Mariah Carey

Singer Mariah Carey was born March 27, 1970, in Huntington, Long Island, New York, to male monarch Roy Carey, a Venezuelan aeronautic engineer; and Patricia Carey, a voice coach and opera singer. Has 2 older siblings: a brother, Morgan, and a sister, Alison. Carey is known as one of the highest "pop divas" of the Nineties, having oversubscribed quite eighty million albums worldwide. Her voice spans more than 5 octaves and she or he writes most of her own music.

Carey's parents divorced when she was three years old. She shocked her mother by imitating her classical music singing as early as age 2, and was given singing lessons beginning at age four. when graduating in 1987 from Harborfields highschool in Greenlawn, New York, Carey moved  to Manhattan wherever she worked as a waiter, coat hatcheck girl, and studied cosmetology whereas writing songs and actively following a music career at midnight.

When she was 18 years old, Carey and her friend, singer Brenda K. Starr, visited a celebration hosted by CBS Records. Starr convinced Carey to bring on one amongst her demo tapes. She supposed to give the tape to Columbia's Krauthead polyglot, however Tommy Mottola, the president of Columbia Records (later Sony), intercepted it before she may hand it to polyglot. when taking note of the tape on the method home from the party, Mottola signed Carey directly and set her to figure on her 1st album, Mariah Carey (1990) including four No. one singles: "Vision of affection," "Love Takes Time," "Some Day," and "I do not Wanna Cry." Her second album Emotions was free in 1992; the title track became her fifth No. 1 single, and enclosed hits "Can't Let Go" and "Make it Happen."

In March 1992, Carey appeared on MTV's Unplugged. This performance was free as an album and a home video, leading to another No. 1 single (a cover of The Jacksons' "I'll Be There"). Her next album musical instrument (1993) crop a little on the lavish studio production techniques detected in her previous albums, and enclosed the No. 1 singles, "Dreamlover" and "Hero." Her November 1994 unharness Merry Christmas combined ancient Christian hymns with new songs. In 1995 she free Daydream; the primary single "Fantasy" debuted at No. 1. It additionally enclosed collaborations with R&B and hip-hop artists, like Wu-Tang kindred and Boyz II Men ("One Sweet Day").

Her 1997 album, Butterfly, enclosed eleven compositions written by Carey, and incontestable  her continued  interest in hip-hop and R&B, together with the Sean "Puffy" Combs-produced "Honey," her twelfth No. 1 hit. Carey's 1998 album, #1's, featured her thirteen previous chart-topping singles in addition because the Academy Award-nominated "The patrician of Egypt (When You Believe)," a duet with fellow pop opera star Whitney Houston.

In Gregorian calendar month 1993, Carey married Mottola during a spectacular ceremony at Manhattan's St. Thomas Episcopal Church. The couple unmarried  in 1998. Carey then dated Latin singer Luis Miguel for 3 years, however their relationship reportedly resulted in the summer of 2001. She married rapper/actor Nick Cannon on Gregorian calendar month thirty, 2008, during a secret ceremony within the state. The couple had been geological dating for fewer than 2 months, their romance having blossomed when he appeared in her music video for "Bye Bye." In 2011, Carey and Cannon welcome twins Moroccan and Monroe. when six years of wedding, in August 2014, the couple declared their separation. it absolutely was additionally rumored that a confidentiality agreement was issued that bars discussing the small print of their split in public.

In July 2001, Carey was admitted into a New York-area hospital and put out psychiatrical care when suffering what her publicists referred to as a "physical and emotional collapse." Carey had been getting ready to market her approaching motion picture debut, Glitter, and its concomitant sound recording album, however off all public appearances. the discharge of Glitter was later on pushed back from late August to late September 2001. Carey was free from the hospital when fortnight.

In Gregorian calendar month 2002, Carey and EMI (the company owner of Virgin Records, with whom Carey had signed a rumored $80 million go for Gregorian calendar month 2001) cut off their relationship. tho' the film and sound recording for Glitter did not generate the required box workplace and sales totals, Carey reportedly walked far from Virgin with nearly $50 million as a part of her understanding. In might 2002, she signed a take care of Universal Music Group's Island/Def Jam Records. In Dec 2002, Carey staged a comeback together with her eighth album, Charmbracelet, that debuted in third place on the charts. The record's concomitant tour, her 1st in additional than 3 years, launched in Gregorian calendar month 2003.

In 2012, Carey was chosen as a new choose for season 12 of the popular FOX television show American Idol, taking a seat aboard sexy Jackson, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban.

Carey has oversubscribed around one hundred sixty million albums worldwide. She is that the third popular feminine creative person of all time, per the Recording business Association of America.Carey passed Elvis Presley to become second solely to the Beatles for the foremost No. one hit singles within the US.

Outside of her music career, Carey is active in fundraising for The contemporary Air Fund, associate degree freelance noncommercial agency that has provided free summer vacations to quite one.6 million underprivileged big apple town youngsters since 1877.

