Martin Nievera

Martin Nievera
Nievera in 2018
Born Martin Ramon Razon Nievera
(1962-02-05) February 5, 1962
Manila, Philippines
Nationality Filipino
Occupation
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • actor
  • host
Years active 1982–present
Spouse(s)
Pops Fernandez
(m. 1986; annulled 2000)
Partner(s) Katrina Ojeda
Children 3
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
Labels
Associated acts

Martin Ramon Razon Nievera (/njɛˈvɛrɑː/; born February 5, 1962) is a Filipino singer and songwriter. In his three-decade career, Nievera has garnered eighteen platinum, five double platinum, three triple platinum, and one quadruple platinum albums.[1] He is often referred to in the Philippines as the "Concert King".

Early life

"I was actually discovered while singing at the shower in our locker room. I was part of the basketball team, but not a very good one at that, and I intentionally take a shower after everybody else has so it would seem like I had a tough game when I was actually a bench warmer… As I was singing, the wrestling coach passed by and heard me, called out loud and said he should see me at the choir auditions the next day. So I joined the choir and next thing I know I am singing back up (in a choir) for Barry Manilow for his three-day concert, and that’s where I realized that this is what I want to do."

— Martin Nievera[2]

Martin Ramon Razon Nievera was born on February 5, 1962 in Manila to Roberto "Bert" Nievera and Conchita Razon.[2][3] He has a twin sister, Victoria,[3] and a younger sister named Rachel.[4][5] His father, an established singer in the Philippines, was performing with the troupe Society of Seven in Hawaii.[2][3] His mother left her first husband and fled with the twins to Hawaii when they were three years old to finally live with his father.[6] While attending elementary and high school there,[7] Nievera worked as a burger flipper at a restaurant that his family owned.[8]

In the 1970s, the family moved again to the San Francisco Bay Area in California.[2][3] Nievera enrolled at Clayton Valley High School in Concord,[2] where he was part of the basketball team.[6] He was encouraged by the school's wrestling coach to enter the choir,[2][6] impressed by a rendition of Morris Albert's "Feelings" that he sang while showering in the locker room.[6] His father said that Nievera began to realize "he could sing professionally" when he was 16, the same age he did.[4] Aside from him, Nievera also credits his maternal grandmother, who was a soprano, for his skill in singing.[6] He graduated from Clayton Valley in 1980.[2]

In 1981, Nievera joined in the California State Talent Competition, a four-day state singing competition that was held in Santa Clara, which he won. As contestant number 1049, he competed against over four thousand other contestants for "[f]our days long [...] you had to win the first day to compete the second day to compete the third day. The third day was the championship, the fourth day is a championship of all the champions of the different categories. So I won the third day, then I won the overall grand champion," he told in an interview. Nievera said of his victory, "It was a big moment in my life. That was when I knew I was gonna be a singer."[9] His winning piece was "The Greatest Love of All", which his father taught him how to sing while he was working at their family-owned restaurant.[10][11] The following year,[9] Nievera was among the singers chosen to sing back-up for Barry Manilow at one of his concerts.[2][6][9] After this experience, he declared, "Okay, I’m gonna be a singer."[9]

Career

Inspired by his father, Nievera returned to the Philippines in 1982 to begin his own singing career. By June 1983, he released his first LP, Martin...Take One. Nievera began co-hosting the TV variety show The Penthouse Live! with Pops Fernandez, who would later become his wife. Nievera's second LP was 1984's The Best Gift. In 1987, The Penthouse Live! was changed to Martin and Pops Twogether, in celebration of their marriage. His recording Forever led to two sequels, Forever Forever and Return to Forever.

As an actor, Nievera has appeared in eleven movies, and seven television series and specials. Nievera's film credits include dramas, romance, science fiction, comedy and action.

He appeared with Hawaii's Society of Seven and Lani Misalucha at the Flamingo Las Vegas from February 13 through April 13, 2008. He performed a pre-Valentine/post-birthday concert with Pops Fernandez titled "Missing You" on February 6, 2009, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. He co-hosts the weekly music show called ASAP on ABS-CBN.

In July 2010, Nievera's album, As Always was released. In May 2011, his album, Himig Ng Damdamin was launched and contains all of his covers. In March 2012, he was announced as one of the four celebrity judges of The X Factor Philippines, which aired on ABS-CBN by the 2nd quarter of 2012.[12] In May 2012, Martin's new album was launched.

In 2018, Martin won as the MYX Magna Award in the recent MYX Music Awards 2018, for contributing his achievements in music as a singer, performer and also being a talk show host and as a funny comedian.

Discography

Filmography

Television

Movies

  • 1986 Always and Forever
  • 1986 Si Mister at Si Misis (Mister and Misis)
  • 1986 Payaso (Clown)
  • 1987 Shoot That Ball
  • 1987 Stupid Cupid
  • 1988 Maria Went to Town
  • 1988 Sa Puso Ko Hahalik Ang Mundo (The World Shall Kiss My Heart)
  • 1989 Magic To Love - Zerox
  • 1997 Adarna: The Mythical Bird - voice
  • 1998 Alyas Boy Tigas: Ang Probinsyanong Wais - James Bond
  • 2004 Masikip sa Dibdib (Tight to the Chest)
  • 2006 Wrinkles

Awards and honors

Year Award-Giving Body Category Work Result
2008 GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards Male Concert Performer of the Year[13][14] Won
2009 Male Recording Artist of the Year[15] Milestone Won
2010 Male Concert Performer of the Year[16] Won
  • Winner, MYX Magna Award 2018, 12th MYX Music Awards 2018.

References

  1. ↑ "ASAP XV's 24K Gold and 6th Platinum Circle Awards (2010) Winners: Sarah Geronimo, Jovit Baldivino, Christian Bautista & more". My Kiru. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Lu, Monet (May 27, 2017). "Martin Nievera: The man who would be 'king'". Asian Journal. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Martin Nievera, Cristine Reyes celebrate birthdays". ABS-CBN News. February 5, 2010. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  4. 1 2 Lo, Ricky (October 14, 2001). "The sad and happy ballads of Bert Nievera". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  5. ↑ Ramirez, Joanne Rae M. (December 11, 2008). "Classmates". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Magandang Buhay: Martin Nievera talks about his childhood". ABS-CBN. August 19, 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2018 – via YouTube.
  7. ↑ "Interview: Philippines Superstar Martin Nievera". Hawaii News Now. May 13, 2016. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Before they were stars: 7 celebs who worked in restaurants". ABS-CBN News. July 7, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Gonzales, Rommel (February 2, 2016). "Martin Nievera recounts how he became back-up singer for Barry Manilow (FUNNY STORY!)". Philippine Entertainment Portal. GMA Network. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  10. ↑ Abunda, Boy (January 31, 2002). "The songs in Martin Nievera's life". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 10, 2018 – via Newsflash.org.
  11. ↑ Lo, Ricky (June 9, 2011). "Martin: The soundtrack of his life". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Martin Nievera wants to audition for X-Factor". Viva.com.ph. 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2012-04-10.
  13. ↑ "The 38th Box-Office Entertainment Awards (Part 1)". Pep.ph. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
  14. ↑ "The 38th Box-Office Entertainment Awards (Part 2)". Pep.ph. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
  15. ↑ "40th Box Office Entertainment Awards given out". Pep.ph. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
  16. ↑ "ABS-CBN big winner at GMMSF Entertainment Awards". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
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