Lani Misalucha

Lani Bayot Misalucha (born Lani Dimalanta Bayot (born August 3, 1969) is a Filipino singer. Known for her vocal range, powerful, emotive vocals and ability to sing opera arias, she has been referred to as "Asia's Nightingale". Her music has received recognition from a number of award-giving bodies such as Awit Awards, Aliw Awards, Box Office Entertainment Awards and PMPC Star Awards for Music. In 2021, she was named "People of the Year" by People Asia.

Misalucha began singing as a church choir member and eventually became a back-up vocalist of various bands. After several stints as a singer of commercial jingles and multiplex tapes, she released her 1997 debut album More Than I Should under Alpha Records. The following year, she competed at the 3rd Asia Song Festival and won Best Interpreter for the song "Handle with Care". The same year, she signed with Viva Records and released her sophomore album Tunay Na Mahal (1998). The following year, she won the top honor at the 1999 Metropop Song Festival and released her third studio album All Heart (2000).

In 2001, she staged her first major solo concert Lani Misalucha: The Crossover Live Tour at the Araneta Coliseum, earning an Entertainer of the Year win at the 2002 Aliw Awards. She received further recognition after moving to Las Vegas in 2004 and embarked on a string of headlining concert residencies, becoming the first Asian artist to headline in a main showroom in the city. Her vocal performances have earned praises from musical artists such as Dionne Warwick, Joe Jackson, Gladys Night, James Ingram and Whitney Houston. Among her other PARI-certified releases include Lani Misalucha (2006), Reminisce (2008) & The Nightingale Returns (2014).

1996–1999: Career beginnings
Misalucha sang the song "Ang Iibigin ay Ikaw" (written by Jimmy Borja) which was a finalist at the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival and later received the Awit Award for Record of the Year. She recorded an album "More than I Should" (Alpha Records) with carrier single of the same title written by Odette Quesada in 1990. The album included Misalucha's cover of Fifth Dimension's "Somebody Warm Like Me". The entire album earned 12 Katha Award nominations in 1997. The following year, Misalucha won the Minuro Endo Best Interpreter/Singer Award at the 3rd Asian Song Festival. Her piece entitled "Handle with Care" (written by Gideon Jungee Marcelo) won silver in the Best Original Song category. In 1998, Misalucha moved to Viva Records and her album, with carrier single "Tunay na Mahal" (written by Freddie Saturno), made the charts and turned gold, later receiving the Awit Award for Best Ballad Recording, Awit Award for Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist, and Katha Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Her cover of the 1966 song, "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" topped the Philippine charts in the same year. Misalucha's interpretation of "Can't Stop Loving You" (written by Dodjie Simon) won her songwriter the Grand Prize at the 1999 Metropop Song Festival. She was tapped to play the lead role of Sita in the S.K. Productions musical play entitled Rama at Sita. In 1999, Misalucha also received Artist of the Year Award, Aliw Award for Best Lounge Act, Awit Award for Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist, and Awit Award Nomination for Best Stage Actress.

2000–2009: All Heart, Loving You and Las Vegas shows
In 2000, Misalucha released the album All Heart, a collection of love songs with the carrier single "One More Time" (written by Simon). The album also included songs written by some of the Philippines' contemporary composers such as Vehnee Saturno ("Ang Lahat Ng Ito Ay Para Sa Iyo"), Jimmy Borja ("Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin") and Trina Belamide ("Save This Heart"). She became a semi-regular host in the Sunday noontime show SOP (Sobrang Okey Pare) in 2001. Her first major solo concert in September 2001 at the Araneta Coliseum entitled, "Lani Misalucha, The Crossover Live Tour" and was repeated at the Cultural Center of Philippines. These concerts received the Aliw Award for Best Major Concert by a Female Artist and the Tinig Award for Best Solo Performer. Her Crossover Live Concert album received the Platinum Award. In 2002, Misalucha continued to hold concerts in Cebu City, Bacolod, Baguio, Clark (Angeles City), and Davao City, as well as at OnStage Greenbelt, Makati. Misalucha then held a US concert tour, performing in Reno, San Diego, Washington, Las Vegas, New York, Chicago, Atlantic City, Pasadena, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. of San Francisco declared August 17 "Lani Misalucha Day". Misalucha received the Aliw Award for Best Female Performance in Music Lounges, Bars, Clubs & Restaurants for consecutive years, 1999–2002. In 2002, she received Aliw "Entertainer of the Year." In addition, she won two Katha awards—Best Folk Song Vocal Performance and Best Traditional Song Vocal Performance for "Kasal Sa Kaluluwa" (2002).

Misalucha released her fourth studio album entitled, Loving You in June 2003 with the singles "Tila" (written by Liza Diy) and "Malaya Ka Na" (written by Jimmy Antiporda). In November of the same year, she began a TV show entitled Celebrity Turns with actor-comedian Michael V. In 2004, Misalucha subordinated budding career to family interest when her family relocated to the United States. After the release of her fourth album, Loving You, Lani moved to the US and made history. Misalucha became the first Asian to headline in a Main Showroom of the Las Vegas Strip, performing with Hawaii's premiere showband Society of Seven at the Jubilee Theatre of Bally's Hotel and Casino. Her stint at Bally's ran for 15 months from August 7, 2004, to February 5, 2006, after which she and the Society of Seven moved to the Main Showroom of the Flamingo from August 2006 to April 13, 2008.