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Sarah Geronimo

Philippine Pop Star Sarah Asher Geronimo famously known as Sarah Geronimo was conceived on July 25, 1988 in Sta. Cruz Manila.  She is an artist, host, model, dancer, and actress from the Philippines. She had her first music lessons from her father Delfin who honed her consistently to create her ability in singing. At two years old she first sang in front of an audience at a shopping center show singing together with Pinky Marquez and Richard Reynoso to the tune “Pasko Na Naman”.

Her mother Divina would typically go hand in hand with her to a few trials for distinctive TV programs. When she was four years of age Sarah got to be some piece of the show “Pen-pen de Sarapen until she turned 6 and with Ang TV when she was seven years old. In the middle of these shows Sarah would additionally be performing in shopping centers and in some inn lounges. She was likewise decided to perform amid the Papal visit of Pope John Paul II in 1995.

It was in the singing challenge “Star for a Night” facilitated by Regine Velasquez where Sarah picked up her fame. On March 1, 2003 at fourteen years old she was the amazing prize champ of the said show. She won a sum of P1,000,000 and a managerial contract under Viva Artist Agency. After her achievement in that singing challenge a ton of tasks emulated. She had made various collections, had made numerous shows, played and featured in cleanser musical dramas and a pillar in ASAP, heading parts in films and turned into an endorser for both print and TV. Sarah in her own particular way turned into a pop star. In the year 2005, she had her first significant solo show.

In 2005 Sarah was the first Filipino craftsman to get a platinum honor for a DVD duplicate of her show entitled The Other Side and is the main craftsman to have a platinum record for four DVDs of her own show. Her fourth show was honored with triple platinum status in 2010. Her first featuring part for a film “A Very Special Love” discharged in 2008 was a film industry hit. She was hailed as the Box Office Queen in the year 2008. Because of the accomplishment of the motion picture a continuation instantly tailed “You Changed My Life”. Aside from being a performer and vocalist she additionally wandered into a few organizations like a magnificence parlor named after her and an evolved way of life being overseen by her mother Divina. In the not so distant future Sarah was assigned at the well-known and prestigious World Music Awards. A significant number of her fans see Sarah as a good example and this serves as her appeal on why a great deal of the organization gets her to embrace their item.

When not busy being a pop star, Sarah spends time with her family, they go to Sunday mass. Sarah enjoys reading J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, and plays video games.

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Celine Byrne

Irish singer Celine Byrne was born in Naas, Ireland, and completed her musical studies at the Royal Irish Academy of Music as well as the Conservatory of Music and Drama in Dublin. Coaching lessons led her to the National Opera Studio of London, Christa Ludwig, Wolfgang Holzmair and Malcolm Martineau amongst others. She has appeared at some of the world´s most prestigious opera and concert venues including Carnegie Hall, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Mikhailovsky Theater, Tchaikovsky Hall, Berliner Philharmonie, National Centre of Performing Arts in Beijing, National Concert Hall Dublin or Turkish Culture and Congress Centre Lüfti. A frequent concert performer, Celine became familiar to international audiences early on through her collaborations with José Carreras, Roberto Alagna and Joseph Calleja performing in Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Istanbul, Rotterdam, Linköping, Malmö, Munich, Berlin, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nuremberg, Hamburg and Zadar. Further inspiration she owes to Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Sascha Goetzel, Alexander Soddy and Barry Douglas.

Celine has toured extensively throughout Europe as well as in the US, China, Russia and Mexico. Over the past years, she has increasingly graced opera stages. She made her highly acclaimed operatic debut as Mimì in Scottish Opera’s 2010 production of La Bohème. In March 2012, Celine made her debut at Covent Garden standing-in for Camilla Nylund as Rusalka under the baton of Yannick Nézét-Séguin. During the same period, she also covered the role of Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni at Covent Garden. Celine opened the 2012-13 season at Stadttheater Klagenfurt as Agathe in Der Freischütz under Alexander Soddy followed by Micaëla in Carmen with the Moscow State Opera and Countess Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro at Lismore Music Festival in spring 2013. Other noteworthy recent engagements include concerts with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, Richard Strauss´ Four Last Songs in Klagenfurt, Austria, and Mahler’s Rückert Lieder at the National Concert Hall, Dublin.

Celine concluded 2013 with a brilliant return visit to the Royal Opera House in December as First Flower Maiden in Parsifal under Antonio Pappano which earned her a Royal Opera House contract as Micaëla in 2015. Other upcoming opera engagements include her role debut as Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier under Patrik Ringborg at Staatstheater Kassel in fall 2014 or Mimì in La Bohème with the Moscow State Opera in Dublin and Moscow in April 2015.

Celine has been awarded many awards, amongst them the Margaret Burke-Sheridan Gold Medal in 2009, First Prize and Gold Medal at the Maria Callas Grand Prix as well as the William Young Prize at the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition in 2007 and the Brabants Dagblad Press Prize’ at the IVC International Singing Competition in s’Hertogenbosch.

