when offers come from hometown promoters. "I still have my fans back home and I also owe it to them. I love going home and performing for them, especially if it means that they will be getting a glimpse of what I do here in America."

Yes, what might be harder to fathom, is the fact that this chanteuse even finds time for domestic chores. Since family is numero uno on her list of priorities, Lani makes sure she is a wife and a mother first. it might be hard to believe but I have seen Lani at work. Right after her meet-and-greet during their shows at the Flamingo, Lani would whisk her way through her kitchen at home to cook the family's favorite meals. She enjoys preparing family meals from scratch and she is quite a cook. There was even a time, I was at her home and she was busy telling me about her new projects while cleaning a big size fish in the sink.

The very down-to-earth Lani is not your fancy showgirl - she is your kind of artist who is naturally gifted with a powerful voice that can be so soothing in delivering love songs, catchy in R & B soul grooves and totally awesome in arias or classical pieces.

Experience Lani and her unique voice and performance come Dec. 16, Sunday, 6 p.m. at Morongo Casino Resort and Spa in Cabazon. The casino is conveniently located across from the premium store outlets in Cabazon - a shopping haven for the Filipinos. This is a chance to watch Lani especially for those who have not seen her perform with the Society of Seven in Las Vegas.

Tickets for the Lani show at Morongo Casino are $55 and $75 and for info you may call KATZ at 562-529-8680/ 562-787-8939. The concert is produced by KATZ Entertainment with Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa in cooperation with Goldilocks Bakeshops and Restaurants, Seafood City Supermarket, Unistar Foods, Inc. and Energinseng Coffee. It is also brought to you by Superior Paper & Plastics and Ma Sol Trading.

Now here is another artist who is enjoying the best of both worlds, We are talking about Joey Albert who is now a mom and teacher based in Canada. She cannot quite leave singing yet as she still gets offers to do so. As the old adage says, "once a singer, always a singer."

Joey Albert first started singing around the age of five, when she would sing along with the record collections of her dad and older siblings, which exposed her to a wide variety of musical genres.

In 1982 Joey won the title of Ms. Dreamgirl Filipina, which set the stage for her singing career. She has recorded more than 10 albums and hopes to do an album of standards.

Many of Joey's recordings have gone on to become true classics, withstanding the test of time and appealing to music fans of all ages. "Tell Me," "I Remember the Boy," "Iisa Pa Lamang," "Yakapin Mo Ako" and the hauntingly beautiful "Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin" (written by Joey and former boyfriend Louie Ocampo) are just some of the songs made popular by Joey.

Over the years Joey has been the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the Tinig Award for Best Female Artist (1983), Guillermo Mendoza Award for Best Female Artist (1984), two Awit awards in 1991 and 1994, a Gold Record Award for "Tell Me" in 1986, a Platinum Record Award for "Iisa Pa Lamang" in 1994, and many others.

Asked in an interview what kind of music she likes, Joey replied, "Music that touches the heart, 70's songs (both love songs and disco), and standards." Although she does not have a favorite singer, she counts Burt Bacharach, Henry Mancini and Sergio Mendes among her musical influences.

Besides her many recordings, Joey is also a popular concert artist who, in addition to her many appearances in the Philippines, has performed in Indonesia, Hong Kong, many European countries and in the Middle East, as well as in North America.

In the mid 1990s Joey and hubby Ting Pacis relocated to Canada, where they remain today, raising daughters Trixie and Margarita in Vancouver, British Columbia. In a 2001 interview with Tinnie P. Esguerra in the Philippine Star, Joey admitted that when she first went to Canada she thought her singing career was over. "But God is good. Eventually, I got offers to sing from some of our fellow kababayans. Luckily for them, it's easier to fly me to the States (from Vancouver) compared to their flying me from Manila," she said.

Several years ago Joey's fans and loved ones were saddened to learn that she had been diagnosed with colon cancer. She had had uterine cancer years earlier, but had recovered completely. Joey underwent successful surgery in July 2003. Friends and fans offered their prayers and good wishes, and Joey kept a positive attitude. While recovering at home she texted a friend, "My hubby is my nurse. He, he, he! Have to do chemo afterwards, yuk! But it's okay with me if God wants it." By October she was back doing concerts. Joey finished her last round of chemotherapy in March 2004.

