Lani Misalucha

Her cover of the 1966 song, "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" topped the Philippine charts in the same year.

Lani Bayot Misalucha (born Lani Dimalanta Bayot; August 3, 1969) is a Filipino singer.

Known for her vocal range, powerful, emotive vocals and ability to sing opera arias, she has been referred to as "Asia's Nightingale".

Her music has received recognition from a number of award-giving bodies such as Awit Awards, Aliw Awards, Box Office Entertainment Awards and PMPC Star Awards for Music.

In 2021, she was named "People of the Year" by People Asia.

Misalucha began singing as a church choir member and eventually became a back-up vocalist of various bands.

She recorded an album "More than I Should" (Alpha Records) with carrier single of the same title written by Odette Quesada in 1990.

The album included Misalucha's cover of Fifth Dimension's "Somebody Warm Like Me".

After several stints as a singer of commercial jingles and multiplex tapes, she released her 1997 debut album More Than I Should under Alpha Records.

The following year, she competed at the 3rd Asia Song Festival and won Best Interpreter for the song "Handle with Care".

The entire album earned 12 Katha Award nominations in 1997.

The following year, Misalucha won the Minuro Endo Best Interpreter/Singer Award at the 3rd Asian Song Festival.

Her piece entitled "Handle with Care" (written by Gideon Jungee Marcelo) won silver in the Best Original Song category.

The same year, she signed with Viva Records and released her sophomore album Tunay Na Mahal (1998).

In 1998, Misalucha moved to Viva Records and her album, with carrier single "Tunay na Mahal" (written by Freddie Saturno), made the charts and turned gold, later receiving the Awit Award for Best Ballad Recording, Awit Award for Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist, and Katha Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

The following year, she won the top honor at the 1999 Metropop Song Festival and released her third studio album All Heart (2000).

Misalucha's interpretation of "Can't Stop Loving You" (written by Dodjie Simon) won her songwriter the Grand Prize at the 1999 Metropop Song Festival.

She was tapped to play the lead role of Sita in the S.K. Productions musical play entitled Rama at Sita.

In 1999, Misalucha also received Artist of the Year Award, Aliw Award for Best Lounge Act, Awit Award for Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist, and Awit Award Nomination for Best Stage Actress.

Misalucha received the Aliw Award for Best Female Performance in Music Lounges, Bars, Clubs & Restaurants for consecutive years, 1999–2002.

In 2000, Misalucha released the album All Heart, a collection of love songs with the carrier single "One More Time" (written by Simon).

The album also included songs written by some of the Philippines' contemporary composers such as Vehnee Saturno ("Ang Lahat Ng Ito Ay Para Sa Iyo"), Jimmy Borja ("Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin") and Trina Belamide ("Save This Heart").

In 2001, she staged her first major solo concert Lani Misalucha: The Crossover Live Tour at the Araneta Coliseum, earning an Entertainer of the Year win at the 2002 Aliw Awards.

She became a semi-regular host in the Sunday noontime show SOP (Sobrang Okey Pare) in 2001.

Her first major solo concert in September 2001 at the Araneta Coliseum entitled, "Lani Misalucha, The Crossover Live Tour" and was repeated at the Cultural Center of Philippines.

These concerts received the Aliw Award for Best Major Concert by a Female Artist and the Tinig Award for Best Solo Performer.

Her Crossover Live Concert album received the Platinum Award.

In 2002, Misalucha continued to hold concerts in Cebu City, Bacolod, Baguio, Clark (Angeles City), and Davao City, as well as at OnStage Greenbelt, Makati.

Misalucha then held a US concert tour, performing in Reno, San Diego, Washington, Las Vegas, New York, Chicago, Atlantic City, Pasadena, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. of San Francisco declared August 17 "Lani Misalucha Day".

In 2002, she received Aliw "Entertainer of the Year."

In addition, she won two Katha awards—Best Folk Song Vocal Performance and Best Traditional Song Vocal Performance for "Kasal Sa Kaluluwa" (2002).

Misalucha released her fourth studio album entitled, Loving You in June 2003 with the singles "Tila" (written by Liza Diy) and "Malaya Ka Na" (written by Jimmy Antiporda).

She received further recognition after moving to Las Vegas in 2004 and embarked on a string of headlining concert residencies, becoming the first Asian artist to headline in a main showroom in the city.

Her vocal performances have earned praises from musical artists such as Dionne Warwick, Joe Jackson, Gladys Night, James Ingram and Whitney Houston.

In November of the same year, she began a TV show entitled Celebrity Turns with actor-comedian Michael V.. In 2004, Misalucha subordinated budding career to family interest when her family relocated to the United States.

After the release of her fourth album, Loving You, Lani moved to the US and made history.

Misalucha became the first Asian to headline in a Main Showroom of the Las Vegas Strip, performing with Hawaii's premiere showband Society of Seven at the Jubilee Theatre of Bally's Hotel and Casino.

Among her other PARI-certified releases include Lani Misalucha (2006), Reminisce (2008) & The Nightingale Returns (2014).

Misalucha sang the song "Ang Iibigin ay Ikaw" (written by Jimmy Borja) which was a finalist at the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival and later received the Awit Award for Record of the Year.