Matt Jr.'s search for a Filipina wife

MANILA, Philippines - “I’ll keep returning ‘til I find my Filipina bride.”

This was Matt Monro Jr.’s last statement when I talked to him a few days ago. Ever since Matt Monro Sr. gave the fatherly advice, “Son, if you want to be happy for the rest of your life, marry a Filipina lady,” Matt Monro Jnr. has been in an unending quest for one. The past four tours in the Philippines were so hectic that he never had any decent time to socialize and meet a prospective partner for life and so for this trip he promised to have time to pursue his quest and probably make the Philippines his second home.

Matt is touring the Philippines this mid-March for the fifth time and hopefully continue around Asia.

Since the early age of seven, his dad Matt to be a pro golfer. He accomplished that in his teens and became a touring pro in the British League. He was so focused on golf that singing never entered his mind until Matt Sr. passed away in the mid-‘80s. Suddenly, he was burdened with the task of filling his father’s shoes. A tall order considering Matt Sr. is one of the immortal music legends. Even the great Frank Sinatra was a fan.

Matt Jr. trained for years before attempting to record his first album or sing professionally. It was at least decade after Matt Sr. passed away that he embarked on his music career and has been continuously performing 50 to 60 annual city tours around Europe to date.

On tour in his native England, he performs with a full orchestra led by his father’s musical director Colin Keys. His repertoire is a mixture of his dad’s timeless hits like From Russia With Love, Born Free, Walk Away, Softly as I Leave You, Yesterday, Impossible Dream, Around The World and the like sparkled with his own heap versions of For Once In My Life, Crazy Little Thing Called Love and more.

For this fifth Philippine tour, he will be backed by a talented all-Filipino band as in all past Philippine tours with music wiz Carlo Gaa as musical director. For the first time in Matt’s singing career, Filipina dancers featuring Phoebe Kate’s Hotsteps will be featured in his show. Opening the show is Quickie’s Playgirls.

The Matt Monro Jr. (The Legend Lives) Tour kicks off with a dinner show at the Heritage Hotel main ballroom on March 18 (tickets available at the Riviera Coffee shop, Casino concierge and Ticketworld outlets — National bookstores, Ayala Malls and Robinsons) then at Celebration Hall Pagcor Angeles in Angeles Pampanga on March 20 followed by a Casino show at Pagcor Hyatt at the Hyatt hotel & Casino on March 24, then at Pagcor Tagaytay on March 27.

Matt Monro Jr (The Legend Lives) is presented by Steve O’ Neal Productions in collaboration with Zest Air (the official airline), Heritage Hotel (the official residence), PCSO, Pagcor, Business Mirror, Hard Rock Cafe, Live Artists, Perez Optical, Circles and the official concert station RJ100.3 FM.