You can see Joey perform live on Dec. 22 as a guest of Martin Nievera at the Grande Exposition Hall of the Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno. For more info, contact Silver Legacy at 800-687-8733 or Silverscreen Entertainment at 510-938-4064.

Pops Fernandez ended her 35th concert tour "Divas @ The Movies" recently with Kuh Ledesma at The Grand Theater in Los Angeles. While she remains swamped with offers to perform all around the US, Pops politely said no to the offers because she needed to go home and sit with her production team for her 25th anniversary show at the Araneta Coliseum.

We were with her until her returning flight to Manila via LAX. The drive was long and tedious for the Concert Queen. We both came from a video shoot in Dr. Frieda Brookshire's palatial home in Orange County. The latter is responsible for Pops' pearly whites these days. In that drive to LAX, Pops and I had the pleasure of talking about her showbiz career.

Yes, I was a witness to her budding career in the early 80s as I was then the associate entertainment editor of Crispina Martinez-Belen. I had the pleasure of doing so many articles on Pops - from being single, to getting a proposal on stage from Martin Nievera, to marrying Martin, to bearing two sons to getting through a hard separation from her ex-hubby. The articles went on as we saw each other again here in California during her concert gigs and to the day she had that tell-all article in YES magazine. While Pops is so dear to my heart - Martin is also one that is close to me. I love both dearly so it pains me too whenever something "ugly" happens to both of them.

As I look back, I can only sigh and wish that both Pops and Martin remain friends - it would be great to look at both of them in the eyes and see that the hurts are gone. It is easier said than done now - but only time can heal all wounds. Thus, I even refused to talk to Pops about her revelation on Martin and went on with curiosity what she has in plans for her career instead.

Yes, Pops is celebrating her 25th anniversary show in the biz and she is very excited about it. The concert titled "Diva-licious" will be staged at the Araneta Coliseum and will be directed by fellow actor and colleague, Rowell Santiago. Pops said: "It will feature my 25 years in the business in various snippets. It will show highlights from how I got started to where I am now,"

When asked how she feels about what she is now, Pops said: "I feel the freedom-rush. Suddenly I am liberated! I used to think and worry on what most people will think of me when I do this or that. Right now, I had evolved into a better artist. I believe my music, my voice and performance have matured enough so my fans are in for a real treat."

And treat is it for the fans who will see Pops performing with her guests led by the megastar, Sharon Cuneta; Mr Pure Energy, Gary Valenciano; Philippine Diva, Kuh Ledesma; Prince of R & B, Jay-R and John Pratts. Musical director is Homer Flores.

The freedom that Pops enjoys now is very obvious as she glows with radiance. The perfect glam that she is, Pops has built a stronger character either physically or emotionally. She has maintained her svelte figure and smooth, flawless skin.

Still a lovely sight to behold, Pops can charm her way through her audience with her elegance, ladylike manner and gorgeous looks. On stage, she can rock with fire and sing with angst when singing love songs.

So what gave Pops the title "Concert Queen." By Philippine standard, it means drawing crowds by the thousands every concert time. The bigger the venue the better - and Pops is truly blessed to have that kind of following. While she has developed a loyal set of fans, the numbers continue to grow as Pops also reinvents herself. This is why her fans love and adore her.

The birthday girl, turning wiser and more gorgeous on December 6, Pops' only wish is for both Ram and Robin to finish their studies and achieve what they prefer to be one day. "I am so blessed because both my sons are overly protective of me. They are extremely understanding of my situation."

As for her lovelife, Pops is enjoying Jo Mari Yllana's company right now . She does not even force Jom towards his sons, "My other son Robin found a friend in Jom. They take boxing lessons together. As for all the rumors on my getting hitch, sorry to disappoint the rumor mongers. Jom and I never talked about it yet. We are both happy on how things are with us. No pressure. Hey, look - I am just starting to enjoy my life. Why suddenly end it. There's much to do with my career - I am too excited because there's just too many ideas that need to be executed for next year. I will be back with something different and which I am sure my fans will enjoy."

Pops, incidentally will be back in the US for her 25th anniversary concert sometime September 2008 and this concert will be produced by KATZ Entertainment Group. Just watch out for further announcements

Society of Seven and Lani at Morongo Casino Resort!