Celine Byrne’s extensive repertoire includes opera, operetta, oratorio and songs. Important works she has performed on a concert level are Messiah, Fauré´s Requiem, Mozart´s Mass in C and Requiem, St. Paul and Elijah by Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Gustav Mahler´s Rückert Lieder, Bachianas Brasileiras no. 5 by Heitor Villa-Lobos and the Four Last Songs. Opera and operetta roles include Mimì, Rusalka, Micaëla (Carmen), Agathe in (Der Freischütz), Countess Almaviva (Le Nozze Di Figaro), Fiordiligi (Così Fan Tutte), Donna Elvira in (Don Giovanni), Nedda (I Pagliacci), Liù (Turandot), Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), Wally (La Wally), Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus), Hanna Glawari (The Merry Widow), Marguerite (Faust), Juliette (Roméo et Juliette), Nora (Riders To The Sea) or Ann Chute (Lily of Killarney).

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Haeran Hong

“Among the fresh voices heard, the most finished were those of Haeran Hong, a soprano who sang with gleaming tone and deftly negotiated ornate lines as Dalinda, Ginevra’s confidante; Anthony Roth Costanzo, an intense, engaging countertenor, who played the treacherous Polinesso; and Shenyang.” Steve Smith, an American musician, said.

The2011 International Queen Elizabeth Grand Prize winner Haeran Hong has been noted as “charming of form, manner, and voice.” As a soprano singer, Hong has already performed various leading roles including Adina in L’Elisird’Amore, Gilda in Rigoletto, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor, and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte. Her voice is widely described as purest nectar.

In 2010, she became a finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and won the Career Bridges Competition in New York. Hong finished her Bachelor of Music degree at the Korean National University of Arts and a Master’s degree in Opera Studies at The Juilliard School.

At the Metropolitan opera, Ms. Hong covered the roles of Nannetta in Falstaff and Sophie in Werther, and also participated in the production of Die Frau ohneSchatten.

She also joined the Vien Strauss Festival Orchestra in Korea and had guest appearances in concerts in New York, Los Angeles, and at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

Among her concerts, the most remarkable were Bach’s WassGott tut, das ist wohl getan and Brahms’ Neue LiebesliederWaltzes with the La Jolla Summer Fest, as well as Villa Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 with the Aspen Music Festival.

 For more info visit http://yyaayy.com/

Bamboo Mañalac

Filipino rock icon Bamboo Mañalac was born as Francisco Gaudencio Lope Belardo Mañalac. He is a son of a political legend in Mindanao and comes from an influential Muslim family. He grew up with his mother staying mostly at their home in the northern part of the Philippines.

Born in San Francisco, California on January 19, 1978, Bamboo broke the silence of the Philippine music scene as he became the frontman of the band Rivermary which is composed of Perfecto de Castro on guitars, Mark Escueta on drums, Nathan Azarcon on bass guitar, and Rico Blanco on keyboards and backing vocals. The band was conceptualized by Lizza Nakpil and the award winning Philippine film director Chito Roño. Rivermaya started to hit charts with their self-composed songs “Ulan”, “214”, and “Awit ng Kabataan”. Despite the fame they are into, in 1998, after three successful albums and series of US and Canada concert tours, Bamboo decided to leave the band and stayed at United States to continue his studies.

After the departure of Bamboo, his Rivermaya bandmate Nathan Azarcon also decided to leave the group and joined the band Kapatid. While Bamboo was still in the US, he began to talk to Nathan about the possibility of forming a new band. With Bamboo, Nathan, Ira Cruz, and his friend, Vic Mercado as the members of the band, they debuted in late 2002. “Bamboo” which became the name of the band, was decided for its strength and durability and also to have Filipino feel in it.

Being one of the Philippines’ best music icons, Bamboo being on the band “Bamboo” got nominated and won different music awards. He won Vocalist of the Year at 13th NU Rock Awards (2004-2005) and SOP Pasiklaban (2006). Everyone thought Bamboo band will stand firm until the end but a shocking revelation from KC Montero in his Twitter account last January 10, 2011 leave the fans puzzled as he stated that the band decided to have it quits.

On January 11, 2011, just a day after the rumor of calling it quits, Bamboo published an official statement in the band’s official website. He said, “As a group we’ve come to a point where you have to trust your gut, your heart and your head and accept that all things change. The hardest part as always is to know when to pack it up and part ways. We’ve learned that this journey is not only about us but includes all who came along for the trip. Family, friends and of course our front row believers who were there for the best reason of all. To simply listen. So it didn’t come easy winding down to this decision. So here we go. IT’S OFFICIAL. THE BAND. IT’S OVER.”

Bamboo, after having failures as a member of a band, decided to have a solo career. He released his debut album “No Water, No Moon” consisting of 12 tracks with “Questions” as its career single. The album reached gold in February 2013 after selling more than 7,500 copies.

Projects come in hand as he was also casted on ASAP last February 2013 and confirmed as coach and judge in The Voice of the Philippines and The Voice Kids which is currently airing at ABS-CBN during weekends.

Adam Lambert

One thing is certain, there were a lot of talented artists this year, and however, Adam Lambert stood out the most.

