After 25 years of being in the limelight and working his way up to his current status as one of the country’s most important and influential male artists, Gary Valenciano is still very much in the news.

This is especially true after his headline-making 25th anniversary concert, Live @ 25, which was staged for two successive nights last November, and which had another sold-out repeat last February 20 at the Araneta Coliseum. It not only broke attendance records, but also made Gary the only major artist to have a three-night concert in recent years.

Live @ 25 was a superbly-staged concert, one of Gary ’s best in terms of production values. It was also a collection of some of the most impressive production numbers in Gary ’s 25-year career. From the opening number to the numbers featuring his children Paolo, Gabriel and Kiana, to the encore featuring his good friend Martin Nievera—the first time the two musical titans performed on the same stage in a Gary V concert in the Philippines, a prelude to their rumored back-to-back show later this year—Live @ 25 was a spectacle, the likes of which had not been seen on the concert stage then or now. The 2-night November concert drew many celebrity-fans like Kuya Germs, Sharon Cuneta and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Sam Milby, KC Concepcion, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, Anthony  Pangilinan & Maricel Laxa, Ryan Eigenmann, Iza Calzado, Christian Bautista, Toni Gonzaga, Paul Soriano, Mark Bautista, Freddie Santos, Donita Rose and husband Eric Villarama, Kuh Ledesma and daughter Isabella, Pinky Webb, Rica Peralejos, Maricris Bermont-Garcia, Ricco & Tinna Ocampo, Rajo Laurel, Tim Yap, Tessa Prieto, Phoemela Barranda, Lani Mercado, Yayo Aguila, Angelu de leon, Louie & Jojo Ocampo, the Penthouse Gang, Tats Faustino, Ely Buendia, Maja Salvador and many more.  During the Repeat Concert last February, the likes of Aga & Charlene Muhlach, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Kuya Germs, Vina Morales, Billy Crawford, Nikki Gil, Iya Villana, Pops Fernandez, Shaina Magdayao, John Pratts, Top Suzara of Freestyle, Girlie Rodis, Shirley Kuan, Arnold Vegafria, Fanny Serrano were seen at the Big Dome.

For those who missed it (or want to see it again) Live @ 25 will be aired on March 15 as the feature of ABS-CBN’s Sunday’s Best, immediately after TV Patrol Linggo. True to his passion and hands-on approach, Gary even digitally edited the special in his home studio. He set aside some performances and schedules to devote his time to  direct the post production of the  TV Special.

Another thing that’s been keeping Gary in the public eye is Tayong Dalawa, ABS-CBN’s top-rating primetime teleserye featuring the trio of Gerald Anderson, Kim Chiu and Jake Cuenca. Gary performed the show’s theme song, which was originally recorded by Rey Valera. Tayong Dalawa is also the carrier single of the new compilation CD from Star Records, OPM Number 1’s and is currently being aired over various radio stations.

Gary’s music—much like the artist himself—has also managed to stay contemporary, thanks to new artists who have given it a fresh twist. In GV 25, the tribute album released through Star Records, there is a new video featuring Jericho Rosales’ version of the Gary V. classic, Di Bale Na Lang, conceptualized by Echo himself and collaborated on by award-winning video director Mark Ocampo. The music video, which features Kristine Hermosa, is now being aired on the MYX Music Channel and is on heavy rotation in different radio stations while it dominates the charts.
Echo, up to this time, is still elated by the fact that he was chosen to take part in the GV 25 project and that he was given such an important song to sing. “I’ve always wanted to record one of his songs. To be chosen to record my own version of Di Bale Na Lang for (the) Chief’s album (Chief is Echo’s pet name for Gary ) is a dream come true for me,” he says.

Artists like Echo will surely have more songs to sing for as long as Gary carries on, inspiring a whole generation of performers as he has done in the last 25 years.

GV 25 Tribute Album consists of 25 of the most respected artists in the music industry, namely Sharon Cuneta, Martin Nievera, South Border, Aiza Seguerra, Rachelle Anne Go, Kyla, Mark Bautista, Toni Gonzaga, Jed Madela, Sam Milby, Jericho Rosales, Randy Santiago, Piolo Pascual, Sarah Geronimo, Erick Santos, Richard Poon, Paolo Valenciano, Pops Fernandez, Jamie Rivera, Christian Bautista, Bituin Escalante, Kuh Ledesma Vina Morales, Sheryn Regis and Zsa Zsa Padilla

Meanwhile, great artists like Gary Valenciano will just keep going on and on and on.

For more details on Gary V, log on at www.garyv.com; garyvalenciano.multiply.com and share.ovi.com/garyv.