PHNO-SB: PORTRAIT OF KUH LEDESMA AS A PAINTER

PORTRAIT OF KUH LEDESMA AS A
PAINTER

[PHOTO -Singer Kuh
Ledesma tries her hand at creating abstract artworks]
MANILA, AUGUST 30, 2012 (PHILSTAR) Kuh Ledesma takes a new step
forward in her creative journey with her debut exhibit "Unexpected," which opens
on Sept. 13 at Whitespace Gallery.
Kuh discovered her love for painting as a young girl.
But when she took up singing, the painting was pushed aside.
Recently, she took it up again, taking to acrylic and canvas with the passion
that has always been a trademark of her creative endeavors.
Artwork by Kuh


True to the exhibit's title, therefore, Kuh the visual
artist delivers something quite unexpected: paintings done with strong, bold
colors that somehow manage to convey a sense and spirit that calms the soul.

Even with her use of black and white, she evokes figures that are more than
just pleasing to the eye.
Being in the presence of her works seems therapeutic, and one can now
visually see the joy that exudes from Ledesma because each line and stroke
refreshes — and uplifts — the viewer.
There will be a preview on Sept. 12 at Whitespace Gallery is at 2314 Chino
Roces Avenue Extension (formerly Pasong Tamo Extension) Brgy. Magallanes, Makati
City.
FROM WIKIPEDIA
Kuh Ledesma
Kuh Ledesma (born March 16, 1955) is a popular Filipino pop and jazz singer.

She is known in the Philippines as the "Pop Diva". Kuh Ledesma has been
performing for 35 years in the music industry which encompasses more than 1,000
concerts all over the world, numerous awards in the Philippines, and 20 albums
in the Philippine recording industry.
She was the first Filipino singer to become a recipient of the Salem Music
Awards in London in March 1989.
In 1997 she released her international debut album Precious in collaboration
with the best American and Filipino songwriters, arrangers and musicians.

[PHOTO -Ledesma singing one on the one of her Concert
Tours]
Kuh Ledesma was born Maria Socorro Ledesma on March 16, 1955 in Manila,
Philippines with a Lebanese lineage.
Ledesma was married to Luisito "Louie" Gonzalez (President Elpidio Quirino's
grandson).

Gonzalez's mother Vicky Quirino, daughter of the former
President, married shipping magnate Francisco Delgado after the death of his
first wife.

Ledesma's former husband Gonzalez voluntarily surrendered to
the NBI on July 16, 2008, after an arrest warrant for murder and physical
injuries was issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32 Judge Thelma Medina
amid the Court of Appeals' review of the case.

Gonzalez was held for the
killing of his step brother Federico Delgado on March 10, 2007, who was found
dead with multiple stab wounds.

Ledesma has a daughter named Isabella Gonzalez, (photo) who is
also a recording artist.
Ledesma is a born-again Christian.
Ledesma's career in music began when she joined the Lastiko band (formerly
known as Ensalada band) in Bacolod while she was still a Nursing student at
Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod. Ledesma and her bandmates Toto Gentica and Jet
Montelibano later went to Manila to form the Music & Magic band which became
pivotal for her career. She later received the lead role in the pop ballet Rama
Hari by Alice Reyes. She eventually went solo with Dito Ba?, Ledesma's first hit
song.[1]
CAREER
1980s
In the 1980s, Ledesma has performed during solo concerts at the Cultural
Center of the Philippines (CCP), the Araneta Coliseum, PICC and the Philippine
Folk Arts Theater.
In 1982, Ledesma launched an all-Filipino concert, Ako ay Pilipino (I am a
Filipino) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines that featured a repertoire
of ethnic sounds, classic kundimans and beautiful pop songs, tapping into the
rich node of indigenous art and contemporary pop music to produce alternative
approaches to songs.
Her show eventually became a television special followed by two albums. This
was immediately followed by another production at the CCP, Inspired Madness in
1983, which was created in collaboration with Philippine film director Peque
Gallaga and musical director Ryan Cayabyab.
During the political ambience of the 1980s, Ledesma paid tribute to Ninoy
Aquino at the end of one of her shows at the CCP by singing her a cappella
rendition of Impossible Dream and You'll Never Walk Alone (Hindi Ka Nagiisa).