Popular “POP” music is a genre that touches base to a huge audience. As there are many talented artists and bands that often identify with just one genre, the moment they reach a big audience, they are destined to be world-class superstars. Thus, Lambert for one is a reality.

Lambert was born in Indianapolis on January 29, 1982, to mother Leila, an interior designer; and father Ebder, a program manager for Novatel Wireless. At 19, he worked by performing on a cruise ship for ten months. His beginnings were ushered by taking chances and opportunities. However, his career boomed until he joined and won the American Idol 2009.

Lambert’s first studio album was released on November 23, 2009 entitled For your Entertainment. As of April 2012, the album had sold nearly 2 million copies worldwide which was certified gold in the US in June 2010.

Moreover, he appeared on the cover of Out magazine in their 2009 “Out 100″ issue, sparking controversy as Out’s publisher issued him an open letter questioning the “gayness” of his image. In April, he became one of People Magazine’s Most Beautiful People 2010.

Lambert’s own music has been influenced by numerous genres including classic rock, pop, and electronic music.

He is best known for his exaggerated performance style and thorough attention to detail in all aspects of his personal presentation. He draws upon extensive stage experience in the ease with which he can refine and define his image through fashion and other imagery, which are essential to how he chooses to inhabit his songs, rivet his audiences and showcase his individuality.

You cannot help, but love this man. One would have never seen an artist this year who can deliver such incredible vocals while engaging crowds making you relate what they are singing about. Lambert’s vocal ability has no limits and when he takes off, it’s as if the world is painted red. Lambert is clearly the best popular music singer the world has ever heard.

Jeff Healey

A blind Canadian jazz guitar singer, Jeff Healey, who can see through the eyes of music.

Jeff Healey is one of the Canada’s most successful exports and one of the world’s most celebrated guitarists, the Jeff Healey Band sold millions of records. Healey lost his sight at the age of one, after developing eye cancer. He began playing guitar when he was three years old and began performing with his band Blues Direction at the age of 17. Healey formed the Jeff Healey Band in 1985, featuring bassist Joe Rockman and drummer Tom Stephen. This trio released one single on its own Forte record label, which led to a contract with Arista Records. The Jeff Healey Band released their debut album, See the Light, in 1988 and the guitarist immediately developed a devoted following in blues-rock circles. Featuring the hit single “Angel Eyes,” the record went platinum in the U.S. While the Jeff Healey Band’s subsequent records were popular, none were as successful as the debut.

What made Jeff Healey different from other blues-rockers was also what kept some listeners from accepting him as anything other than a novelty — the fact that the blind guitarist played his Fender Stratocaster on his lap, not standing up. With the guitar in his lap, Healey could make unique bends and hammer-ons, making his licks different and more elastic than most of the competition. Unfortunately, his material leaned toward standard AOR blues-rock, which rarely let him cut loose, but when he did; his instrumental prowess could be shocking.

In 2008, a month before the release of his last studio-recorded blues album, Mess of Blues, Healey died from cancer.

No doubt, his unusual story embarked in the history of music. He taught us to see what he had seen- the beauty of music.

Ray Charles

A multi-talented blind black musician who grew up blind. 

Ray Charles Robinson was an American singer-songwriter, musician and composer known as Ray Charles. He was blind by the age of 7, and his mother sent him to a state-sponsored school, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine, Florida—where he learned to read, write and arrange music in Braille. He also learned to play piano, organ, sax, clarinet and trumpet. The breadth of his musical interests ranged widely, from gospel to country, to blues.

He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records. He also helped racially integrate country and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, most notably with his Modern Sounds albums. While with ABC, Charles became one of the first African-American musicians to be given artistic control by a mainstream record company. Frank Sinatra called Charles “the only true genius in show business,” although Charles downplayed this notion.

“I can’t retire from music any more than I can retire from my liver. You’d have to remove the music from me surgically—like you were taking out my appendix.”– Ray Charles

Ray Charles died from acute liver disease Thursday June 10, 2004. He was 73. He left behind a long list of hits and Grammy awards and the musicians he influenced are as diverse in genre as the music he wrote, arranged, performed and recorded. The great Ray Charles was an explorer who returned time and again from expeditions across musical boundaries to give us, in his own unique way, melodious stories and charts of his adventures. In so doing he changed what had previously been only a black and white territorial paper map of American music into a 3-D, solid terrain model, full of color.

Faraz Nayyer

A versatile singer and composer with a very soothing voice texture, Mr. Faraz Nayyer, attracts youngsters and people of all ages through his rock, pop, semi classical, sufi, and qawwali music.

Born in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, Nayyer is very talented.  In his schooling days, he would always win all inter-school singing competitions. In fact, he won as champion in the RISING STAR in 2006 at Punjab Pakistan.

He began to embrace music when his brother, Sam Nayyer, joined him by playing the guitar. Both of them have been teaching music for more than five years in prominent schools like Bloomfield Hall School, Lacas and Lahore Grammar School.

