The longest-running Canadian-Filipino entertainment show is set to rock Winnipeg. (Facebook)
Winnipeg, Manitoba
‘Simply the Best’ longest-running entertainment show
Charmaine Y. Rodriguez
A group composed of a Canadian-Filipino family and their friends who share their love for music will rock Canadian venues again for the “Relive The Music 50s & 60s Show” this October.
Forced to postpone their tour because of the pandemic lockdown in 2020, the popular show will be back with its Version 3 with new members, new songs and costumes and will entertain audiences at the Burton Cummings Theatre on October 11, 2022, 7:30 p.m.
Musical family
The cast is led by Luisa Mendez Marshall, a World Champion Tina Turner Tribute Artist who has travelled the world, her sister Tota Mendez who has joined Luisa in her Tina Turner Tribute Show. Together with them are Luisa’s husband, Steve, who plays the drums, and their daughters, Kimi who plays guitar and Zenia who is also a singer.
The other band members are Jojo Palermo on keyboards, Marlowe Mata on bass and Denis Timoshenko on sax/flute.
The group had several sold out shows and 19 standing ovations. However, the lockdowns forced them to cancel their tours.
The idea of reliving the music of the 50s and 60s came from Steve, who used to own Daddy Cools Pub in Haida Gwaii in the 1980s. Steve heard of Luisa’s band “Hall of Fame” and booked them for a show. They played numerous times and Steve and Luisa fell in love and got married. And the rest is history.
The couple toured around Canada and overseas for the “Simply the Best” concert with Luisa as Tina Turner.
For the show about reliving the music of the 50s and 60s, Steve had the idea of a big voiceover guy telling a trivia before each song for the audience to guess the song.
“But he kept putting it off for over 20 years busy with several musical projects. Finally, in early 2018, Steve made a bet with himself that if the Port Theatre in Nanaimo was available on a certain date he would create the show. It was available. Steve doubled down and said if he could get two more theaters back to back he would do it. They were available, so he made up a poster and booked the theaters. The family thought he was crazy. Once tickets started selling fast the family realized they were onto something so they worked together to create the show,” the group’s press release read.
To book tickets, just visit the www.ReliveTheMusic.ca website.
CRAZY STORY OF A FILIPINO FAMILY OF MUSICIANS CREATING the Relive The Music 50s & 60s SHOW?
Plus the head of the family becomes a ‘World Champion (as seen on Oprah and Ellen) Tina Turner Tribute Artist’ traveling the world… it literally took a bar burning down in Penticton, a touring musician telling Steve Marshall to hire a Filipino band and the kids growing up in a musical family to eventually create this show.
Luisa Mendez Marshall with her sisters Tota and Aje, originally from Manila, came to Canada in the spring of 1989 with her “Hall of Fame Band” that toured all over Asia. They were a very popular band in Manila, mostly because they broke all the rules, dressed how they shouldn’t and played songs the hotel management didn’t think was appropriate. This was an issue that happened over and over throughout Luisa’s career. But after each venue got filled up with her type of acts all management’s concerns were history. Lots of dance music, choreography, audience participation and fun.
They tried to get the biggest agency in Canada to book them but that agency at the time mostly booked rock bands and the DJ played the popular dance music of the 90’s. Little did they realize this was going to be the new thing. Again Luisa was ahead of the game. So they had to get booked by a B-room agency that booked the unpopular B type venues around BC. These venues discovered their bars were filled 6 days a week with this new concept. They also realized if they booked the Hall of Fame band for a month they were packed for a month. The A bar rooms were furious that the B-rooms were drawing all the crowds away from them for a month at a time. The A-room agency was forced to reconsider and flew one of their agents to visit Luisa and ask if she would now consider joining them. She eventually did.
Luisa’s now husband Steve Marshall owned Daddy Cools Pub in Haida Gwaii in the late 1980’s. One touring band leader told Steve to book this Filipino band he saw in Prince George. Steve talked to Luisa’s agent and it turns out the only date that was open on Daddy Cool’s calendar was the only date open for the Hall of Fame band. The reason it was open was because a bar in Penticton, BC burned down so they had no gig that week.
In a nutshell, the Hall of Fame Band came and played numerous times and eventually Steve and the leader of the band Luisa Mendez fell in love and the rest is an interesting chaotic history.
Their children were raised around music while their parents were touring around Canada and overseas in the “Simply The Best” concert tour – Luisa Marshall as Tina Turner. Luisa’s mother Erlinda was an opera singer. Her sisters: Tota is still performing with her while Ajie happily performs in Manila. Kimi, the older daughter, became a guitar player/songwriter and Zenia the youngest became a singer, songwriter, Ariana Grande Tribute Artist and actress and Steve is the drummer.
Steve always wanted to create the Relive the Music of the 50s & 60s with the idea of a big voice-over guy telling trivia before each song. The audience can yell out what they think the song is then it starts and the party begins. But he kept putting it off for over 20 years busy with several musical projects.
Finally, in early 2018 Steve made a bet with himself that if the Port Theatre in Nanaimo was available on a certain date he would create the show. It was available. Steve doubled down and said if he could get 2 more theaters back to back he would do it. They were available, so he made up a poster and booked the theaters. The family thought he was crazy. Once tickets started selling fast the family realized they were onto something so they worked together to create the show. 19 standing ovations in a row and many sold out shows then Covid lockdown forced them to cancel 2 big tours in 2020.
Now, 2 plus years later they are back at it with version 3, additional new members, new songs, many more costumes, lots of fun times. Now performing at the Burton Cummings Theatre on Tuesday October 11/22, Showtime 7:30 PM. Do not miss this show.
www.ReliveTheMusic.ca
Promo video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy3ymkV3Q5Y