Kuh: It’s payback time

Twenty years ago, Kuh Ledesma was a young nurse moonlighting as a singer with the group called Ensalada at the Calesa Bar. She certainly had all the makings of a future star. Thanks to composer George Canseco though, what would have taken her another year or two to accomplish happened literally overnight. Canseco asked her to record one of his works, Dito Ba?, theme song of the motion picture Miss. X. It became a big hit and launched Kuh to stardom.

Kuh became one of Canseco’s favorite interpreters and he continued to provide her with more hit materials over the years. There were Bulaklak based on a French song he adapted for her, other movie themes like Sana Bukas Pa ang Kahapon and Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan and his paean to a great race, Ako ay Pilipino. Kuh has worked with other composers since she started but Canseco remained the most special of them all. In fact, they were working on some new songs when Canseco died a year ago.

Canseco succumbed to complications from liver cancer and diabetes on Nov. 19, 2004. Not one to just allow the sad event to pass without paying tribute to his greatness, Kuh has decided to honor his memory and to once more showcase his music with a concert aptly titled Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan. This will be held tomorrow, 8:30 p.m. at the Philippine International Convention Center, exactly a year after Canseco’s death.

Kuh will be joined by Basil Valdez, another Canseco favorite with hits like Ngayon at Kailanman and Hanggang Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan plus new pop idol Christian Bautista in the show. Special guests will be other artists whose careers took a swift turn to the top because of a Canseco song. These are Zsa Zsa Padilla to whom he gave Hiram, Dulce, whose signature song is Ako ang Nasawi, Ako ang Nagwagi and Pilita Corrales who recorded Canseco’s first big hit Kapantay ay Langit.

Also on hand will be composer and arranger Louie Ocampo who composed Ikaw, which Canseco provided with its beautiful lyrics and Martin Nievera. Now although Martin has a great version of Ikaw, he is one artist who is not usually associated with Canseco. Truth to tell though, he recorded the last song he ever wrote, the moving Nasaan Ka Man.

Canseco composed memorable songs. I am sure Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan will be full of memorable performances. Tickets to the show are available at Music Museum, all Ticketworld outlets, at Headline Concepts and tomorrow night at the PICC.

A weekend of shows

Meanwhile, on tap tonight in what has turned out to be a tune filled weekend is M.Y.M.P: Best at the Araneta Coliseum. Produced by Live Artists Production, Inc., it stars M.Y.M.P. which is made up of Juris Fernandez and Chin Alcantara on vocals, with John Angeles on drums, k-hon and percussion and Andrew Advincula on bass. It will also feature special guests Janno Gibbs, Jay Durias of South Border, Duncan Ramos and Vince Alaras.

Tomorrow, also at the Araneta Coliseum, ’70s disco star Teri de Sario will perform with singer songwriter Joe Pizzulo who did Let’s Give A Little More This Time, and What Do We Mean to Each Other. Teri is known for her hit version of Fallin’plus other hits like It Takes a Man and a Woman, Yes, I’m Ready and Ain’t Nothin’ Gonna Keep Me from You. Joining them will be soul siren Nina and the revived Passage Band.

Top-selling 20 albums

From Tower Records and Music One, here is the list of the top-selling 20 albums as of last week. Strike Whilst the Iron is Hot by Orange and Lemons; Thanks for The Memories, The Great American Songbook Vol. I by Rod Stewart; Memories of Love: Live by Various Artists; Pasko 1 by the San Miguel Chorale and the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra, Versions and Beyond by M.Y.M.P.; Nina Live by Nina; Party on Weekends by Various Artists; Unplugged by Alicia Keys; Pasko 2 also by the San Miguel Chorale and Orchestra; Moonlight Serenade by Carly Simon.

Duets by Regine Velasquez and others; Chillout Project: House Sessions 2 by Various Artists; Chillout Project: Sisters of the Sun by Various Artists; American Idiot by Green Day; Halina Sa Parokya ni Edgar by Parokya ni Edgar; Hale by Hale; Monkey Business by The Black Eyed Peas; Can’t Get Enough of the ’80s Vol. 2 by Various Artists; Complete Hits by Gary Lewis & the Playboys and 2Hot by Various Artists.