MARTIN NIEVERA: I'M STILL NOT OUT OF THE GAME

MARTIN NIEVERA’S “CONCERT King” title started 42 years ago when an entertainment editor refused to label him as such.

- LEAH C SALTERIO

“He was calling me ‘Concert King’ kuno,” Martin shared. “But he meant it sarcastically because he didn’t want to really call me that. Somehow, the title stuck.”

Although Martin ever got used to the “Concert King” title because he never believed it. “Because if you believed you’re king, I don’t think we would be having this conversation and you wouldn’t like me too much,” Martin admitted.

“Maybe the people believed because I was the fi rst guinea pig of the big concert venues. Remember ‘Martin’s Rage’ at the Ultra Football Field with 55,000 people? That was huge. The construction of the Ultra basketball court was also rushed for my fi rst concert, ‘On the Right Track’.”

Martin’s Araneta Coliseum concert on Sept. 27, “The King 4Ever,” was Ogie Alcasid’s idea.

“Ogie told me, I think it’s about time I have a major concert in a big venue,” Martin said. “He and Cacai (Velasquez) came together.” They were the ones who masterminded Araneta.

“I have my Theatre at Solaire and I’m happy there,” Martin allowed. “I didn’t think I have to go back in a big venue. There was a time all you need was my name and people were there. Let’s see if all of them are still alive.

“The kids today in ‘ASAP Natin ‘To,’ I always tell them, ‘Don’t brag about your fans. Because my fans made your fans.”

Not too long ago, when Martin, Ogie and Regine Velasquez were doing brisk walking with Martin in Los Angeles, where “ASAP Natin ‘To” happened, Martin asked Ogie why the latter decided to produce a concert in a big venue for him.

Ogie simply answered, “Gary was not available” and laughed.