JED MADELA LIVE In Chicago: `All Requests’ on July 24!

By: Jovie Calma

 

It’s summer in Chicago, and the city is crammed again with the best festivals, concerts, beach days, baseball, and more outdoor things to do during this most-awaited season! On Sunday, July 24, Jed Madela, Philippines’ pop icon and the first Filipino to win the World Championship of the Performing Arts (WCOPA) will stage a concert.

“All Requests” will be held at the Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Avenue, at 7:30 pm. It is one concert that shouldn’t be missed. After successful series of “All Requests” in Manila and abroad, Jed will finally own the stage in Chicago and will bring this unique concept of a concert. Jed will sing all the requested songs received from social interactive media, such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and perform them live at the concert. Those who are in attendance will also have the opportunity to send in their requests through the concert’s most popular segment called, “The Fishbowl Segment” and Jed will attempt to sing all of them on the spot. No request refused, this concert is going to be fun!

Jed Madela, often referred as “The Voice” and “The Singer’s Singer” by the media, is one of the best male singers the Philippines has ever produced. Jed made waves during the 2005 World Championships of the Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Hollywood, California when he single-handedly won all major industry awards, 6 gold medals for all 6 categories he joined, the Champion Vocalist World Star Trophy, and the most-coveted and ultimate title, “Grand Champion Performer of the World,” the first Filipino to win the title. He bested over 3,000 contestants from 52 countries to win the grand prize. WCOPA is the first and only international series of competitions that seek to find and crown the best aspiring performing artists on earth. The talent search is an “Olympics-style” competition in which singers compete only against other singers, dance groups compete only against other dance groups, and so on.

Jed has released 8 albums to date. Debut album “I’ll Be Around” includes the radio smash “Let Me Love You (From The Bottom Of My Heart).” His second album “Songs Rediscovered” was certified double platinum, while his third album “Only Human” went gold. He also released a Christmas CD “The Voice Of Christmas.” World Champion Jed Madela released “Songs Rediscovered 2: The Ultimate OPM Playlist”, the perfect follow- up to the Double Platinum-certified “Songs Rediscovered.” The CD is a distinguished collection of timeless OPM songs from the ’80s and ’90s, sung to perfection by a voice that is once heard, never forgotten. “The Classics Album” & “Breathe Again” followed. Jed released “All Original” under Star Records, which was a 10-track album, which comprises of fresh original tracks, one of which was written by Jed himself.

In 2003, the Philippines sent Jed Madela as the official male representative to compete for the Voice of Asia, in which he ranked the 1st place consistently for three days and was given the “People’s Choice Award,” “Sponsor’s Choice” and the “Best Voice of Asia Male Singer of the Year in 2003.” Jed received the 2013 Achievement Award and Performing Arts Hall of Fame given by WCOPA.

He also proudly wears several major awards from the Philippines on his belt. In Aliw Awards (Philippines’ equivalent to People’s Choice), he won the Hall of Fame in 2008, Best Major Concert (Male) in 2011 and 2012. 2014 was a best year for Jed when he won Best Major Concert, Best Performance in a Concert (Male) and Entertainer of the year at the Aliw Awards.

He also won Best Performance by a Duet and Best Christmas in 2008 at the Awit Awards (Philippines’ equivalent to Grammy Awards). Jed Madela also won several awards from Star Awards. He won the Male Pop Artist of the Year in 2009, Male Recording Artist in three consecutive years, 2011-2013. Jed is currently enjoying sell-out concerts in the Philippines and around the world.

At this concert, Chicago will welcome a beautiful star, Sychar Yebra, as the featured artist. Born and raised in Trina, San Miguel, Surigao Del Sur, she started singing at a young age through karaoke. Her family migrated to the United States when she was 12, for a better opportunity in life. Sychar joined a Christian Group that traveled around the US to sing, to continue her passion and love for singing.

Gerry Rebello, wellknown director and producer of Gerellie Productions, discovered Sychar in one of her local performances. He saw the brilliance in Sychar and helped her expose to several concerts and events in the past. Sychar’s stint at “All Requests” will be her first break as a solo artist.

Let’s troop to the Copernicus Center and support these phenomenal artists from the Philippines and Chicago! This MUST-SEE Concert is a presentation of Magical Entertainment and Winfield International, in cooperation with Gerellie Production, LLC.

On a personal note, my special birthday wishes to Tita Fely Velez (July 1), Nina Mae Vidal (July 9), Bettina Abrienne Zamora (July 9), Erico John Sarreal (July 19), Jess Christopher Campo (July 23) and Josie De Leon (July 23).

I would like to take this opportunity to invite everyone as we salute and recognize our distinguished awardees for the 22nd Annual Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 29, 2016 to be held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Hotel, 9300 Bryn Mawr Avenue Rosemont, IL. 60018. For reservation and more information, please call: 773-866-0811.

To all Via Times Readers and CPRTV viewers, thank you for your continued support. Until the next issue of Wassup?! Jovie Calma LIVE! Please visit www.viatimes.com (or net) and be our Facebook Fan! God Bless Us All!

Catch Jed Madela, Philippines’ Pop Icon and first Filipino to win the WCOPAWorld Championship of Performing Arts on July 24 at the Copernicus Center for his “All Requests” Concert

Jovie Calma and her aunt, Fely Velez celebrating the latter’s first birthday in America!

Jovie Calma and her family celebrating the 4th of July at the US Naval Base. ; (Below) VT/CPRTV’s Jovie Calma had an up, close and personal interviews with Sychar Yebra, featured artist for the “All Requests” Concert and Gerry Rebello, director and producer from Gerellie Productions.