Celeste Legaspi: The return of the celestial diva
Celeste Legaspi remembers signing up with Wea Records in the late Seventies, and the label wanted a hit in the same stratosphere as Saranggola ni Pepe. (Your aunts and uncles might have them stashed in their racks of LPs and 45s somewhere, or stored in the mental jukeboxes of antiquity.)
“They came up with this song by Joe Mari Chan, which was originally in English, and was entitled Mr. Songwriter,” recalls Celeste, wearing a Freeway top printed with her father Cesar Legaspi’s 1947 painting titled “Gadgets II.” “And Gryk Ortaleza wrote lyrics in Pilipino for it.” It was the sweltering height of summer as the decade played its swan song and Mamang Sorbetero became a refreshing hit on FM radio, even spawning an Erap movie.
That particular summer is long gone, but if you go to Kultura Filipino in SM, the tune still wafts from the in-store speakers and everyone dances to it. In fact, that song runs in the DNA of that resilient cultural organism called Original Pilipino Music.
Another classic Celeste song nearly got left off from her second LP.
“I had just added that ballad because I loved the music and lyrics,” she says. “Whenever I performed, the audiences kept requesting for it. That was how Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal became a hit.”
Those are but two numbers that Celeste Legaspi would dust off from her legendary discography in a concert to be held on Aug. 5, Saturday at 8 p.m., at The Theatre at Solaire.
After the success of the concert of equally iconic Basil Valdez at the same theater, Solaire entertainment director Audie Gemora explains, “It makes perfect sense to bring the original diva Celeste Legaspi next.” “Celeste” the concert also features Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, The Company and Baihana.
“This year is my father’s centennial year. So when Audie offered me a concert at this beautiful theater, (I realized) it would be the best way to pay tribute to my father.” Celeste was apprehensive at first, but now she hopes to be able to share something to the audiences of today.
And what millennials can appreciate from Celeste’s era is the sheer songwriting-singing prowess of the key figures. Not to mention the musicianship of all those studio sessionists and the excellent material by the likes of George Canseco and the sublime Levi Celerio.
For starters, kids can check out Celeste’s vocals on a few Top 40 numbers translated into Pilipino by Rolando Tinio — on Spotify, no less. “Rolando had a way of lifting trite pop songs with his beautiful Pilipino lyrics,” shares Celeste. During Mang Cesar’s centennial celebration at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Celeste sang a Tinio translation of Loving Arms by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge, that really somehow touched her heart. Further listening includes Saranggola, which was written on her son’s ukulele, and Tuliro.
Here are a few of Celeste’s favorite things: Basil albums, Willy Cruz’s timeless compositions, Eddie Munji III’s “Pinoy Jazz” LP, the Juan Dela Cruz Band rockers, and even Sampaguita’s Laguna and Nosi Balasi.
Celeste shares, “I had a healthy rivalry with Leah Navarro during the late ’70s, and with Kuh Ledesma in the early ’90s. But then later on with my work for OPM (Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Manga-awit) in 1987, I quickly forgot all about that — there was more important work to be done.”
Many of the major players during that era have remained friends with Celeste. They used to hang out in TV stations; have meals during rehearsals; and keep track of new Jose Mari Chan songs, which were like a songwriting gauge for all of them, the same way Ryan Cayabyab’s “One” was hugely influential.
“Ryan C, Mitch Valdes and Nanette Inventor have become godparents to my children. I am godmother to Ryan’s daughter. We were very blessed. Kasi nagkasabay-sabay kami (Leo Valdez, Dulce, Louie Reyes, Eugene Villaluz, and Pat Castillo, among others), and then the composers came forth because there were singers who could sing their songs. And so there was so much beautiful music. Sana mangyari ulit ’yun.”
How does she maintain her voice?
“It’s a challenge because I’m asthmatic,” she shares. “I take voice lessons from Ryan’s daughter and my goddaughter Krina of Baihana. She is helping me prepare to sing Never Ever Say Goodbye because I haven’t sung that in a while — in 40 years or something (laughs).”
Life is much simpler for Celeste nowadays. She and her husband (Nonoy Gallardo) wake up late. Have brunch. She likes to cook. They have a little terrace in their house and classical music is always playing.
Heck, some days deserve ice cream.
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Celeste Legaspi performs in a concert on Aug. 5, 8 p.m., at The Theatre at Solaire. For tickets, visit www.ticketworld.com.ph or call 891-9999. For information, call 888-8888 or visit solaireresort.com. Coming out in late August is the book Ang Larawan – From Stage to Screen published by Anvil.
