Pilita Corrales

Infobox musical artist
Name = Pilita Corrales

---

Img_capt =
Background = solo_singer
Occupation = singer-songwriter musician actress
Bith_name = Pilita Corales
Born = Birth date and age|1939|8|22|mf=y
Origin = Cebu City, Philippines
Genre = Folk music Pop music
Years_active = 1958 - present
Label = Vicor Records Aquaries Records
URL =

Pilita Corrales (born 22 August, 1939 in Cebu City, Philippines) is a famous Filipina singer and actress, who is widely referred to as Asia's Queen of Songs, having produced over 135 albums in her music career spanning over four decades.

Biography

Pilita Corrales was born in Lahug, Cebu City, Cebu in 1939. Her father was a Spaniard and her mother was Cebuana. She is multi-lingual and speaks Spanish, English, Tagalog, and Cebuano fluently. After finishing her studies at Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion in her native land of Cebu, she went to Spain to enroll in a finishing school in music. In 1958, Pilita began her recording career after arriving with a shipwrecked troupe of performers in Melbourne. She left her mark by becoming the first woman to make the Australian pop charts with a local recording called 'Come Closer to Me'. She became a star of the Melbourne TV circuit and her first hit, "Come Closer to Me", became part of a collection on which she’s billed as one of the "Grand Dames of Melbourne Radio and Television".

Pilita holds the distinction of being the first female artist to top the Australian pop music charts long before Helen Reddy, Olivia Newton-John and Kylie Minogue. Pilita also recorded at least 3 LPs in the late 1950s-early 1960s: "Pilita with Arthur Young :Pilita tells The Story of Love", "I'll Take Romance" and "This is Pilita" under "Astor Records". Being one of the pioneers of Australia's early television years, a street was named after her outside Melbourne. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) recently featured Pilita and several pioneering female artists in Australia in the 2nd episode of the highly acclaimed TV special, "Love is in the Air". Pilita returned to Manila during the mid 1960s to pursue a career in the Philippine music industry. Her Philippine career began when she hosted a radio program "La Taverna" over DZPI where she sang Spanish songs and played the guitar. She performed regularly in stage shows at the "Manila Grand Opera House". Subsequently, her reputation grew and during her international stints, she has performed with internationally acclaimed artists like Sammy Davis Jr. the Beatles, Bob Hope, Pat Boone, Frank Sinatra and Julie Andrews. She also appeared in movies, most of them musicals. Her film debut was a lead role in the 1968 film "Miss Wawaw", and was followed by 11 more movies for the next two years. Pilita later recorded numerous albums in Spanish in the early 60s as well as numerous long playing albums in English, Tagalog and Cebuano during the 1970s under Vicor Music Corporation. Her multiawarded TV program at ABS-CBN, "An Evening with Pilita" (1965-1972), is widely considered as one of the benchmarks in Philippine broadcasting history.

Pilita frequently performed for "Seeing Stars with Joe Quirino" in "IBC-Channel 13" after the martial law years where she demonstrated her range as a gifted performer of Spanish, English, Cebuano and Tagalog music. Aquarius Record Philippines produced a compilation of Pilita's Spanish songs in CDs like "Noche de Ronda", "Vaya Con Dios". Her signature song "A Million Thanks to You" was translated in seven languages. She eventually recorded songs composed by Filipino composers like Danny Holmsen, George Canseco, Willy Cruz, Ryan Cayabyab and several others. Under Vicor Records, Pilita interpreted numerous Filipino classics and introduced them to younger audiences.

Pilita first met Canseco in "Your Evening with Pilita" (aired on pre-Martial Law ABS-CBN) as a guest in the composers' portion of the show". For the show Canseco brought with him "You're All I Love." Canseco later wrote Filipino lyrics for the song, which became "Kapantay ay Langit", the first song Canseco sold to a record label in 1966. The song was first recorded by Amapola for the movie theme of "Kapantay Ay Langit" starring Marlene Dauden and Eddie Rodríguez. The song won for George Canseco and Amapola the "Manila Film Festival" award for best song of the year. The song did not fare well commercially, because Amapola had left (for her U.S. concert tours) and the song was not promoted properly, according to Canseco during an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer. But when Pilita revived the song, it turned into a classic and defied trends and time. "The song," Pilita said, "was included in my album "Philippine Love Songs Vol. 1", which was released in the early 1970s."

Through the personal invitation of Sammy Davis Jr., Pilita became the first Filipino to sing in Caesars Palace. In her concert in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas during the late 70s, Pilita sang Spanish, English, Cebuano and Tagalog songs, all conducted and arranged by Ryan Cayabyab.

After receiving a 1965 Philippine Citizen's Award for TV as Best TV Female Performer, Pilita went on to receive "Cecil", "Aliw", "Tinig" and "Awit" and several other awards for her performances and lifetime achievement. In 1990, she received a Merit Award from the "FAMAS" Awards. In 1991, she was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the "Philippine Association of the Record Industry" (PARI) for bringing Filipino musical artistry to international audience. She also holds the distinction of being the first Filipino to win in an international music festival by bagging the Best Performer Award during the 1st Tokyo Music Festival (1972) where she bested numerous international artists including the highly-regarded Olivia Newton-John.