Now here's one show LA concertgoers should not miss. Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa and KATZ Entertainment present the Society of Seven and Lani Misalucha in a special one night only show on Dec. 16, Sunday at 6:00 p.m.

This is a rare opportunity to enjoy the performance of America's premiere showband known as the Society of Seven who has been the headliner over at The Flamingo in Las Vegas with Asia's famous songstress, Lani Misalucha who is best known for her impeccable vocal prowess.

This is the very first time that a Filipino act is taking centerstage in Morongo - a casino, resort and spa located in the Cabazon area which is actually a shopping haven for most of us Filipinos. Both Morongo Casino and KATZ Entertainment believe that the SOS and Lani show would be the perfect show to debut on stage this casino since this act appeals not only to the Filipinos and the Filipino-Americans but also to audiences of varied nationalities and lifestyles.

The production numbers of SOS and Lani are highly-conceptualized by Tony Ruivivar and his group of Bert Sagum with Hoku Low, Roy Guerzo and Wayne Wakai. Adding more excitement to the SOS group are newcomers Mark Escueta and Vince Mendoza.

The Society of Seven can deliver any type of song - from blues, ballads, to rock and roll among many others. Their unique brand of comedy and impersonations also make them a cut above the rest.

Leading SOS is the storyteller, Tony Ruivivar. His warm down-home earthy voice gives life to standard pieces. He is also the most creative in SOS - bringing on stage what is considered hilarious and downright excellent musical numbers;

Then there's everyone's favorite, Bert Sagum. Often unpredictable and spontaneous, his wit never seems to wilt. Such a charmer both on and off the stage, Bert's voice has remained solid and soothing;

Hoku, on the other hand, has the more difficult assignment because his falsetto voice gives life to more challenging tunes. He not only plays bass but plays horns as well;

Then there's Wayne Wakai…best described as a musician's musician. Why? Because he has the ability to play various instruments at virtuoso caliber - from guitar, keyboards, saxophone and more.

Giving the upbeat tempo is Vince Mendoza whose infectious energy is easily felt by the audience once he starts hitting the drums. His soulful rendition of anything from broadway to pop to hip hop makes him an easy favorite;

And then of course, there is Mark Escueta whose vocal range is truly incredible. The power pack Mark delivers songs that always evokes shrieks from the crowd.

Giving the extra oomph in the SOS show is the mesmerizing Lani Misalucha. The sultry songstress is at par with any mainstream artist in Las Vegas - be it Celine Dion or Toni Braxton. She never fails to elicit oohs and aahs once she belts out her torch songs. A byword among concert aficionados, Lani conquered the musical fancy of every man and woman even with the most discriminating taste. A surefire winner, Lani packs them all at the venue. Lani is a rare gem completely polished - just waiting to be tapped into the big league in Hollywood - and that is not farfetched because the new Diva of Las Vegas is surely going places.

For more info on the Society of Seven-Lani Misalucha one night only, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at Morongo Casino Resort and Spa, please call Katz Entertainment, 562-529-8680 or 562-787-9030. The Net proceeds of the show will go to Southern California Devotees of the Holy Infant Jesus. The Society of Seven and Lani Misalucha is a production of Rosy Cheeks Entertainment Group.
 

What's Up Eva?

In our books, she is yet to be the best soul diva that the music scene in the Philippines has ever produced. With her sultry looks and a voice cascading in melodious and solid tones, Eva Caparas stood out as one of the female lead vocalists of the Music and Magic showband. It was the same group that catapulted Philippine diva, Kuh Ledesma to fame. Likewise, it also produced singer-comedienne, Fe delos Reyes; singer- creative/stage director, Jet Montelibano and also wife-cum-artist manager, Angeli Pangilinan now married to pop icon, Gary Valenciano.

We recently hooked up with Eva who is jetsetting back and forth between San Francisco and Los Angeles. At that time, she was busy preparing for the comedy musical written and musically directed by the husband and wife team of Bodjie Dasig and Odette Quesada. The musical titled "Amerikana" of course is led by Fe delos Reyes who by the way brought the house down in the recent concert outing billed as "Divas at the Movies" with Kuh Ledesma and Pops Fernandez at the helm. Fe was undeniably funny, witty and original that people seem to re-discover that side of her.

