Profile of a Superstar

Gary V. -- by popular request

March 2002

VALENCIANO, GARY (Edgardo Jose Martin, Santiago): Superstar.

Born in Santa Mesa Manila in 1964. Singer, composer, dancer, actor, musical arranger, music producer, musician.

He is the sixth child of Vicente Valenciano and Grimilda Santiago in a brood of seven. He finished grade school and high school at La Salle Greenhills (taking his junior year at memorial Jr. High in Florida). He is married to Maria Anna Elizabeth Pangilinan, with whom he has three children: Juan Paolo Martin, Jose Angelo Gabriel and Kristiana Maria Mikaela.

In high school, Valenciano joined the music group Kundirana, which performed on school campuses and was immensely popular. His stint with the Kundirana not only brought him the adulation of college girls, which he enjoyed, but also an important discovery: the power of music to influence lives. Since then, he has devoted himself entirely to music.

He first appeared on television on the Pilita and Jackie show in 1982 but it was a performance on Germspesyal and Penthouse Live which got the attention of the Filipino media. A series of concerts at the Tavern on the Square in Makati followed. In April 1984, during his first concert "Gary V A-Live" at the Araneta Coliseum, he made his big leap to the top of the pop music world. The 15,000-seat coliseum was fully packed with concert-goers spilling onto the aisles.

He has held several concerts every year since then, among them his first OPM (original Pilipino music) concert in September 1985 at the ULTRA; his free crowd of 800,000; his series of sold-out concerts in 1990; Gary Major Impact, where he brought concert-goers to their feet with his energetic performance; his four-night Gary V:Shout! (1992,1993) concert series, and Move! (1994,1995) which broke OPM records at the Araneta Coliseum.

He has performed numerous times abroad in Singapore, the Middle East, Italy, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Australia, Israel, Guam, Canada and the United States.

Valenciano has recorded 17 albums, 14 of which have turned gold starting with "Gary" in 1983 and followed by "Gary-Next" in 1985; "Gary Inside Out" in 1986; "From Gary, Merry Christmas" in 1986; "Moving Thoughts" in 1987; "Heart and Soul Live Album" in 1989; "Faces of Love" in 1989; "Shout for Joy" in 1990; "Shout" (Live Album), "Hataw Na" in 1993; "Move" (Live Album) in 1995; "Greatest Hits Volume I and II"; "Gary V: Interactive" in 1998 and "Revive," an extended version of a hit single, "Di Bale Na Lang," recorded in 1987.

During the 14th Awit Awards in Manila last year, Valenciano won for the sixth time one of the evening's most coveted honors, the Best Performance by a Male Recording Artist award for the song "Lupa." His albums have earned for him over 35 trophies from the award-giving body, along with countless nominations.

As UNICEF's Ambassador of Goodwill, he has visited schools and health care centers in Guimaras and participated in the Mid-Term Review of the Country program for Children at the WHO headquarters in the Philippines.

Gary attributes his tireless energy to the fact that after 18 years in the business, performing before live audiences still excites him. The 37-year-old superstar says, " I don't feel like I'm 37. Even if I'm out on stage, my voice kicks in, I feel a burst of energy."

"Gary Valenciano by Request" with Vina Morales Saturday, May 11,2002 at 8:00 p.m. at the Grand Olympic Auditorium

1801 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90015

Tickets are $38, $48. $58; VIP starting at $68

For ticket inquiries, call: Pacific Ad Concepts (818)515-2711; (562)688-6970 or KATZ Entertainment (562)529-8680