CEBU, Philippines - The heavy rain on Valentine’s Day didn’t stop the people from flocking to Cebu Parklane International Hotel to see Rex Smith’s concert, “Rex Smith 2 By Popular Demand.” Love was definitely in the warm moist air, the hotel’s concert hall made cozy with romantic lights and chandeliers.
A singer, song writer, and Broadway star, Rex Smith shot to TV fame for his heartthrob lead of the 1979 NBC-TV movie Sooner or Later. He also appeared in TV sitcoms like JAG, Baywatch and Danielle Steele’s Once in a Lifetime. He likewise nurtured a successful Broadway career. He starred in West Side Story, Grease, Phantom of the Opera, and The Pirates of Penzance, where he bagged the Theater World Award.
The 53-year-old singer-actor has wowed audiences all over the world with his poignant love songs and catchy lyrics. With superior vocal prowess, he starred in more than 360 Broadway shows in his illustrous career.
The concert opened with Olivia, a talented young woman who was labeled 2008 best young jazz artist, crooning a romantic ballad, Moon River. Rex Smith with his all-Filipino band and one female back-up vocalist then took over the stage with an upbeat song Buttercup, followed by other timeless hits, Let’s Make a Memory (which he said he composed when he was “quite young”), Don’t Give up on Us and Steal Away.
The whole Victoria Hall of The Parklane faded to black and, enclosed in darkness with just his soulful voice, he set the stage for a whirlwind journey of Broadway songs of Andrew Lloyed Webber in the Phantom of the Opera with Rex Smith reprising his role as “the phantom” and Olivia as the talented Christine. Olivia impressed the audience when she stood her ground during their duet and belted out high pitch notes which made the crowd burst into a loud applause.
The singer gave Olivia more exposure in this year’s concert when she joined him in a series of songs from Grease; Rex played Danny Zucko in the original Broadway production.
Before he sang Everybody Wants to Rule the World (popularized by Tears for Fears), he said he visited Corregidor as his father is a World War II veteran who fought alongside Filipinos, the reason, he said, why he has a soft spot for the Philippines.
His encore performance Everlasting Love capped the romantic evening. Rex Smith described the Filipino audience as naturally romantic. He said, “Everyday seems like Valentine’s Day here.” He also announced that he just got engaged and said, “So, you’re not the only one celebrating Valentine’s Day.”
When Rex Smith arrived in the Philippines, the first thing he told Manila reporters was that he was going to eat lechon in Cebu. And Cebu Parklane International Hotel didn’t let him down. The singer/songwriter/actor kept mentioning lechon throughout the concert. “When I arrived, I ate lechon and had a nap before this night’s concert. It’s a good day.” It was, indeed, a very good Valentine’s Day at Cebu Parklane International Hotel.