Pilita Corrales

Pilar Garrido Corrales(born August 22, 1939)is a Filipino pop singer, songwriter, actress, comedian and television presenter. She is best-known for her distinctive backbendwhen singing and is popularly referred to as the "Asia's Queen of Songs" for her vocal style and longevity.
Hailed as the "Greatest singer in the Philippines"by the media and critics, Corrales has already recorded 135 albums throughout her six-decade career.Her recordings have mainly been in English and Filipino, while on occasion she records songs in Spanish and Cebuano.Her success would later extend to film and television, where her showAn Evening with Pilitais considered as one of the standardsinPhilippine broadcastinghistory.She is a recipient of the prestigious 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by thePhilippine Association of the Record Industry(PARI) for introducing Filipino musical artistry to a global audience.
Lauded for her sweet voice and iconic singing style,Corrales was one of the first superstars in Philippines and became one of the first female artists to reach the top of the Australian pop charts.In 1963, her single "A Million Thanks to You" became one of the few songs by local artists to reach number one on the Philippine chart in the 1960s.She was also the first Filipino to win an international music festival at the firstTokyo Music Festivalin 1972.She is recognized as one of the 'Great Dames ofVictorian Radio and Television' and has a street named after her inMelbourne, Australia.She was also honored with an honorary Doctorate in Music degree by theUniversity of Visayasfor her contribution to the Philippine music industry.In a career spanning over six decades, Corrales has released a string of signature hits including "Kapantay ay Langit" and "A Million Thanks to You", which have since become standards.
Pilar Garrido Corrales was born on August 22, 1939, at Lahug, Cebu City, to José Corrales and María Garrido.
Her cousin, Annie Corrales, wasMiss Philippinesin 1957 and married the businessmanEddie Woolbright.After finishing her studies atColegio de la Inmaculada Concepciónin Cebu, she went to afinishing school(charm school) in Spain at the Colegio Mayor de Padre Poveda.
In 1957, Corrales began her recording career after arriving in Australia for a brief period. She became a star of theVictoriaTelevision circuit and her first hit, "Come Closer to Me", became part of a collection on which she is billed as one of the "Grand Dames of Victorian Radio and Television". She also recorded at least three LPs in the late 1950s and early 1960s:Pilita with Arthur Young: Pilita Tells the Story of Love,I'll Take RomanceandThis Is PilitaunderAstor Records. Being one of the pioneers of Australia's early television years, a street was named after her in Victoria. TheAustralian Broadcasting Corporation(ABC) featured Corrales and several pioneering female artists in Australia in the 2nd episode of the highly acclaimed TV special,Love is in the Air. Corrales returned toManilain 1963 to pursue a career in the Philippine music industry. Her Philippine career began when she hosted a radio programLa TavernaoverDZPIwhere she sang Spanish songs and played the guitar. She performed regularly in stage shows at theManila Grand Opera House. She also appeared in movies, most of them musicals. Her film debut was a lead role in the 1968 filmMiss Wawawand was followed by 11 films for the next two years. Corrales later recorded songs in Spanish in the early 1960s as well as songs in English,TagalogandCebuanoduring the 1970s underVicor Music Corporation.
Corrales frequently performed forSeeing Stars with Joe Quirinoon IBC-Channel 13 after the martial law years where she demonstrated her range as a gifted performer of Spanish, English,CebuanoandTagalogmusic. Aquarius Record Philippines produced a compilation of Pilita's Spanish songs on CDs likeNoche de Ronda,Vaya Con Dios. Her signature songA Million Thanks to YoubyAlice Doria-Gamillawas translated into seven languages. She eventually recorded songs composed by Filipino composers like Danny Holmsen,George Canseco, Willy Cruz,Ryan Cayabyaband several others. UnderVicorRecords, Corrales interpreted numerous Filipino classics and introduced them to younger audiences. Corrales first met Canseco inYour Evening with Pilita(aired on pre-Martial LawABS-CBN) as a guest in the composers' portion of the show". For the show Canseco brought with himYou're All I Love.Canseco later wrote Filipino lyrics for the song, which becameKapantay ay Langit, the first song Canseco sold to a record label in 1966. The song was first recorded by Amapola akaMaria Cabasefor the movie theme ofKapantay ay LangitstarringMarlene DaudenandEddie Rodríguez. The song won forGeorge Cansecoand Amapola the Manila Film Festival award for best song of the year. The song did not fare well commercially, because Amapola had left (for her U.S. concert tours) and the song was not promoted properly, according to Canseco during an interview with thePhilippine Daily Inquirer. But when Corrales revived the song, it turned into a classic and defied trends and time. "The song," Corrales said, "was included in my albumPhilippine Love Songs Vol. 1, which was released in the early 1970s."
Through the personal invitation ofSammy Davis Jr., Corrales became the first Filipino to sing atCaesars Palace. In her concert at Caesars Palace,Las Vegasduring the late 1970s, Corrales sang Spanish, English,Cebuano, andTagalogsongs, all conducted and arranged byRyan Cayabyab. After receiving a 1965 Philippine Citizen's Award for TV as Best TV Female Performer, Corrales went on to receiveCecil,Aliw,TinigandAwitand several other awards for her performances and lifetime achievement. In 1990, she received a Merit Award from theFAMASAwards. In 1991, she was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) for bringing Filipino musical artistry to an international audience. She was the first Filipino to win at an international music festival by bagging the Best Performer Award during the 1stTokyo Music Festival(1972) where she bested numerous international artists, includingOlivia Newton-John. She operates a restaurant bar inGreenhillsnamed Pilita's. In 2006, Corrales was selected byAssociated Broadcasting Company(ABC Channel 5, now TV5, formerly The 5 Network) andFremantleMediato be one of the celebrity judges for the first-ever nationwide search for thePhilippine Idoltogether with composer Ryan Cayabyab and rapperFrancis Magalona. She was a judge in the firstAsian Idolheld in Indonesia, representingPhilippine Idol.
Corrales has two children,Jackielou Blancoand Ramon Christopher Gutierrez. Her children are also well-known celebrities in thePhilippine film industry. Corrales was married in 1963 to the Spanish executive businessmanGonzalo Blancoand separated while her daughter was still a child. Gonzalo died in 1981.
Corrales gave birth to her second child, Ramón Christopher Gutierrez, in 1971, known to be the father ofJanine Gutierrez. Ramón Christopher's father is Filipino actorEddie Gutierrez. Corrales also has an adopted son, VJ. On May 22, 2001, Corrales married Paraguayan/Australian businessman Carlos López.