On December 25, 2010, the first successful song sung was “Door Nazron Se of Faraz Nayyer” which was released in a telefilm named Piano Girl on Hum T.v Pakistan. Secondly, the song “AaPaasAaJaan-e-jana” was released on Valentine’s Day in 2011 in a telefilm Love You Qasam Se on Express Entertainment T.V Pakistan.

Faraz Nayyer made Pakistan proud when he was selected as one of the members of Team Pakistan in a singing talent show SUR KSHETRA which was aired in Dubai, India and Pakistan.

For more updates, visit his Facebook page FarazNayyerOfficial

Sharon Musgrave

Sharon Musgrave was born in the UK, and raised in Canada. Her career shot to prominence in the 90′s with William Orbit. She left Canada for London in 1986 to pursue a career in music. She achieved international chart status with the hit “Fascinating Rhythm” (Virgin) which Sharon performed and wrote. In 1992 Sharon was asked by WEA Records in London to work with jazz pianist Julian Joseph on his “Language of Truth” album, performing Curtis Mayfield’s, “The Other Side of Town.” The single off the album.

After a career span of 10 years of touring all parts of the world, Singing in Commercials and constantly honing in on her writing abilities, she returned to Canada to settle and have a family. But her calling for creativity and performance brought her back on the stage in 1998, when she produced her first solo album project “Selah” with renowned engineer L.Stu Young.

Her Canadian solo release “Selah”(Zosar) earned her two nominations from the Urban Music Association of Canada – “Best Songwriter” and “Best Spoken Word”, for the album’s title track “Selah.” The video shot to the top 20 on Bravo’s video chart count down. She performed throughout Canada after making a debut performance at the Toronto Jazz Festival at Harbourfront Center in Toronto.

Then in 2003 a dance track she wrote and performed entitled “Nobody” was internationally released on the CD “Soulfragettes”, released on timewarp in Europe. The song was then singled out for “Ibiza Lounge-3″, a compilation which includes Nora Jones and Coldplay.

In 2009 “Fantasy,” was released on producer Steve Miller’s, Electrosensitive album. A dance track she co-wrote and performed, (Defected records). Also included on (Hedkandi) Beach House Compilation.

January 2012, saw the release of her track “Circles” produced by DJ Thor, on Chillbar Vol. 3 out through the dance label (Sine Music.)

Musgrave’s newest Solo project “Outflow” produced with Peter Grimmer plus remixes from international DJ producers, affirms her song writing and vocal prowess as a jazzy, soulful, funk, hiphop, dance fusion goddess. It’s a treasure to embrace, with the magic of its first single “Beautiful Music” available online for download and can be ordered from her site, HMV.com, or Amazon.com, also available on itunes.

Get ready for Sharon’s latest remix album entitled “Get Down Wit Cha,” a collaboration with DJ Thor once more. Album is about to be released for download purchase only.

Bamboo Mañalac

Filipino rock icon Bamboo Mañalac was born as Francisco Gaudencio Lope Belardo Mañalac. He is a son of a political legend in Mindanao and comes from an influential Muslim family. He grew up with his mother staying mostly at their home in the northern part of the Philippines.

Born in San Francisco, California on January 19, 1978, Bamboo broke the silence of the Philippine music scene as he became the frontman of the band Rivermary which is composed of Perfecto de Castro on guitars, Mark Escueta on drums, Nathan Azarcon on bass guitar, and Rico Blanco on keyboards and backing vocals. The band was conceptualized by Lizza Nakpil and the award winning Philippine film director Chito Roño. Rivermaya started to hit charts with their self-composed songs “Ulan”, “214”, and “Awit ng Kabataan”. Despite the fame they are into, in 1998, after three successful albums and series of US and Canada concert tours, Bamboo decided to leave the band and stayed at United States to continue his studies.

After the departure of Bamboo, his Rivermaya bandmate Nathan Azarcon also decided to leave the group and joined the band Kapatid. While Bamboo was still in the US, he began to talk to Nathan about the possibility of forming a new band. With Bamboo, Nathan, Ira Cruz, and his friend, Vic Mercado as the members of the band, they debuted in late 2002. “Bamboo” which became the name of the band, was decided for its strength and durability and also to have Filipino feel in it.

Being one of the Philippines’ best music icons, Bamboo being on the band “Bamboo” got nominated and won different music awards. He won Vocalist of the Year at 13th NU Rock Awards (2004-2005) and SOP Pasiklaban (2006). Everyone thought Bamboo band will stand firm until the end but a shocking revelation from KC Montero in his Twitter account last January 10, 2011 leave the fans puzzled as he stated that the band decided to have it quits.

On January 11, 2011, just a day after the rumor of calling it quits, Bamboo published an official statement in the band’s official website. He said, “As a group we’ve come to a point where you have to trust your gut, your heart and your head and accept that all things change. The hardest part as always is to know when to pack it up and part ways. We’ve learned that this journey is not only about us but includes all who came along for the trip. Family, friends and of course our front row believers who were there for the best reason of all. To simply listen. So it didn’t come easy winding down to this decision. So here we go. IT’S OFFICIAL. THE BAND. IT’S OVER.”

