Raymond Lauchengco stages 60th birthday concert

TO celebrate turning 60, Raymond Lauchengco is showing his gratitude to all those who have supported him throughout the years with a grand birthday concert, a heartfelt new song, and a book featuring his stories and artworks.

- Brontë H. Lacsamana

As a 1980s matinee idol best known for the coming-of-age film Bagets who was also an acclaimed singer with hits like “I Need You Back,” “Farewell,” and “So It’s You,” he has never rested on his laurels. In the years since, he has cultivated a creative journey in music and art.

For Mr. Lauchengco, this milestone marks the perfect time to look back at a lifetime of beloved hits and meaningful memories. His concert, Everybody Loves Raymond, which takes its name from his favorite 1990s sitcom (the lead of which he happened to share a name with), takes place on Nov. 28 at The Theatre at Solaire in Parañaque.

"Last year, for my 40th anniversary in show business, I went back to the '80s. This year, the scope will be wider because it starts even before that, from the time I was a choir boy at 11 years old up to now," Mr. Lauchengco told BusinessWorld in an interview.

"The repertoire is going to cover more genres, from the choir to Broadway, because I started out acting on stage," he added. (He had made his stage debut at the age of 12 in Repertory Philippines’ staging of The King and I.) "After that, I dreamt of becoming a balladeer like Barry Manilow."

Sharing the Solaire stage with him are three performers he deeply admires: Sharon Cuneta, Ice Seguerra, and Mitch Valdes, among other surprise guests. With them, he hopes to showcase the wide variety of music that has shaped his life and career over decades.

"Without Sharon Cuneta, there would be no Raymond Lauchengco," he said. "She was supposed to be at my show last year, but couldn't make it, so it means the world to me that her schedule aligned this year!"