Eva was looking svelte and she was excited to share with us that she has plans of bouncing back to the scene. Oh well, let's see what we had to chit-chat.

An original member of the showband Music and Magic (with Kuh Ledesma 1979-80s, Manila, Philippines), Eva is celebrating her return to stage and entertainment in the United States. In October 2007, she played the role of 'Rachel,' the long lost sister of Fe de los Reyes' in "Amerikana." The musical premier (Bodgie Dasig/Odette Quesada, original music; Patricio Ginelsa, Director) was staged at the Yerba Buena Center for Arts in San Francisco.

Prior to "Amerikana," Eva in April 2007, played 'Diwata' (a nymph) in the all-Filipino opera 'Karim at Jasmin' at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, Los Angeles, CA.

Given two original works as a kick off to her comeback, Eva is currently lured to go back to her passion - and that's singing. She honed her music skills while singing the voice of soprano for Music and Magic in 1980. She gathered quite a following of her own, earning the applause and cheers everytime she sang the band's finale and signature song 'I'll Be There/Ain't No Mountain High Enough." The song expected to wow the audience reached an international market and Eva performed them during concerts with Music and Magic in the USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia among other key cities and countries.

Easily, Eva can captivate her audience with her innate "soulful" renditions. She has an arresting personality on stage which makes the most of her numbers real showstoppers. While she can deliver any genre of music, Eva admits being partial to soul music and a spice of rock to spike it up but will take up a 'kundiman' (Filipino folk ballad) as she would have done as a young girl.

Born in Manila, Eva joined the Ateneo Glee Club, prior to her professional stint. Eva was brought up surrounded by music and was on stage in school either singing, acting, on guitar or public speaking. While in Ateneo de Manila, Eva was cast as 'Caesonia' in "Caligula" with Leo Martinez (directed by Peque Gallaga. 1985). She pursued her own career for a couple of years after the band decided to go their own ways in the late 1980s, racking up solo and featured-artist gigs at the Music Museum, the former Birdland jazz depot, the Mandarin Oriental and Circus, Circus; concerts with Zsa-Zsa Padilla, APO Hiking Society, Gary Valenciano, Janet Basco and her former band mates Kuh Ledesma, Fe de los Reyes and Jet Montelibano to name a few.

Jet and Eva were also part of the Dinosaur and Lokal Brown albums, with 'ASIN' as main artists (Eddie Formoso, writer, 1986 Manila, Philippines). Eva maintained taking the vocal female lead with Music and Magic since Kuh Ledesma parted ways with them throughout the group's career; that being evident in their album released under the same title in 1980 (Blackgold Records, Philippines) as well as in all their national/international live and recorded performances.

Before motherhood beckoned, Eva co-produced and co-arranged music for "BLACK IS BACK" in 1989-90, (Ray Cristobal, arranger) a series of concerts at the Music Museum with a line-up of just her favorite platform, namely soul, R&B (of the 80s) and blues.

Singing took a backseat when the soul diva devoted some 16 years to her family of four kids, with whom she has travelled extensively --have lived in London and Dubai, and finally settling in the U.S. Now home to Eva, the USA is where she also happily reunites with relations, teenage friends and former industry colleagues.

For Eva, she has naturally reached a cycle but one that had led her to live a life filled with passion for love, music, art and friends - not necessarily in that order. For someone whose life was devoted to music since her Kindergarten days to being with Music and Magic - it is inevitable that Eva will go back to her roots. And while music it is for Eva, she has also learned to expand her artistic roots by teaching vocals for dance camps in Dubai, to salsa teaching, to even pursuing a watercolour hobby. These days, Eva has dreams just like anyone else and that is to share what she enjoys the most - singing. Being proud of her roots, Eva hopes to be a part in enriching the Filipino culture in one of the largest Filipino entertainment hubs of the world.

(Ed’s note: Jackie Regala-Katigbak has been writing and doing promotions in the entertainment business since the 1980s. The past two decades saw her columns and articles published in the Philippines via the Manila Bulletin, Panorama, Manila Standard and Philippine Times Journal. Currently her articles are published by www.CarouselPinoy.com, the Asian Journal publications and in various newspapers in Southern California. For correspondence, you may send her an email at JackieRegala@verizon.net Thank you.)