Martin’s Vegas dream and his new albums

Just in case you find yourself driving to Las Vegas from the North, please don’t fail to take notice of that first building to welcome you right before you reach the strip.  It is the M Resort and Casino and that big, brightly lighted letter M can also very well stand for Martin, as in Martin Nievera.  Martin N is welcoming everyone to Vegas.

Martin performed at the M a few months ago and sold out the 1500 seater hall. M, which booked Martin not really knowing how big a star he is, was ecstatic about the result and booked him for more shows next year. Aside from M, Martin is also one of the attractions at the Sun Coast in Vegas. He has shows there scheduled on Oct. 18 and 19 and on Dec. 20 and 21. Hopefully, he will now be able to divide his Vegas stints between these two resorts.

That will not only be convenient. It will also mean that Martin is now in big demand in Las Vegas. His Vegas dream has finally come true. Martin has been very open about his disappointment when he tried to make it in Vegas about 10 years ago. It was Vegas or bust for Martin then but it just didn’t happen. In fact, he was down to doing his own stage hand jobs and paying his musicians from the sale of his cars and other assets when he decided to give up and come home

Well, Martin gave up on the dream but Vegas did not. Soon, Sun Coast came calling and Martin would from time to time perform there and other places. Then without him noticing it, probably because he didn’t see it as a dream but as just another booking, more and more people were watching his shows. And it looked like they enjoyed it a lot and were coming back for more. A few days ago, the grateful Martin realized Vegas is now happening for him. God has given him his dream and he did not even have to ask for it.

Martin left right after recording sessions for his new album Big Mouth, Big Band. Hold on a bit. It is not what you think it is. This is not big band in the sense of big band jazz. Big band here means bands as in the Eagles, Chicago, Earth, Wind and Fire and others.

As a kid, Martin dreamed of singing with a band but this did not happen and he ended up the lonely soloist, always alone on stage. So for this new, album, which incidentally is his 26th for the Polyeast label,  Martin chose to sing hit songs by the big bands of the ’70s.

Big Mouth, Big Band which is set for a November release, includes Biggest Part Of Me originally recorded by Ambrosia; Hooked On A Feeling by Blue Suede; What A Fool Believes by the Doobie Brothers; Will You Still Love Me, a hit for Chicago; I Can’t Tell You Why by the Eagles; Dust In The Wind by Kansas; Sing A Song and Every Now And Then by Earth, Wind And Fire; Love Of My Life by Queen; Stars by Simply Red; I Won’t Hold You Back by Toto; and You Can Have Me Anytime by Boz Scaggs.

Martin left for the US a few days ago.  e is joining the ASAP concert in the US come Oct. 11 in Los Angeles. Then he will stay behind to do shows the Sun Coast Casino shows in Vegas. This will be followed by the Chicago Wyndham Hotel on Oct. 24, Concord California on Oct. 26; Santa Inez on Oct. 31; and Miami Florida on Nov. 8. He will be back in town by Nov. 13 to join Pilita Corrales’ A Million Thanks To You Duets concert at the Fiesta Pavillion of the Manila Hotel. 

Martin is one of the artists who guested in Pilita’s Duets album where they sing Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin together.

Truth to tell, Martin is cutting short his US trip to join Pilita’s show. It was Pilita who discovered Martin and brought him to Vicor Music where he became a big recording star. There was no way he was passing up on singing in her album or her Duets concert.

Now while waiting for the release of Big Mouth, Big Band, and the Pilita concert, you can still enjoy Martin’s music with his My Acoustic album. Now already available, this is made up of acoustic versions of some of his previous recordings. This is a different Martin, all soft and sweet. No big mouth or big sound but it still works.

Included are You Are My Song, I Think I’m In Love, Now That You’re Gone, Kung Ako Na Lang Sana, Kailangan Kita, When I Met You, Before I Let You Go, Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin, Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal, Sana, Dadalhin and Habang May Buhay.