No gimmicks, no frills. It will be all about the music. When Lani Misalucha takes the stage for her 40th anniversary this year, she will give her audience the voice, the performance the “Asia’s Nightingale” has always been known for.
Her distinct voice that has echoed across continents returns to the concert stage for “Still, Lani,” on August 21 at The Theatre Solaire in Parañaque, produced by Backstage Entertainment, a division of Backstage Manila of producer Nate Quijano and Cris Mananquil and under the direction of Calvin Neria.
Toma Cayabyab, son of National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, will guide the 40-piece orchestra that will breathe new life into the music of a living legend.
Lani is excited for “Still Lani.” At the press con at Pandan recently, the singer said her husband Noli encouraged her to celebrate the milestone, having been gone from the scene for quite some time. She recounted the time she and Noli had bacterial meningitis which had left her deaf and in despair.
“Gumagalaw ‘yung vision, as in hanggang ngayon ganoon pa rin ‘yung condition namin and then we’re partially deaf sa right ear,” she related, “So it was really a difficult time for me because siyempre naman, I’m a singer and then mahirap ‘yung pandinig.”
She plunged into depression and shunned going out. Her hearing, and therefore her voice, was not the same.
“Over a month and I feel na mayroon talagang time na kumapal ang boses ko that time, ‘yung boses ko bumaba hindi ko nahi-hit ang mga note. And yes, nagsintunado rin ako.”
Eventually, however, she surrendered and accepted her new reality, continued her work on television in spite of her condition. She is still Lani, after all. From singing in a church choir in Manila to conquering global stages, Lani Misalucha has become synonymous with vocal perfection. Her breakout in 1997 with the critically acclaimed debut album “More Than I Should” set the stage for an illustrious career. She followed with genre-defying albums such as “Tunay Na Mahal” (1998), “All Heart” (2000), and the gospel-tinged “The Promise,” cementing her reputation as a vocal chameleon. Who could forget her stirring renditions of “Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin,” “Tila,” “You Don’t Own Me,” “Malaya Ka Na” and “Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin”?
In 2004, Lani made history as the first Asian artist to headline a main showroom on the Las Vegas Strip, performing with the Society of Seven at Bally’s Hotel and Casino. Dubbed the “Siren of the Strip,” she enchanted American audiences and received standing ovations from music icons such as Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick and Joe Jackson, father of “King of Pop” Michael Jackson. Her immense talent was recognized by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which named her Best Singer in its 27th Annual Best of Las Vegas Poll — an honor she shared with none other than Celine Dion.
The accolades kept coming. Lani shared the stage with musical greats like Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Brian McKnight and Sergio Mendes, effortlessly transitioning from soul to classical, from jazz to gospel. Her soulful performance of “I Live For Your Love” earned her the Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist at the 20th Awit Awards. She was also honored with Lani Misalucha Day in both Las Vegas (December 4) and San Francisco (August 17) — a rare and touching tribute to her impact as an artist and cultural ambassador.
Now, as she marks four phenomenal decades in music, Lani gifts her audience once again with new songs: “Timeless My Love’ and “I Rise to the Top,” making “Still, Lani’ more than a concert but a celebration of a voice that transcends languages and borders.