These days she operates Pilita, a restaurant-bar in Greenhills named: PILITA'S, one of Manila's prime commercial districts. She is also a highly-acclaimed host and comedy actress on Philippine television. With over 135 albums to her credit and an international profile with many appearances in Asia, the Middle East, Australia and North America, she still enjoys a reputation as “singing icon and living legend.”

In 2006, Pilita Corrales was handpicked by Associated Broadcasting Company (ABC Channel 5) and FremantleMedia to be one of the celebrity-judges for the first-ever nationwide search for the Philippine Idol together with composer Ryan Cayabyab and rapper Francis Magalona.She was a judge in the first Asian Idol held in Indonesia, representing Philippine Idol.

Personal life

Corrales has two children, Lourdes Jacqueline Blanco (commonly known as "Jackielou" Blanco) and Ramón Christopher Gutíerrez. Both her two children are also well known celebrity figures in the Philippine Film Industry.

Corrales was married in 1963, to the late executive businessman Gonzalo Blanco and separated soon after, while her daughter "Jackielou" was still a child. Gonzalo later died in 1981.

Corrales gave birth to her second child, Ramón Christopher, in 1971. Ramón's father is actor Eddie Gutíerrez.

On May 22, 2001, Pilita married Paraguayan businessman Carlos Lopez.

Discography

Australia

#Come Closer to Me
#Pilita with Arthur Young: Ill Take Romance
#This is Pilita
#Pilita tells the story of Love

Philippines (including albums for international release)

#Pilita, Live At the Riviera
#Pilita, Live At the Riviera Vol. 2
#Pilita, Live At the Riviera Vol. 3
#Pilita, Now
#Pilita Sings
#Love
#Pilita in Motion
#Pilita Corrales, Greatest Hits
#Pilita, Greatest Hits Volume 2
#Matud Nila (Cebuano Visayan)
#Philippine Love Songs
#Philippine Love Songs Volume 2
#Kapantay ay Langit
#A Song for You
#Sampaguita
#Best of Philippine Pop Songs
#Sa Tanang Panahon (Mostly Cebuano Visayan versions of Tagalog songs)
#Minamahal, Sinasamba
#Filipiniana
#Pilita, The Queen of Songs (Ang Mutya ng Awit)
#Pilita, Christmas Special
#Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan?
#The Best of Philippine Music
#Salakot
#Pagsapit ng Pasko
#Araw-araw, Gabi-gabi
#Pilita, Visayan Love Songs Volume 1 (Cebuano Visayan)
#Pilita Sings George (If I Had My Life to Live Again)
#Pilita, Great Songs from Filipino Movies
#Sa Aking Pag-iisa
#Walang Pagmamaliw
#Pilita Sings...Love Themes from Viva Films
#Pilita y Amado en español
#Pilita Y Amado en español, Volume 2
#Ang Nagiisang si Pilita(Viva Records)
#Pilita Goes Pop (OctoArts Record)
#When My Eyes Are Filled with Tears (Dyna Record)
#Pilita Corrales sings Visayan Songs (Cebuano Visayan) (Villar)
#For Love Sake Only
#If You Go Away
#Hoy
#Oh La La!
#Pilita y los mensajeros del Paraguay
#Viajar (Travel)
#Abrázame (Embrace Me)
#Yukbo Sa Bisayanhong Awit (Cebuano and Ilonggo Visayan duet album with Susan Fuentes)

