The balladeer, the impersonator — onstage again

Willie said, “I’m looking forward to the show. Life must go on — parang showbiz lang yan, the show must go on.”

Nonoy Zuñiga and Willie Nepomuceno’s friendship is one that is deeply rooted in time.

From their humble beginnings to their legendary performances on stage, this tandem has gone through so many experiences in the entertainment industry, which helped them be the icons they are today.

Nepomuceno is known for his impersonations of public figures, perfecting the art of political satire since the ‘60s.

Zuniga thinks he is an ace impressionist and a professional entertainer in every way. “Willie Nep is very professional in his ways and makes you feel at home performing with him. His impressions of Presidents Marcos, Ramos and Erap (Estrada) are inimitable,” he said.

Nepomuceno, for his singular talent, became a formidable name in the field of entertainment, later earning the monicker ‘the Man with Many Faces and Voices.’ Now, he is planning a few impressions for the audience after being away from the spotlight for two years.

“I had a bad streak of sickness actually, I had a brain stroke in the cerebellum,” admitted Willie. “I was in bed for one and a half to two years. It was really a pain. They call it mild, but I know it’s much more than that. Kulang na lang talaga sumigaw ako and say goodbye.”

Luckily he was able to recover and is now undergoing constant therapy.

“Pero ngayon what’s bothering me ay yung eyesight ko. I now have a constant blurry vision and from time to time nahihilo ako. Ngayon medyo nakakatayo na,” he added.

During a press conference earlier this week, Nepomuceno recalled the time he got into recording. It was when the Philippines was recognized as the karaoke country of the world, when songs of tenor singers took over radios, long before the birth of Spotify or iTunes.

“Isa lang yung nirecord ko, hanggang ngayon tumutugtog pa. Mula cassette naging CD, laser and naging plaka pa. Ngayon nakaikot na siya sa buong mundo. Nauso yung karaoke noon, marami ng tenor like Frank Sinatra,” he said.

Nepomuceno is looking forward to doing “Music and Laughter,” a special show he’s headlining with Nonoy Zuniga on July 27 at the Theatre at Solaire.

Willie said, “I’m looking forward to the show. Life must go on — parang showbiz lang yan, the show must go on.”

The upcoming special show marks the first time Nepomuceno and Zuniga will headline a concert together in Manila. Both are excited and somehow nervous about performing back-to-back.

Willie mentioned, “I was actually about to retire, but for so many years, para akong talent na laging nasa wings, waiting for a chance to be discovered. But ang tagal tagal ko na sa showbiz. Parang ayaw ko na, but yung call ng audience na meron pa rin palang naniniwala so tuloy natin.”

Meanwhile, Zuniga welcomes the collaboration with Nepomuceno because he has always been a big fan of his friend.

“Willie is a very good singer, kaya lang mahiyain siya kaya dinadaan niya sa patawa, which is he is very good at. For the show, he is going to sing and play some instruments. Madami din siyang alam na instruments, one-man band itong si Willie,” muses Zuniga.

He is, hands down, one of the foremost Filipino balladeers of all time with a string of unforgettable hits, among them, “Never Ever Say Goodbye,” “Kumusta Ka?” “Doon Lang,” “Love Without Time” and “Fragments of Forever.”

It has been more than five years since he last recorded a song, which, according to him, is his little way of supporting the local music scene. In a duet with Jolianne Salvado, Zuniga released the Visayan Pop song “Pero Atik Ra.”

He tells the press, “Mas dumadami ang mga awitin. New composers are coming out. In fact, we need to encourage some more to write. Madaming magagaling na composers , ang ganda ng areglo nila, but in Visaya nga lang. But if you sing it, ang ganda nung melody.

It’s about time na naisipan din natin to do it in Visayan. It’s a risk, I know, but it’s OPM.

Pilita even did it, singing in Gregorian English, Tagalog, Visayan and even Spanish.”

“Music and Laughter” is not to be missed because it will offer audiences a unique entertainment experience. As Willie Nepomuceno puts it, the show is a magical combination that allows us to dream, think of good times and hope for better tomorrows.