Bamboo, after having failures as a member of a band, decided to have a solo career. He released his debut album “No Water, No Moon” consisting of 12 tracks with “Questions” as its career single. The album reached gold in February 2013 after selling more than 7,500 copies.

Projects come in hand as he was also casted on ASAP last February 2013 and confirmed as coach and judge in The Voice of the Philippines and The Voice Kids which is currently airing at ABS-CBN during weekends.

Watch video of interesting Facts about Bamboo.

Madonna

Madonna Louise Ciccone, popularly known as Madonna was born on August 1958 in Bay City, Michigan and moved to New York in the late 1970’s in the pursuit of a career in modern dance. Nothing seems to be stopping her and her performance, even now at her late 50’s. The 1980’s was the decade Madonna’s career bloomed. She was first in pop/dance music groups called the Breakfast Club and Emmy. She had her demo tapes passed to Sire Records (a Warner Bros. Records Affiliate) in1982, and was later on signed by the label, releasing a self-titled album in the next year. Her next albums then became commercially successful, with both the albums “Ray of Light” in 1998 and “Confessions on a Dance Floor” in 2005 earning Grammy Awards. She has sold more than 300 million records worldwide.

Both a singer-songwriter and entrepreneur, her songs “Like a Virgin”, “Into the Groove”, “Papa Don’t Preach”, “Like a Prayer”, “Vogue” and “Frozen”, among many others, she wrote and produced herself. She found the entertainment company Maverick, including the label Maverick Records in 1992 with Time Warner as a joint venture. She also signed a $120 US million dollar 360 deal with Live Nation in 2007.

Sometimes referred to as the Queen of Pop, she was regarded as one of the most prominent cultural icons in the pop culture industry for decades. She has gained popularity for always changing her music and image, almost always pushing the boundaries on both, gaining praise on her diversity and innovation with her productions even bagging the “Best-selling Female Recording Artist of All time” title by the Guinness World Records. She was also dubbed the “Best-selling Female Rock Artist of the 20th Century” and she second “Best-Selling Female Artist in the United States” by the Recording Association of America. Only falling behind The Beatles, Billboard put her in the 2nd top spot on the “Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists” and also declared her the “Top-Touring Female Artist of All Time”. She is one of the founding members of the UK Music Hall of Fame and was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during her first year. She has also ventured into the movie industry, starting off with 2 low-budget films, “A Certain Sacrifice” and “Vision Quest” in 1985, but her acting career was bombarded with criticisms and low box-office worth. Her most notable screen roles would be in “Desperately Seeking Susan” in 1985 and “Evita” in 1996, for which she won a Golden Globe Award for “Best Actress in Motion Picture Musical or Comedy”. Because of all this, she was also chosen as one of the “25 Most Powerful Women of the Past Century” by Time.

Elvis Presley

Elvis, born as Elvis Aaron Presley on January 8, 1935. He began his singing career in 1954 in when he worked with Sam Phillips of Sun Records. His music, which was heavily influenced by and a combination of the pop and country music of his time, gospel music and all-night gospel sings from his church, even the black R&B from Beale street he lived in as a Memphis teenager, became an international sensation another couple of years later. He was the one who popularized the uptempo rockabilly, along with guitarist, Scotty Moore and Bassist Bill Black. Popularized highly also by his blatantly sexual gyrations got him the nickname “Elvis the Pelvis”. RCA Victor then bought his contract in 1955 from Sun Records in a deal by his more than 20-years manager, Colonel Tom Parker. In 1956, he released his first single “Heartbreak Hotel” which then became a number-one hit in the US.

He has the talent, the humor and good looks, and the right charismatic sensuality to jump from being a nobody to a loved household name all-over the world. He became one of the big faces of rock and roll and started appearing in television programs after performing more chart-topping records. Also since his music was a controversial mix of influences across social and color lines.

Globally, he has sold an estimated 600 million album units, been in 33 successful films, starting with “Love me Tender” in 1956 and has done many record-breaking tours and live concert performances. He has gotten 14 Grammy nominations, winning 3 of them, the Grammy lifetime Achievement Award at age 36, and was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation for 1970 by the United States Jaycees. Just in the United States alone, he was given gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards for his sales making him the best-selling solo artist in the history of recorded music.

Even though he had the patriotism to enlist in the military service for two years in 1958, he quickly picked up the pace and resumed recording for his most successful work, both with movies and music, even appearing in the first globally broadcasted concert via satellite, Aloha from Hawaii. Up till now, he is regarded as one of the most celebrated musicians and figures in the 20th century pop culture and has been inducted into multiple music halls of fame.

Elvis died in his Memphis home in Graceland on August 16, 1977 at age 42 due to deterioration of health.

Haeran Hong

“Among the fresh voices heard, the most finished were those of Haeran Hong, a soprano who sang with gleaming tone and deftly negotiated ornate lines as Dalinda, Ginevra’s confidante; Anthony Roth Costanzo, an intense, engaging countertenor, who played the treacherous Polinesso; and Shenyang.” Steve Smith, an American musician, said.

