AFTER 25 years, Concert King and OPM icon Martin Nievera returns to his original home studio, Vicor where he started his multi-platinum album, “Martin…Take One” in 1983 kung saan nagmula ang kanyang mega hit song na “Be My Lady” composed by Vehnee Saturno.

Martin stayed with Vicor for sixteen years where he recorded twelve top-selling albums which include “The Best Gift,” “Martin,” “Miracle,” “A Martin Nievera Christmas,” “Dream,” “A New Start,” “Roads,” “Journey,” “Forever,” “Forever, Forever,” and “The Return to Forever”which was released in 1999. His fourteen remaining albums were recorded under different record labels outside Vicor.

Although it was in 1983 when he joined Vicor, he stayed on with the label until 1999 where his 12th album entitled “The Return to Forever” was released.

Returning to Vicor is just like returning home as far as Martin is concerned.

“This is the company where I started to get noticed especially when my first hit song, “Be My Lady” was released,” says Martin at his contract signing at Vicor with Viva’s big boss, Boss Vic del Rosario and Vicor bosses Tony Ocampo and Verb del Rosario.

Vicor label is now under Viva.

Martin wants the title of his new album under Vicor to be titled “Martin….Take Two” as it symbolizes a lot of things – his return to Vicor, his reunion with his former bosses, recording new songs under the new and modern platforms and collaborating with the new artists.

A first time grandfather to three months old Finn (Phineas) from his eldest son Robin Nievera and partner Mian Acoba, the Concert King only saw his grandson for three hours in Chicago as he had to leave right away to catch a show in Florida last December. His ex-wife, Concert Queen Pops Fernandez is currently in the US to visit their eldest son Robin, partner Mian and their new-born son Finn.

Pops wants to be called `loli’ by her grandson while Martin as `lilo’ and not the usual `lola’ and `lolo’.

Meanwhile, Martin says that he is open to collaboration with the new artists. Since this is his first album in eight years, he wants to be hands on choosing the songs that will be included in his new album under Vicor, his first home studio.

Aside from the new album, Martin is looking forward to another major concert in a big venue and maybe a reunion concert with his ex-wife Pops.

Sa ngayon ay patuloy siyang napapanood sa “ASAP Natin `Ito” every Sunday (and when he is in town) at bilang isa sa mga coaches/judges ng new edition ng “The Voice Kids” along with Bamboo Manalac and KZ Tandingan.

Si Martin na lamang ang natitirang original host ng “ASAP” na nagsimula nung 1995 along with Pops Ferandez, Ariel Riveral and Puerto Rica former Miss Universe-turned actress Dayanara Torres.

Martin owes his singing talent sa kanyang yumaong dad, ang kilalang balladeer-performer at dating lead singer ng Society of Seven Band (in Honolulu, Hawaii) who mentored him since he was a small boy.

Nakaka-relate si Martin sa mga contestant sa iba’t ibang singing competitions dahil naranasan din niya ito in the US. After high school in Clayton Valley in 1980, sumali siya sa isang singing competition in California where he won at ang kanyang winning piece ay ang awiting “The Greatest Love”.

“It was a big moment of my life,” he shares.

“That was when I knew I was gonna be a singer,” dagdag pa niya.

When they moved back to the Philippines in 1982, the following year Martin was signed up by Vicor and the rest ay history nang maituturing. The songs that Martin recorded and became hits propelled his popularity as a concert artist filling up major venues in Metro Manila including Folk Arts Theater, Araneta Coliseum, The Ultra Stadium among others and that’s when he earned his tag as “Concert King”.

If Martin was already making noise in the early `80s ganundin noon si Pops na nasa bakuran ng OctoArts International ni Boss Orly Ilacad, first cousin of Viva’s Boss Vic del Rosario.

Tulad ni Martin, sunud-sunod din ang mga sold-out concerts ni Pops tulad ng Folk Arts Theater, Araneta Coliseum, ULTRA at Rizal Football Stadium na nagkaroon ng stampede sa sobrang dami ng tao kaya natigil ang concert. Pops was also hailed as the Philippines’ Concert Queen.

Dahil sa kasikatan noon sina Pops at Martin, pinagsama sila bilang hosts sa “The Penthouse Live” on GMA, isang weekly musical-dance show na kanilang sinimulan nung 1982 up to 1987. Sa nasabing show nagsimula ang love affair ng dalawa na nauwi sa kanilang pagpapakasal in 1986. The union bore two sons -Robin and Ram .

“The Penthouse Live” was reformatted in 1987 at ginawang “Martin and Pops: Twogether” na tumagal until 1989.

Martin took on another talk show, ang “Martin After Dark (MAD)” from 1988 to 1998 na sinundan ng “Martin Late at Night” nung 1998 to 2003. In 1995, sinimulan nila ni Pops ang “ASAP” on ABS-CBN along with Ariel Rivera at Dayanara Torres pero si Martin na lamang ang naiwang original sa Sunday musical variety show na ginawa nang “ASAP Natin `To” kung saan kabilang ngayon sina Gary Valenciano, Zsa Zsa Padilla, ang mag-asawang Ogie Alcasid at Regine Valesquez at marami pang iba.

Although Martin would always consider himself a singer, songwriter and a performer more than an actor, nakagawa siya ng 12 pelikula during his prime tulad ng “Always and Forever,” “Si Mister at si Misis,” “Payaso,” “Shoot That Ball,” “Maria Went To Town,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Sa Puso Ko Hahalik ang Mundo,” “Magic to Love,” “Adarna: The Mythical Bird,” “Alyas Boy Tigas,” “Masikip sa Dibdib” and “Wrinkles”.

During the contract signing, sinabi ni Boss Vic del Rosario na baka magbalik-pelikula si Martin opposite his ex-wife na si Pops Fernandez and other Viva stars.

Speaking of Martin, napabilib sa kanya ang Viva big boss na si Boss Vic nang ito’y mag-give way sa kanyang guesting sa pre-Valentine concert ni Pops sa The Theater at Solaire last February 9 & 10 sa halip na ituloy niya ang kanyang Valentine concert sa nasabing venue with him headlining the show minus Pops.

Ganun kaganda ang relasyon ngayon ng dating mag-asawa kahit matagal na silang hiwalay. They are both supportive of each other’s careers.

Although wala pang petsa, the ex-couple will mount a major Valentine concert next year which Pops is producing (with her business partners) under DSL Productions na kanyang minana sa kanyang ina, ang dating actress na si Dulce S. Lukban.

Kahit matagal nang hiwalay ang dating mag-asawang Pops at Martin, ang maganda sa dalawa ay napanatili nila ang kanilang pagiging magkaibigan dahil na rin sa kanilang dalawang anak na sina Robin at Ram laluna ngayon na meron na silang isang apo na si Finn.

Pops and Martin will remain a `loveteam’ on stage and the magic remains whenever they’re together sa entablado.

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