Pilita Corrales

Pilar Garrido Corrales (born August 22, 1939) is a Filipino pop singer, songwriter, actress, comedian and television presenter. She is best-known for her distinctive backbend when singing and is popularly referred to as the "Asia's Queen of Songs" for her vocal style and longevity.Hailed as the "Greatest singer in the Philippines" by the media and critics, Corrales has already recorded 135 albums throughout her six-decade career. Her recordings have mainly been in English and Filipino, while on occasion she records songs in Spanish and Cebuano. Her success would later extend to film and television, where her show An Evening with Pilita is considered as one of the standards in Philippine broadcasting history. She is a recipient of the prestigious 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) for introducing Filipino musical artistry to a global audience.Lauded for her sweet voice and iconic singing style, Corrales was one of the first superstars in Philippines and became one of the first female artists to reach the top of the Australian pop charts. In 1963, her single "A Million Thanks to You" became one of the few songs by local artists to reach number one on the Philippine chart in the 1960s. She was also the first Filipino to win an international music festival at the first Tokyo Music Festival in 1972. She is recognized as one of the 'Great Dames of Victorian Radio and Television' and has a street named after her in Melbourne, Australia. She was also honored with an honorary Doctorate in Music degree by the University of Visayas for her contribution to the Philippine music industry. In a career spanning over six decades, Corrales has released a string of signature hits including "Kapantay ay Langit" and "A Million Thanks to You", which have since become standards.