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Biography:
Philippines' pop diva Kuh Ledesma discovered that she had the talent to
sing and captivate an audience with her golden voice as she was
finishing a college degree in nursing. Friends from college encouraged
Kuh to join the nightclub band, Ensalada, which later pushed her into the
limelight to perform solos for the group. Realizing that she has the
extraordinary gift of singing, Kuh later joined the group called Music
And Magic which would be her stepping stone to singing fame and fortune,
not to mention establishing solid friendships with the group members as
well. The band, Music And Magic, became an instant hit in Manila's
nightlife circuit. Soon, word was buzzing around in the entertainment
business about a hair braided girl in the band whose interpretation of
Evita's pop aria, Don't Cry For Me Argentina, was enough to bring
goosepimples to one's skin. The band eventually evolved into Kuh Ledesma
With The Music And Magic. After successful concerts with the band and a
lead cast role in Ryan Cayabyab's musical, Rama Hari, the inevitable had
to happen. Kuh Ledesma was launched as a solo singer. Kuh's singing
career was stellar in the entertainment business because she was known to
sing beautifully live in her concerts, had the voices of Barbra
Streisand, Diana Ross, Olivia Newton-John, Donna Summer rolled into one
while finding her own and her English diction was formidable. Her first
English long playing album, Kuh's Magic, which were basically covers of
popular songs of Barry Manilow, Elton John, Kim Carnes and of course,
Barbra Streisand, reached instant gold status. And her all Pilipino long
playing album, Kuh, reached gold status as well. During her years in the
recording industry, Kuh has released various albums : Unforgettable, Too
Marvelous For Words, I Think I'm In Love, Just You, Just Me, The Voice
And The Violin, Akuhstics, Lihim, Ba't Mahihiyang Sabihin, Feelings,
among many. To date, the Unforgettable CD which is Kuh's timeless
interpretation of standards and ballads (e.g. As Time Goes By, The
Nearness Of You, The Lady Is A Tramp) is considered to be her best
selling album of all.
As a concert performer, Kuh has been known for her showmanship and her
lavish concepts with all the major concert centers at her beckon (e.g
Folk Arts Theater, Philippine International Convention Center). With more
than 300 concerts to her credit, Kuh was ready to face the snobbish
Cultural Center Of The Philippines, which has always been the venue of
the classical and opera lovers. With a full orchestra, lavish Filipino
costumes to depict various eras in the Philippine history and a
repertoire of old timeless kundimans and pop Tagalog songs from the
present genre, Kuh launched an all Filipino concert entitled "Ako Ay
Pilipino" which means "I am a Filipino". Kuh Ledesma's interpretation of
old classic kundimans (e.g. Bulung-bulongan, Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig,
Pakiusap) and beautiful new pop songs (e.g. Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika,
Handog) in the concert eventually resulted into a double long playing
album to her credit. After this successful concert at CCP, Kuh Ledesma
was ready to prove once again that she was the local concert queen with
another lavishly conceptualised concert called "Inspired Madness", where
she gets to sing her guts out and bring a new interpretation of popular
songs under the direction of Peque Gallaga, a film director with noveau
ideas. Kuh's opening number was Thunderstorm In My Mind, where she is
costumed of the same material made of the CCP opening curtains while
standing on a moving stage. Her extensive repertoire that night included
a tongue-in-cheek medley of songs popular during the time, Beatles' We
Can Work It Out, Julie Andrews' Something Good (where she expressed
somehow that the great luck she is experiencing in her life was due to
something that she had done which was good), a pop version of Madame
Butterfly's Un Bel Di Vedremo, a medley of popular songs singing with the
group she discovered, Tux, in opera fashion, a fiery rendition of The
Carpenters' Superstar, a powerful solo version of Stevie Wonders and
Charlene's Used To Be, Romeo/Maniac medley from Flashdance as
Philippines' foremost male ballet dancer, Nonoy Froilan, pirouettes madly
on stage to her singing. And as a tribute to Ninoy Aquino, Kuh Ledesma
sings a beautiful accapella of Impossible Dream, a song connected with
the Filipino martyr, and Carousel's You'll Never Walk Alone which in her
native language, Hindi Ka Nag-iisa, the battlecry for the martyred
hero. Under the banner of her company, Headline Concepts, Kuh Ledesma has
been noted for her showmanship and has explored all kinds of music in her
many concerts, even doing songs ranging from hip-hop to rap. Kuh has also
successfully launched Music Museum, a food and bar lounge where singers
and musicians of top calibre had donated an item belonging to them for
display and a concert venue for upcoming and successful singers and
musicians.
Now Kuh Ledesma wishes to break into the U.S. scene via her U.S. produced
CD, "Precious". All of her past successes have prepared the diva for
this smooth jazz/R&B album on Gold Koast Records produced by Attala Zane
Giles and Kevin Dorsey. The album includes collaborations with
Grammy-winning songwriters, Cathy Wakefield and Larry Weiss. It also
features songs written by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins, and
instrumental talents by a host of top pop and jazz artists. Kuh is one
Filipino artist who is not only motivated to make a name for herself in
the U.S. music market but to make the Filipino people have a sense of
pride in themselves for what they are and what they can accomplish with
hard work and confidence in themselves. Mabuhay ang Pilipino !
Written exclusively for ForFemmes by Alex Zamora.
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