Martin Nievera

Martin Ramon Razon Nievera (born February 5, 1962, in Manila, Philippines) is a singer, songwriter, and actor best known as "Philippine's Concert King". He is one of the main hosts of musical variety show ASAP in ABS-CBN Nievera was born on February 5, 1962, in Manila, Philippines with twin sister, Victoria, to Bert Nievera and Conchita Razon. Nievera spent most of his childhood in Hawaii with his father as his father sang for the group Society of Seven. The Nievera family also took up residence in the Bay Area in California for a short time in the late '70s. Martin attended high school in Walnut Creek, California. Inspired by his father's talent and success, Nievera returned to the Philippines in 1982 to begin his own singing career and by June 1982 he released his first LP, Martin...Take One, with the album reaching platinum in just five months.[citation needed] Nievera began co-hosting the TV variety show Penthouse Live! with Pops Fernandez, the Philippines' "Concert Queen," who would later become his wife. Nievera's second LP, 1984's The Best Gift, also reached platinum. In 1987, Penthouse Live! was changed to Martin and Pops Twogether, in celebration of their marriage. After his marriage to Fernandez, with whom he has two sons, Ram and Robin, failed in 1998, he wrote and recorded music for the sole purpose of winning her back, which he called Forever. Even though he did not succeed, the music ended up in the hands of the public and rose to become a best-selling music collection. The two sequels, Forever Forever and Return to Forever are also about the split. Both of these albums hit platinum sales as well. In 2001, he plagiarized "We Just Don't Know How To Say Goodbye" by Diane Warren and included it as "To Say Goodbye" in his "My Souvenirs" album compilation, which was later pulled out of the market for copyright violation lawsuit.[1] As an actor, Nievera has an extensive acting career and has appeared or starred in eleven movies and seven television series and specials. Nievera's film credits include dramas, romance, science fiction, comedy and action. Nievera is temporarily based in Las Vegas, Nevada with Katrina Ojeda with whom he has a son named Santino (born October 7, 2006). He had his 25th anniversary concert on September 14 and 15, 2007 at the Captain's Bar of the Mandarin Hotel in Makati. 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 Araneta Coliseum. Martin is also currently co-hosting the weekly music show called ASAP' 09. On May 2, 2009, Nievera was chosen to sing the Philippine national anthem during the boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton. Although he was criticized by the National Historical Institute because of his peculiar style in performing the anthem, many of those who watched the event, including Pacquiao, defended him. In August 2009, Martin Nievera has a concert together with Gary Valenciano for the first time in "As 1". They also both have a new album in one collaboration album. On September 2009, Nievera suffered Dehydration after his concert on September 19, and his best friend, Gary Valenciano worried about his buddy's condition. The following day, Martin was discharged from the Hospital.