At the height of her international success, Lani went back to the recording studio in October 2006, doing covers of well-loved classics for a self-titled album, her fifth release. Just as the album turned Gold and Platinum in 2007, Lani came home to regale her Filipino audience with songs and stories in a one-night engagement at the Araneta Coliseum on March 17, 2007. The concert, aptly titled, Missing You, was packed by almost 18,000 fans and followers, a testament not only to Lani's rousing world-class talent, but also to her dedication to the people who have come to love her music. Misalucha re-appeared a few times on Philippine television starting on February 17, 2007, in the Sunday afternoon show ASAP of ABS-CBN (The Filipino Channel). In the latter part of May 2007, record label Viva re-released "Lani Misalucha Live Vol. 1 and 2". The two-volume recording contains previously released material mostly from her Crossover Live Tour albums with various live performances from different albums within the Viva catalogue where she had appeared.

Vegas critics were quick to recognize Lani, applauding and citing her as Las Vegas' New Diva. With her successful 15-month run at the Bally's, a series of road tours, and subsequent offers to headline shows in the entertainment capital of the world, Asia's Nightingale sky-rocketed to world-wide recognition as the new Siren of the Strip. By 2008, Vegas was more than glad to have the Siren of the Strip back on its premiere frontline. The Las Vegas Review Journal has just hailed Lani as Vegas' Best Singer (staff pick) on its 27th Annual Best of Vegas Poll, inevitably putting her name alongside Celine Dion, who was voted as reader's choice. At the 20th Awit Awards, her rendition of "I Live For Your Love" received Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist. In November 2008, Universal Records released a Christmas CD titled The Gift of Christmas. The album comes with a Bonus CD featuring the Minus-One of the entire album. After capping off her stint at the Flamingo, Lani began another show, Voices, with Earl Turner at the Hilton in 2009. Misalucha was the voice behind the version of Gary Valenciano's "Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos?," theme song of the ABS-CBN television soap opera that goes by the same title.

2010–present: Continued success and longevity
Breaking ground on another stage yet again, Lani made history, in October 2011, when she debuted as lead host of the first mainstream travel and lifestyle television show featuring Las Vegas. 'It's Vegas with Lani' has for its first season, thirteen (13) 30-minute episodes that offer a new perspective of Sin City, featuring restaurants, shops, destinations and adventure tours for both local and global audiences. Lani's popularity in Vegas led City Mayor Oscar Goodman to declare December 4 as Lani Misalucha Day, following the footsteps of Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. who had also previously declared August 17 as Lani Misalucha Day for San Francisco.

Lani's artistry has truly come full circle. From her serendipitous debut to her recognition as an artist of international caliber, the story of Lani's journey with music transcends every song, heartfelt and genuine in its delivery of all the best that is yet to come.

Influences
Misalucha has said that from childhood she has been influenced by Barbra Streisand and cites idols as varied as Whitney Houston and Shirley Bassey. In a 2001 interview with journalist Ricky Lo, she revealed that her most favorite Streisand song is "As If We Never Said Goodbye" and Houston's "Saying All My Love for You, " which she used as her piece in a number of amateur singing competitions. Born into a musical family, she was already trained at age 5 and revealed in a 2014 interview that "Ave Maria" was the first classical song her father taught her.

Voice and musical style
Misalucha is often described as a vocal virtuoso by critics and is celebrated as one of the best Filipino singers of all time, noted for her vocal range, vocal dexterity, showmanship and musical versatility. NYC correspondent Oliver Oliveros praised her singing prowess saying: "Lani is a seasoned recording artist who is able to scale five octaves and could sing anything in any vocal style." Regarding the musical style, Misalucha's vocal performances incorporated a wide variety of genres such pop, rock, R&B, jazz, soul, Latin pop, disco, Christmas and classical music. Regine Velasquez praised her in an interview in 2021 saying: "Lani has one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard. Not only does her voice sound good, she truly is a great singer and performer." Arnel Pineda also expressed his admiration towards her singing skills in an interview in November 2015 saying: "I think she's the best singer in the Philippines, we all know that." American singer-songwriter James Ingram praised Misalucha's vocal performance during his concert in Manila saying: "I never thought how good she was. I was moved by angels in heaven with her voice." David Gonzales of AllMusic stated that she "possesses an excellent voice, emotive and full of depth". Bobby Yalong of Asian Journal praised her vocal power, pitch and melismatic style during her concert at The Town Hall in New York City saying: "There's longevity in her voice, consistency and purity of tone, clear resonance, and excellent projection." Jonathan Chua of The Philippine Star also praised her vocal performance during her concert at the Cultural Center in 2001 saying: "a remarkable instrument, strong without being strident, high without being shrill. It is resonant and incredibly plastic, capable of many shades and textures, able to sustain tortuous passages with ease and even panache."

