Hitmakers back on concert scene

It was a lark for them but the daily stint of the Hitmakers also ended when the daily noontime show Win Na Win went off the air last Dec. 31. Bad news? Not really. It might even be good for fans of the musical foursome of Rico Puno, Rey Valera, Nonoy Zuñiga and Marco Sison. This is because the end of these guys’ regular TV stint means that they will now be returning to where they belong. And that is the concert stage where they get to perform their hits.

Rico, Rey, Nonoy and Marco are not known as The Hitmakers for nothing. They have individually been singing for over 40 years now and must have at least a hundred hit songs among them. Many of these are iconic recordings that no one among the younger batch of singers has been able to duplicate and which continues to win the admiration of music lovers after all these years. So you can expect a number of these to turn up in The Hitmakers’ Valentine outing this year. This is The Greatest Love Songs Of Our Time: The Diva And The Hitmakers.

Think The Way We Were, Kapalaran, Lupa, Ang Tao’y Marupok, Damdamin, Ganyan Pala Ang Magmahal, Bawal Na Pag-ibig, Together Forever, Buhat, Magkasuyo Buong Gabi by Rico Puno. Maging Sino Ka Man, Naaalala Ka, Pangako Sa ‘yo, Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko, Walang Kapalit, Kung Kailangan Mo Ako, Kumusta Ka, Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo, Tayong Dalawa by Rey Valera. Never Ever Say Goodbye, Doon Lang, Init Sa Magdamag, Kumusta Ka, Love Without Time, Live For Love by Nonoy Zuñiga. My Love Will See You Through, It’s Just A Make Believe, Si Aida Si Lorna At Si Fe,Always, I’ll Face Tomorrow by Marco Sison.

The Diva in the title of the show is no other but Kuh Ledesma, Philippine musicdom’s quintessential diva who has also been on top of the performing game for a number of years. She is also no slouch in the hitmaking department. Among her most popular recordings are Dito Ba, Nu’ong Unang Panahon, Till I Met You, Ako Ay Pilipino, I Think I’m In Love, Bulaklak, Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan, Sino Ang Baliw and the medley of Your Song/ This One’s For You.

While these OPM legends can easily sustain a fantastic show singing just their originals, those are not all that they will be performing in this concert. As the title says, and because of the occasion, remember, Feb. 13 falls on the weekend of the Valentine season, they will be singing some of the greatest love songs of our time. Maybe Unforgettable for Kuh, The Way You Look Tonight for Nonoy, Love Won’t Let Me Wait for Rico, Looking Through The Eyes Of Love for Marco and, well, given his vast catalogue of originals, there is really no need for Ray to do covers. He can just add Sinasamba Kita, Sorry Pwede Ba or Mr. DJ to his song line-up and he’ll be fine.

The Greatest Love Songs of Our Time: The Diva and the Hitmakers is produced by Viva Concerts and Events. This will be held at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center on Feb. 13. Tickets are now available at Ticketnet 911-5555; Ticketworld 891-9999; Viva 687-6181 locals 627 and 620; and Headline Concepts 721-1936.

For those of our readers who do not check The Philippine Star on-line, I just want to put out this comment from discobiscuit about the column on King of Comedy Dolphy’s album Handog Ni Pidol A Lifetime Of Music And Laughter, which came out in Sounds last Friday.

“What a great piece… as a very young kid in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. I remember watching Dolphy’s films right after lunch, when TV time was still family time, and boy, can he dance! And he’s such a natural that you can sense he’s ad-libbing, but he never misses a beat… a genius… really. He’s not only a national artist, he’s a national treasure.” Thank you discobiscuit.