artist's biography
Lani Misalucha, born August 3, 1969, is a multi-awarded Filipino recording artist, television show host and world-class performer. She began her career at age 17, despite never having planned to be a professional singer. From her serendipitous debut as a stand-in for her elder sister, performing backup vocals for a 90’s band called “Law of Gravity”, Lani’s raw talent caught light, and her five-octave range and musical versatility did little to keep her from being thrust onto the stage.
Lani first seized the lounge scene and gained entry into the commercial music market, lending her vocal prowess to projects that cut across the entertainment spectrum. From jazz club engagements, to advertisement jingles, to multiplex recordings that required her to emulate the vocal styling of world-class artists, Lani embraced the music industry and started developing her signature chameleonic artistry in the process. |
It was in 1996 that Lani became a break through artist in the Philippine recording scene, when, with only two singles to ride on, Lani bagged a Record of the Year award and twelve nominations for her first album “More than I Should”, released by Alpha Records. She went on to clinch the Minuro Endo Best Interpreter/ Singer award at the Third Asian Song Festival, two years after, making her mark in the International music arena.
Over the next five years, Lani’s captive audience grew with each song recorded and every stage conquered: She had released two Gold albums, played lead in a musical adaptation of The Ramayana (Rama at Sita), started hosting for television and enjoyed a winning streak in numerous local music awards. Lani’s soar to new artistic heights ultimately led to her distinct identification and recognition by MTV Asia as ‘Asia’s Nightingale’.
In September of 2001, Lani’s enchanted audience packed the rafters of one of Manila’s biggest concert venues, the Araneta Coliseum, to SRO status. The success of Lani’s first major solo concert, entitled “Lani Misalucha: The Crossover Live Tour” reverberated in raving reviews, album sales, a gamut of awards, a successful 2-night repeat at no less than the Cultural Center of the Philippines and a series of shows and performances in major cities in the Philippines and the United States.
After the release of her fourth album, Loving You, Lani moved to the US and made history by becoming the first Asian to headline in a Main Showroom on the Las Vegas Strip in 2004. The Jubilee Theatre of Bally’s Hotel and Casino featured Lani alongside Hawaii’s premiere show band, Society of Seven. 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.
Over the next five years, Lani’s captive audience grew with each song recorded and every stage conquered: She had released two Gold albums, played lead in a musical adaptation of The Ramayana (Rama at Sita), started hosting for television and enjoyed a winning streak in numerous local music awards. Lani’s soar to new artistic heights ultimately led to her distinct identification and recognition by MTV Asia as ‘Asia’s Nightingale’.
In September of 2001, Lani’s enchanted audience packed the rafters of one of Manila’s biggest concert venues, the Araneta Coliseum, to SRO status. The success of Lani’s first major solo concert, entitled “Lani Misalucha: The Crossover Live Tour” reverberated in raving reviews, album sales, a gamut of awards, a successful 2-night repeat at no less than the Cultural Center of the Philippines and a series of shows and performances in major cities in the Philippines and the United States.
After the release of her fourth album, Loving You, Lani moved to the US and made history by becoming the first Asian to headline in a Main Showroom on the Las Vegas Strip in 2004. The Jubilee Theatre of Bally’s Hotel and Casino featured Lani alongside Hawaii’s premiere show band, Society of Seven. 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.
At the height of her international success, Lani went back to the recording studio in 2006, doing covers of well-loved classics for her fifth album release. Just as the album turned Gold in 2007, Lani came home to regale her Filipino audience with songs and stories in a one-night engagement at the Araneta Coliseum. 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.
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 Best of Vegas Poll, inevitably putting her name alongside Celine Dion, who was voted as reader's choice. After capping off her stint at the Flamingo, Lani began another show, Voices, with Earl Turner at the Hilton in 2009. Just after one month, the show’s producers decided that Lani was ready to go solo, and she was given the whole of the Shimmer Showroom to mesmerize with her music. 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 4th as Lani Misalucha Day, following the footsteps of Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr. who had also previously declared August 17th 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 all the best that is yet to come. |
"Lani’s journey with music transcends every song, heartfelt and genuine in its delivery of all the all the best that is yet to come..."
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