The2011 International Queen Elizabeth Grand Prize winner Haeran Hong has been noted as “charming of form, manner, and voice.” As a soprano singer, Hong has already performed various leading roles including Adina in L’Elisird’Amore, Gilda in Rigoletto, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor, and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte. Her voice is widely described as purest nectar.

In 2010, she became a finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and won the Career Bridges Competition in New York. Hong finished her Bachelor of Music degree at the Korean National University of Arts and a Master’s degree in Opera Studies at The Juilliard School.

At the Metropolitan opera, Ms. Hong covered the roles of Nannetta in Falstaff and Sophie in Werther, and also participated in the production of Die Frau ohneSchatten.

She also joined the Vien Strauss Festival Orchestra in Korea and had guest appearances in concerts in New York, Los Angeles, and at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

Among her concerts, the most remarkable were Bach’s WassGott tut, das ist wohl getan and Brahms’ Neue LiebesliederWaltzes with the La Jolla Summer Fest, as well as Villa Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 with the Aspen Music Festival.

Miriam Makeba

A Grammy Award-winning South African singer, Miriam Makeba, known as Mama Africa is an inspiration to musicians all over the world. She spent a half-century in fighting racism and upholding justice and peace.

Born in South Africa in 1932, Miriam began her musical career by joining a school choir. She then performed on local gigs by the mid-1950s. After a decade, she finally made her name throughout South Africa.

Her involvement in the documentary film Come Back, Africa, gave her a break. Harry Belafonte was attracted to the film that he supported Miriam to gain entry to the United States of America. Her appearance at John F. Kennedy’s birthday embarked the beginning of a successful singing and recording career.

Her first recorded song was “PataPata”, which was released in 1957 in South Africa and in the U.S. in 1967.  She is also popular for the songs “The Click Song” and “Malaika,” and for presenting to the West a number of Xhosa, Zulu and Swahil songs.

Her marriage to Stokely Carmichael in 1968 caused controversy in the United States, so she decided to settle in Guinea. There, she continued to fight the white Apartheid regime in her native land.

Miriam was very true to her South African musical roots while fighting for what she believed for even until her last breath due to a heart attack on November 9, 2008in Castel Volturno, Italy, at the age of 76.

Watch video of interesting Facts about Miriam Makeba.

Sophie Bevan

Soprano Sophie Bevan was awarded as young singer of the year at the 2013 International Opera Awards.

A graduate of the Benjamin Britten International Opera School, she studied as a Karaviotis Scholar with Lillian Watson and was awarded the Queen Mother Rose Bowl Award.

Her grandfather is the late Roger Bevan, head of music at Downside School and the subject of a memorable television documentary in 1980 called Harmony at Parsonage Farm. His 14 children all inherited the musical gene in various degrees, as in turn have their issue. One of them is the Sophie’s father, David.

Sophie is the eldest of eight, all of whom are musically gifted. Through this outsized family runs an astonishing vein of talent that is already bearing professional dividends for Sophie and two sisters, Mary and Daisy.

She enrolled at the Royal College of Music. Doing well at music college is one thing, but making the transition from talented student to successful professional is quite another. This, says Bevan, is where the Classical Opera Company (COC) comes into the picture.

Among her best performances, Yum-Yum in The Mikado, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro and Pamina in The Magic Flute at the Royal Opera House has been the most remarkable.

Sophie received the 2010 Critics’ Circle award for Exceptional Young Talent. She was nominated for the 2012 Royal Philharmonic Society Awards and was the recipient of The Times Breakthrough Award at the 2012 South Bank Sky Arts Awards.

Currently, she is taking her way to performing more concert and operatic engagements.

Yuna

The first Malaysian to conquer the American market, Yunalis Mat Zara’ai, or commercially known as Yuna, has captured the ears of many Malaysians and people across the globe through her organic blend of contemporary pop, acoustic folk, and soulful R&B.

Born on November 14, 1986 in AlorSetar, Kedah, Malaysia, Yuna began composing her own songs when she was 14 years old. When she reached 19, she learned how to play guitar and also started to perform her composed songs.

Since 2006, she has been performing in several acoustic shows and events in various parts of Malaysia.

In 2012, the diva has shined. Her new single “Live your Life” debuted in iTunes which lifted her career up. The track was produced by a Grammy Award-winning producer Pharrell Williams. In addition, her self-titled album was also released in which it received accolades and positive response from various critics.

Yuna was also awarded by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri NajibRazak with a National Youth Icon Award, for her exceptional achievements in arts.

Since then, Yuna has become an international singing sensation. In fact, the Multiple Grammy-winning producer David Foster excitedly invited Yuna to become part of the Verve Music Group, in which Foster is the head of the creative operations.

Despite her successful musical career in America, Yuna has been very true to her Malaysian roots. Apparently, she has been enjoying the fun she had in her recordings in Malaysia as well as the amazing working atmosphere for musicians and artists in America. She has enjoyed both worlds.

