James Ingram definitely coming

The producer of James Ingram’s Feb. 14 concert with Patti Austin entitled Heart to Heart, to be mounted at the CCP Open Grounds (beside PICC), is crying "Foul!" because some detractors and/or competitors have been spreading the word that Ingram isn’t coming (scared stiff by the Asian bird flu like Andy Williams who backed out of his Singapore concert because of it?).

"Ingram is definitely coming," said Little Asia owner-manager Charlemagne Lim, speaking for the producer who’s his bosom buddy. "In fact, he and Patti are flying here early next week."

Patti has performed here before and so has Ingram who, in a "live" performance, sounds as mellow as he does on the CD. I watched his concert here a few years ago and it was so good, I wanted to press an imaginary "rewind" button and replay his repertoire right then and there.

So what’s your favorite Ingram song?

Yes, of course, Just Once which also happens to be Ingram’s own favorite.

In phone-patch with deejays Chico and Delamar last week, Ingram said why.

"It has to be Just Once because it was my connection to Quincy Jones. I remember singing that song as a demo for $50. Also, I got to meet Just Once composer Barry Mann who is one of the greatest songwriters in the world.

"When the people making the demo sent it in, they got that to Quincy saying, ‘Hey, we heard you’re cutting a record, what do you think about this?’ Quincy heard the record and he loved it, asking, ‘Who is this singer?’ And they said, ‘This demo singer called James Ingram.’ And so he called me up and my wife was saying, ‘Quincy Jones on the phone, wake up!’ I thought she was just joking. And so my whole life has changed since then."

Ingram will be singing Just Once and his other hits – and new songs as well – during his and Patti’s concert.

Asked by Chico what advice he would give a (new) singer, Ingram said, "I would give him the same kind of advice that my father gave me, which is faith in God and confidence in myself...and then nothing could stop you."

(Note: Tickets to Heart to Heart are priced P1,932 and P1,305 for reserved seats, and P783 and P366 for regular seats, inclusive of Ticketnet’s 4.4 percent service charge. For inquiries, call Ticketnet at 911-5555 or Icon Productions at 373-5734.)

Angelica Is Fave Teen Endorser

Angelica Panganiban, who did a poignant portrayal as Julie Vega last year on Maalaala Mo Kaya, is a favorite endorser for teen products, such as the Teen Spirit line of clothing and Oseur’ Cosmetics (which is presenting Angelica at a presscon tonight).

Turning 18 on Nov. 4, Angelica can’t devote full time to showbiz because she’s determined to finish a course in Masscom (to major in Advertising later) at Thames (in Eastwood City, same school which Joyce Jimenez goes to). Angelica is at her classes whole day Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and can attend to tapings for Berks (her regular show on ABS-CBN) and other showbiz commitments on weekends.

An only child brought up by her mom (a single parent), Angelica plays Nicole in Berks, an independent-minded girl who acts as "bridge" when there’s a gap between her barkada.

"I’m very much like Nicole," said Angelica. "Very independent."

The advantage of being an only child, according to Angelica, is that she has her mother’s attention and affection all to herself. The disadvantage? "Siempre, wala kang kalaro as a kid."

Angelica started in showbiz at age seven when she joined as model for Little Miss SM which was her jumping board to a guest stint in the ABC 5 drama series Love Notes. Then, she played the daughter of Edu Manzano and Maricel Soriano in Star Cinema’s Separada, with Patrick Garcia as her brother. Last year, she did Tanging Ina (topbilled by Ai-Ai delas Alas) and Dayo (as the little sister of topbiller Ronnie Ricketts).

She finished elementary at St. Vincent’s School (Sikatuna) and high school also in the same school (West Avenue branch).

Her dream is to play a retardate.

What has showbiz done to her?

"I used to be very shy," said Angelica who’s as mahinhin as makahiya. "Now, I’ve gone out of my cocoon." Geryk Also In Politics

Add Geryk Genaskey, husband of Isabel Granada, to the growing list of showbiz people jumping into the political bandwagon. A B.S. Electronics and Communications Engineering graduate from La Salle, Geryk is running for Councilor in Angeles City. He’s a grandson of singer Rudy Genaskey.

If elected, said Geryk, he’ll spearhead a "computer literacy" program among his fellow Angelenos and sports/education projects for the youth.

Once estranged from his mother-in-law, popularly known in showbiz as Mommy Guwapa, Geryk is now okay with Isabel’s mom and relatives. In fact, they’re all-out for his candidacy and are inviting him and Isabel to pay them a visit in Spain. Geryk and Isabel have a child.

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