AS HE was recently named the endorser of Solaire Resort and Casino, it comes as no surprise that singer Martin Nievera will celebrate his 35th year in the music business with a concert at The Theatre in Solaire on Dec. 8.
The so-called “Philippine Concert King,” has had a bevy chart-topping hits in his more than three decade-long career including “You are My Song,” “Say That You Love Me,” “Be My Lady,” and “Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin,” among many others. Since the release of his debut album in 1983 (Martin… Take One) he has so far earned 18 platinum albums, five double platinums, three triple platinums, and one quadruple platinum record, making him one of the best selling local music acts.
Though he had lived most of his early life in Hawaii — his father sang for the Hawaii-based variety group, Society of Seven which was formed in the 1960s — he decided to come to the Philippines to pursue a music career in 1980. Three years later, he launched his first album, and a year after that he launched his second one, The Best Gift. He also became a show host in GMA Network’s variety show Penthouse Live! alongside Pops Fernandez — whom he married in 1986 and divorced in 2003. The show ran from 1982-1987.
As an actor, he has so far appeared in 11 movies including 1986’s Now and Forever, directed by Danny L. Zialcita, where he played the lead together with Ms. Fernandez. Mr. Nievera also became a judge in 2012’s X Factor Philippines which aired on ABS-CBN and has been a regular host of the variety show ASAP on the same network since 1995.
The celebration of his 35 years in the industry, titled Martin @35, will “emphasize his 35-year-old no-filter sound (sans autotune),” Mr. Nievera told the media during a press conference last October. His concert will include his popular hits, a combination of Christmas tunes, and a few songs from the 1980s.
“It’s going to be a celebration, nothing too serious,” said Mr. Nievera in a press release. “[This concert] will be another opportunity for me to sing the songs I hope to this day have remained as part of the soundtrack of the lives of those who have blessed me with their applause,” he added.
And it is his voice and his songs that will be the focus of the show.
He said his stage won’t have any LED screens so the attention will be on the lyrics and on him, the singer — something he thinks Paolo Valenciano (the show’s director) would find challenging as he would have to “downplay the technology he knows so much of,” added to the fact that unlike Mr. Valenciano’s father, “Mr. Pure Energy” Gary Valenciano — Nievera’s erstwhile “rival” on the pop scene in the 1980s — Mr. Nievera rarely moves on stage.
Mr. Nievera will also be working with his longtime collaborator Louie Ocampo who will serve as the show’s musical director.
“Just like all things that come with Christmas, my chemistry with Louie is a magical mystery. We click. We even have the same quirks and fetishes. I have worked with the best, but Louie is the Musical Director’s Musical Director. We have seen good days and bad together. From the start of our careers to present day, we have never lost that magic,” he said. in the release.
Martin @35 will be held on Dec. 8, 8 p.m., at The Theatre in Solaire. Tickets are available at TicketWorld (ticketworld.com.ph, 891-9999) and range in price from P1,095 to P7,665. — ZBC