“I don’t really like the idea of putting myself in any category now. But as a pop artist, I feel like it’s easy for me to maneuver from one thing to another and try different things.  To me, it’s all just music, and if you have good lyrics and good melodies and good production, people won’t care what you call it.  I think that people are looking for music that’s real and honest and that they can relate to emotionally.  I think we’ve created that with Nocturnal.  The whole project was a challenge for me, but I’m very happy with the way it turned out”, she concluded in her self-titled blog.

For more updates about Yuna, visit her website @ www.yunamusic.com

Shania Twain

The Queen of Country Pop Shania Twain has won 5 Grammy Awards and 27 BMI Songwriter awards; a proof of her indelible mark in the music industry.

Twain was born Eilleen Regina Edwards in Windsor, Ontario, Canada on August 28, 1965, the second oldest of five siblings. Her humble beginnings draw an inspiration. Eilleen Twain had a hard childhood in Timmins. Her parents earned little and there was often a shortage of food in the household. Eilleen did not confide her situation to school authorities, fearing they might break up the family. In the remote, rugged community, she learned to hunt and to chop wood. Sharon and Jerry’s marriage was at times stormy, and from a young age, Eilleen witnessed violent fights between them. Sharon struggled with bouts of depression.

After graduating from Timmins High in June 1983, Twain was eager to expand her musical horizons. Her 1995 album The Woman in Me brought her fame, and her 1997 album Come On Over became the best-selling studio album of all time by a female act in any genre and the best-selling country album of all time, selling over 40 million copies worldwide. Her fourth and last studio album to date, Up!, was released in November 2002 and has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.

Twain’s mainstream pop acceptance was further helped by her appearance in the 1998 first edition of the VH1 Divas concert where she sang alongside Mariah Carey, Celine Dion,Gloria Estefan and Aretha Franklin, and also by VH1′s 1999 heavily aired Behind the Music, which concentrated on the tragic aspects of her early life as well as her physical attractiveness and Nashville’s early resistance to her bare-midriff music videos. After Divas, Shania Twain wrote and/or sang background vocals with her then husband Robert John “Mutt” Lange the songs, “If Walls Could Talk” and “Goodbye’s (The Saddest Word)” for Celine Dion.

On November 12, 2008 Twain made her first television appearance since her split from ex-husband Robert “Mutt” Lange, where she appeared as a surprise presenter at the 42nd CMA Awards.

In April 2010, started her own TV show, titled Why Not? with Shania Twain. The show debuted on May 8, 2011 on OWN.

The Calgary Stampede and Stampede Concerts Inc. are thrilled to kick off 2014 with the first announcement of the Virgin Mobile Stampede Concert Series. Performing her first show outside Las Vegas and the only Canadian show in 2014, Shania Twain will take the Scotiabank Saddledome stage Wednesday, July 9, 2014.

Watch video of interesting Facts about Shania Twain.

Krista Earle

The best is yet to come. Singer and songwriter Krista Earle, Canada’s Country/Pop Vocalist makes a mark into the International Music Scene.

Krista’s first single “Bad Hair Day” was released to Canadian National Radio in 2011 followed by her single “Man Up” in 2012 receiving heavy radio rotation.

She has a very original sound, a powerful voice with a sweet tone. Her music is a unique blend of catchy country/pop melodies. Krista has been greeted by a strong fan of tweens, teens and adults who follow her even to her live performances across Canada.

Krista has had a great passion for singing and performing from an early age. Born in Toronto, Ontario, Krista was raised from a family whose talents were singing and playing numerous instruments. At the very early age of 14, she performed as a main stage Disney Performer for stage shows across Ontario which she continues to do.

She won several awards in the Music Festival Vocal Competitions and shows. Also, Krista was a finalist in the International Songwriters Competition in 2012, and a recipient of the 2012 “Stars Among Us” Government of Ontario Arts Award. Also, she represented her country at MIDEM 2013 in Cannes, France. Krista.was nominated by the Country Music Association of Ontario for Female Artist, Single and Songwriter of the Year 2013.

Krista’s music story has also been shared in Nashville based award winning author Joyce Knudson’s book titled “Successful Failures Music Throughout the Ages”, where she can inspire other artists to persevere and follow their dreams. Also, just returning from a recent trip to Nashville where she performed and was featured on TV News Channel 5 Nashville, Television for Women Rock for Charity Achieve Rock Star Dreams Event.Also an advocate for numerous charities, Krista works with the Sicks Kids’ Make A Wish Foundation. Also a standing member of the Canadian Country Music Association, Country Music Association of Ontario, Nashville songwriters Association International, and the Songwriters Association of Canada.

Her new single.”I’m Done” is to be released to National Radio at the end of this January, 2014, is already receiving heavy radio rotation in both Europe, and Australia. The official music video to released to CMT Canada shortly after.

Krista’s dedication is an evident in her writing and performance which leads her to where she is now and will be in the future.

Watch video of interesting Facts about Krista Earle.