From 1984 to 1986, Ledesma joined the Apo Hiking Society in Ang Pinoy Nga
Naman (1, 2, and 3) at the Folk Arts Theater.
In June 3, 1988, Kuh performed in the Musical - KUH of the Year at the
prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York.
In March 1989, Kuh Ledesma was chosen as the first Philippine singer to be
the recipient of the Salem Music Awards after competing against other top
singers from Asia at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
1990s
In the 1990s, Ledesma had a series of concerts with foreign artists
Noel Pointer, Jack Jones, Kenny Rankin, The Platters and Michel Legrand followed
by other concerts with popular Philippine song artists such as Regine Velasquez
(U.S. tour, 1999), Pops Fernandez and Jaya (Power of Two, 1999).
After Ledesma's four-night concert with the jazz violinist, Noel Pointer, she
released the album, The Voice, The Violin. Ledesma was also one of the judges in
the coronation night of the Miss Universe 1991.
In February 1994, Ledesma had the Two of Hearts concert with balladeer Jack
Jones. During 1995's Valentine's season, she performed with Kenny Rankin.
Ledesma started the new millennium in a Valentine show with The Platters. In
2002, Ledesma had Valentine presentation with Michel Legrand.
Ledesma has her own production company Headline Concepts and built concert
venues such as the Music Museum (a combined theater-restaurant built in 1988 at
Greenhills, Manila) and the Republic of Malate.
The Republic of Malate is a facility located along Mabini Street in Manila,
which houses a restaurant, a bar, a watering hole, a game room, a tobacco area a
dance club and a theater. However, The Republic of Malate was destroyed by a
fire in November 2001. Ledesma has plans of rebuilding the facility.
Kuh Ledesma had a regular monthly television special called Akuhstic Café
which is a musical travelogue that presented viewers the urban night life of
Metro Manila by visiting clubs, lounges and concerts. Akuhstic Café was a grand
finalist in the Asian Television Awards in Singapore for best musical program.

In April 1997, Ledesma became the featured artist of the ''Muling Aawit ang
Pasig'', a benefit concert of former Philippine First Lady Ming Ramos for the
restoration of the Pasig River.
In 1998, the centennial year of Philippine Independence, after producing a
Valentine concert at Fort Santiago, Manila, Ledesma was commissioned by the
National Centennial Commission to stage a three-night centennial concert of the
year, Lahi…Kami ang Pilipino which was held the Expo Center at the former Clark
Airforce Base.
2000s
Ledesma also owns Bravo Records, a music recording studio. Ledesma is known
for building careers of new talented singers.
Ledesma celebrated her 25th year in the music industry by holding a series of
shows at the Captain's Bar of the Mandarin Oriental Manila (Kuh Ledesma
Presents).
Ledesma has a goal of publishing a book of photographs to chronicle her
career.
Kuh Ledesma is also a member of the Artista Para Sa Pagbabago (Artists for
Change), an organization of artists, environmentalists and businessmen.
She was also the president of the Restaurant Owners Association of
Malate.
During the 2001 Philippine national elections, Ledesma was chosen by the
PINATUBO (Pinag-isang Lakas Tungo sa Pagbabago) Party as a first nominee for
congress. The PINATUBO Party has the goal of alleviating poverty in the
Philippines through grass-roots development.
Apart from performing and producing concerts and special shows, Ledesma also
travels widely in the Philippines and abroad to deliver values formation
lectures, and inspirational and motivational talks.

Video Description:
WAKAS composed by the late great Filipino composer George Canseco for pop diva
KUH LEDESMA . This is one of the rare concerts of Kuh where she sings this
beautiful song from her debut album KUH with Jay Cayuca on violin Duration:
0:02:57 Uploaded By: sokuhro]
International performances
In March 1990, Ledesma appeared as a guest performer in a Gilbert Becaud's
television show in Paris where she sang Bulaklak (The Flower) in three languages
(Filipino, English and French). In July 1990, she was the Philippine's
representative-performer at the international television special, Earth 90 in
Tokyo, Japan.
Earth 90 was a show that celebrated the importance of the environment and was
aired simultaneously around 80 countries. Ledesma was then on stage with artists
such as Olivia Newton-John and John Denver. On the same year, Ledesma also
joined the NHK-KAYO parade in Tokyo.
In 1991, Ledesma accepted the invitation to become a member of the panel of
judges during the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in Las Vegas, U.S.A.
In 1982, Ledesma was chosen by international director Peter Weir to play the
role of Tiger Lily in the film, The Year of Living Dangerously, to work with
actors Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver.
After becoming a model for Lux soap in the Philippines from 1984 to 1990,
Ledesma also appeared in a series of print ads and television commercials for
Lux in Singapore from 1988 to 1989, and in Indonesia in 1992.
In 2002, Kuh teamed up with illustrious composer Michel Legrand in a back to
back concert at the Philippine International Convention Center. Years prior to
that she teamed up with International artists Noel Pointer,Jack Jones, Kenny
Rankin.
In 2009, she went on a tour called A Love Affair, with her daughter Isabella
to New Zealand where she had a series of concerts in Aukland, Wellington,
Christchurch, and Hamilton.
Kuh is also famous for putting together top artists in one concert. Her
recent Divas 4 Divas Concert Tour with Regine Velasquez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, and
Pops Fernandez is a milestone in Philippine Entertainment.
In December 2011, Kuh, released her first Gospel album entitled Fragrance of
Worship.





Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi

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