Legacy
MTV Southeast Asia named Misalucha as the "Asia's Nightingale" for her vocal talent. A significant figure in Philippine pop music, she has been cited and acknowledged by numerous artists as an influence and inspiration including Morissette, Zephanie Dimaranan, Stephanie Reese, Jade Riccio, Marielle Corpus, and Ramiele Malubay. Her music has also been recorded and performed by a variety of artists such as Jake Zyrus, Julie Ann San Jose, Angeline Quinto, Klarisse de Guzman, Jed Madela, and Sarah Geronimo.

Achievements
Throughout her career, Misalucha has earned numerous accolades and honors. She has won seven Awit Awards, seven Aliw Awards, four PMPC Star Awards for Music and two Box Office Entertainment Awards. Her early performances have won the top prizes for several music competitions such as Musika Manila International Songwriting Competition (1997), Asia Song Festival (1998) and Metropop Song Festival (1999). The Outstanding Filipinos in America (TOFA) Awards listed her among the '100 Most Influential Filipinos in America' and was awarded 'People of the Year' by the People Asia in 2021. She tied with Regine Velasquez as 2015's "Female Concert Performer of the Year" for her concert La Nightingale (2014) in two award-giving bodies: PMPC Star Awards for Music and Box Office Entertainment Awards. In 2008, she was awarded as "Best Singer" at the 27th Best of Las Vegas Awards.

Misalucha is an inductee at the Eastwood City Walk of Fame. In 2014, Spotify named Misalucha as the 10th most streamed OPM artist on the platform. She has performed for the former President of Singapore S. R. Nathan, the King of Malaysia and Sultan of Brunei. She was chosen as one of the performers at the 2017 ASEAN Gala and the 2019 South East Asian (SEA) Games. Misalucha has also been credited for her work and performances with international artists such as Andrea Bocelli, Brian McKnight, Josh Groban, Stephen Bishop, Sergio Mendes, Kenny Loggins and Jim Brickman. Her vocal performances have also earned praises from Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick, Joe Jackson, Gladys Knight and Mike Tyson. She has been dubbed as the "Siren of the Strip" for the successes of her concert residencies in Las Vegas, earning her special recognitions from former Governor of Nevada Kenny Guinn and former Mayor of Los Angeles James Hahn. Moreover, two former Mayors Oscar Goodman (Las Vegas) and Willie Brown (Los Angeles) proclaimed December 4 and August 17 as the "Lani Misalucha Day" in their respective cities.

Philanthropy
Misalucha has been involved with several charitable organizations and has appeared in numerous benefit concerts throughout her career. In 2013, she headlined a one-off concert at the Grand Ballroom of Solaire Resort & Casino. The proceeds were donated to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. In 2015, she donated the proceeds of her concert at The Town Hall in New York City to ABS-CBN's Bantay Bata Foundation and Filipino-American Community Development Center of Ocean County, Inc (FCDC). The same year, she barked on a concert in Bacolod at the SMX Convention Center, as part of her concert tour Lani Misalucha: The Philippine Tour. The proceeds were donated to the Holy Infant Nursery Foundation, Inc. supported by the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) Bacolod Chapter.

Personal life
Lani Misalucha was born into a musical family. Her father Benjamin de Guzmán Bayot was an operatic tenor, while her mother Esperanza Salvador Dimalanta was a coloratura soprano. Her sister May is a band vocalist; another sister, Karlyn, is an actress (Munting Paraiso) who also plays the violin and flute, while their brothers Novi and Osi play the guitar and piano. She was tutored in classical vocals by her parents.

Misalucha acquired her basic education from Rafael Palma Elementary School and PCU Union High School. At age 20, she sang with the Andres Bonifacio Choir of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. She eventually joined various bands as a vocalist or back-up singer, beginning with the group "Prelude" and later the group "Law of Gravity" whose bandleader Bodjie Dasig gave Misalucha her first single, entitled "More than I Should" (1993). She also recorded Dasig's ballad "Sakayan ng Jeep". Misalucha later worked the lounge circuits as a soloist and lent her voice to numerous commercial jingles and karaoke tapes, thus earning her the epithet, "Multiplex Queen."

After Misalucha obtained her degree in Business Management from the Philippine Christian University, she married Noli Misalucha and later gave birth to two children, Lian and Louven.

Misalucha is a member of a group for the benefit of Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans. She is also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Health
In an interview with GMA Network on January 5, 2008, Misalucha stated that she was set to undergo surgery on an ovarian cyst (2.5 cm. now enlarged to 7.1 cm.) by February 2008.

In October 2020, Misalucha and her husband contracted and later recovered from bacterial meningitis. However, they both became completely deaf in their right ears.

Discography
Studio albums
 * More Than I Should (1997)
 * Tunay Na Mahal (1998)
 * All Heart (2000)
 * Loving You (2003)
 * Lani Misalucha (2006)
 * Reminisce (2008)
 * The Gift of Christmas (2008)
 * The Nightingale Returns (2014)