Recorded Songs

#Ako ang Nagtanim
#Ako Raw ay Makasalanan
#Ampingan Mo ba
#Ang Dalaga Noon at Ngayon
#Ang Diwa ng Pasko
#Ang Kawayan
#Ang Pag-ibig
#Ang Pag-ibig ay Mahiwaga
#Ang Pipit
#Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig
#Apat na Dahilan
#Awit ng Labandera
#Awit ng Mananahi
#Ay Pag-ibig
#Ay, Ay, Ay Pag-ibig
#Ayaw nang Magmahal
#Bakas ng Lumipas
#Bakasin Mo sa Gunita
#Bakit Kita Inibig
#Balud sa Kalimot
#Balut
#Baryo Fiesta
#Basta't Magkasama Tayo
#Basta't Mahal Kita
#Bisan sa Damgo Lang
#Buhat
#Bulak Akong Bukidnon
#Cariñosa
#Come Close and Love Me
#Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak
#Dahil sa Iyo
#Dalagang Pilipina
#Dalagang Pilipinhon
#Dalawang Filipina
#Di Ko Kasalanan
#Di na Iibig
#Dili na Mausab
#Gipangita Ko Ikaw
#Goodbye
#Had I Known It
#Hanggang Langit Mahal Kita
#Hinahanap Kita
#Hinugpong nga mga Awit
#Hiwaga ng Pag-ibig
#Huling Halakhak
#Ibong Kakanta-kanta
#If I Had My Life to Live Again
#Iibigin Ka
#Ikaw ang Mahal Ko
#Ikaw na Lamang
#Iniibig Kita
#Ipagdarasal Kita
#Irog Ako ay Mahalin
#Isumbong Ko Ikaw Sa Langit
#Iyong-iyo Kailan pa Man
#Kahit Sino Ka Man
#Kamingaw Gayud
#Kapantay ay Langit
#Kataka-taka
#Katulog na Inday
#Kay Hirap ng Umibig
#Kay Langit Ko ang Gugma Mo
#Kung Batid Mo Lamang
#Kung Kita'y Kapiling
#Kung Nagsasayaw Kita
#Lahat ng Araw
#Lahat ng Gabi Bawat Araw
#Lahat ng Oras
#Lamok
#Landas sa Pag-ibig
#Larawan ng Pag-ibig
#Let's Forget The Time
#Lihim na Damdamin
#Lonely Nights
#Luluha Ka Rin
#Maalaala Mo Kaya
#Magandang Gabi Po
#Mahal Kita Hanggang Langit
#Mahal Mo Ba Ako?
#Mahiwaga
#Mamang Tsuper
#Mangga
#Mano Po Ninong
#Matagal na Rin
#Matud Nila (Visayan)
#May Ibong Kakanta Kanta
#Minamahal Kita
#Minamahal Ko Siya
#Nahigwa-os
#O Maliwanag na Buwan
#Paano
#Pag-ibig Ikaw ang Dahilan
#Pagka't Kapiling Ka
#Pagkadali
#Pasko sa Nayon
#Patatawarin Kita
#Pilipinas
#Pobreng Alindahaw
#Porbida
#Puto Kutsinta
#Rosas Pandan
#Sa Araw ng Pasko (Ikaw Lang ang Siyang Kailangan)
#Sa Bawat Sandali
#Sa Libis ng Nayon
#Saan Ka man Naroroon
#Salakot
#Salamat sa Alaala
#Sampaguita
#Sana Kahit Minsan
#Sapagkat Ikaw ay Akin
#Sapagkat Kami ay Tao lamang (We Are Only Human)
#Sapagkat Malapit na
#Sayaw sa Ilaw
#Sayo sa Kabuntagon
#Sinumpa Ko sa Diyos
#Sumpang Walang Hanggan
#Tama Na
#Titibok Tibok
#Together
#Tugoti Kami
#Tunay na Tunay
#Ulilang Puso
#Walang Kapantay
#When Eyes Are Filled with Tears
#Yesterday I Heard the Rain
#Noche de Ronda
#Vaya con Dios (Farewell)
#Historia de un amor (Story of a Love)
#Abrázame (Embrace Me)
#Obsesión
#Gracias amigo (Thanks my Friend)
#Solamente una vez (Just Once)
#Espérame en el cielo (Wait for Me in Heaven)
#La foto (The Picture)
#Hasta el fin de mi existir (Til the End of My Existence)
#Con estas manos (With These Hands)
#Filipinas
#Tema del padrino (Theme of the Godfather)
#Grande, Grande, Grande
#A flor de piel
#Quisiera saber (I’d Like to Know)
#Desde que tú has ido (Since You’ve Been Gone)
#Tu sonrisa (Your Smile)
#Concierto de un otoño
#Perfidia
#Aldila
#Angustia
#Río rebelde
#Voy (I Go)
#Amor (Love)
#Wasay-Wasay
#Nganong Mipakita Ka
#Sayri Ako
#Ngano Ba Gugma
#Ampinging mga Bulak
#Ilingaw-Lingaw Lang
#Mao Ba Kini ang Gugma
#Hain Ka na Pinangga
#Uhaw sa Gugma

TV Shows

*Awitawanan - IBC 13
*Magasaway Di Biro - RPN 9
*Ang Bagong Kampeon - RPN 9
*Tahanan Ng Kampeon - GMA Network
*Lagot Ka, Isusumbong Kita - GMA Network
*Philippine Idol - ABC 5 (judge)

External links

* [http://www.milesago.com/industry/astor.htm Astor Records, Melbourne]
* [http://poll.imdb.com/name/nm0180720/bio imdg.com]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/love/episodes/s968647.htm She's leaving home (Love is in the air, ABC TV-Australia)]
* [http://www.vicormusic.com/music.asp Vicor Music Corporation]
* [http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2004/11/27/oped/mel.libre.seriously.now.html Cebu’s divas]
* [http://news.inq7.net/common/print.php?index=1&story_id=18844&site_id=23 Even Canseco was rejected, Pilita remembers by Nini Valera]
* [http://www.onlyolivia.com/visual/tv/70/72/tokyo/index.html Olivia Newton-John at the 1st Tokyo Music Festival]
* [http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?page=news&id=3572&sid=6&urldate=2006-06-03 Kinks sa‘PI' auditions, areglado na]
* [http://news.inq7.net/entertainment/index.php?index=2&story_id=78509&col=26 Beyond Birit]
* [http://news.inq7.net/entertainment/index.php?index=1&story_id=78175 RP Idol's First Yield]