Young talents back up Gary V

MANILA, Philippines - In line with its 25th anniversary, Manila Genesis Entertainment and Management assembles four promising and talented young artists, one seasoned performer, and the country’s Pop Princess as they mark Gary Valenciano’s 29th anniversary in the business in the ongoing smash hit concert series at the Music Museum titled Gary V: On Higher Ground. The series features Gary V at his very best with the support of son Paolo Valenciano who shares directorial chores with his father and four of the newest artists who recently joined the Manila Genesis family, Quest, Kim Jones, Julianne and ’80s OPM rock icon Juan Miguel Salvador of the band Authority.

Paolo recently joined ASAP 2012 as one of the show’s regular singers and is being launched in a new segment this week. Paolo is the frontman of the rock band Salamin and he also had an amazing eight-month gig as lead vocalist of Rivermaya. In On Higher Ground, the rocker is very hands-on behind the scenes as he co-directs the series with Gary V. The concert received a lot of positive reviews and the buzz about it is centered on the “video mapping” technique that they used.

Hip-hop and R&B singer/songwriter Quest, who won Myx’s Best Urban Music Video for 2010 opens the show with cuts from his album titled Revolution and introduces his newest single Sige Lang which will be included in his upcoming full-length studio album. Quest also wrote an introduction for Gary V which is one of the highlights of the series.

Julianne, whose voice is described by Gary’s musical director Mon Faustino as “pure,” opened for two of Gary’s previous concerts: Gary V at 23 in 2006 and Live at 25 in 2008. This year, Julianne is one of the main guests of Gary V where she performs her self-penned single Fly. The song will be included in her upcoming project Ashes To Beauty. Julianne is the only female artist to bag the Best New Female Recording Artist and Best Female Recording Artist of the Year awards in the 2008 Awit Awards because of her hit single Grateful.

Juan Miguel was the frontman of the legendary ’80s rock band Rage and is the musical director of the band Authority which represented the Philippines in the prestigious 2008 Battle of the Bands competition in London. Juan Miguel is the most seasoned of all of Gary’s guest artists in On Higher Ground and shows his expertise and mastery of his craft as a musician in every number as lead keyboardist of the series.

Sarah Geronimo and event-TV host (etc’s lifestyle show Etcetera) Kim Jones also have special participations in the show.

Gary V: On Higher Ground has two more shows tonight and tomorrow at the Music Museum. For tickets, call Ticketworld at 891-9999, Music Museum (721-6726 and 721-0635); Manila Genesis (706-2170 to 71); and 0908-8871397.

Beneficiaries of Gary V: On Higher Ground are Unicef and Shining Light Foundation.