Lani Bayot Misalucha (; born Lani Dimalanta Bayot; August 3, 1969) is a Filipino singer and television personality. Referred to as the "Asia's Nightingale" by MTV Southeast Asia, she is noted for her vocal range and ability to sing opera arias.
Misalucha began singing as a church choir member and eventually became a back-up vocalist of various bands. After several stints as a singer of commercial jingles and multiplex tapes, she released her 1997 debut album More Than I Should under Alpha Records. The following year, she competed at the 3rd Asia Song Festival and won Best Interpreter for the song "Handle with Care". The same year, she signed with Viva Records and released her sophomore album Tunay Na Mahal (1998). The following year, she won the top honor at the 1999 Metropop Song Festival and released her third studio album All Heart (2000).
In 2001, she staged her first major solo concert Lani Misalucha: The Crossover Live Tour at the Araneta Coliseum, earning an Entertainer of the Year win at the 2002 Aliw Awards. She received further recognition after moving to Las Vegas in 2004 and embarked on a string of headlining concert residencies, becoming the first Asian artist to headline in a main showroom in the city. Her vocal performances have earned praises from musical artists such as Dionne Warwick, Joe Jackson, Gladys Night, James Ingram and Whitney Houston. Among her other PARI-certified releases include Lani Misalucha (2006), Reminisce (2008) & The Nightingale Returns (2014).
Career
1996–1999: Career beginnings
Misalucha sang the song "Ang Iibigin ay Ikaw" (written by Jimmy Borja) which was a finalist at the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival and later received the Awit Award for Record of the Year. She recorded an album "More than I Should" (Alpha Records) with carrier single of the same title written by Odette Quesada in 1990. The album included Misalucha's cover of Fifth Dimension's "Somebody Warm Like Me". The entire album earned 12 Katha Award nominations in 1997. The following year, Misalucha won the Minuro Endo Best Interpreter/Singer Award at the 3rd Asian Song Festival. Her piece entitled "Handle with Care" (written by Gideon Jungee Marcelo) won silver in the Best Original Song category. In 1998, Misalucha moved to Viva Records and her album, with carrier single "Tunay na Mahal" (written by Freddie Saturno), made the charts and turned gold, later receiving the Awit Award for Best Ballad Recording, Awit Award for Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist, and Katha Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Her cover of the 1966 song, "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" topped the Philippine charts in the same year. Misalucha's interpretation of "Can't Stop Loving You" (written by Dodjie Simon) won her songwriter the Grand Prize at the 1999 Metropop Song Festival. She was tapped to play the lead role of Sita in the S.K. Productions musical play entitled Rama at Sita. In 1999, Misalucha also received Artist of the Year Award, Aliw Award for Best Lounge Act, Awit Award for Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist, and Awit Award Nomination for Best Stage Actress.