OPM balladeer Nonoy Zuñiga marked his 50th anniversary in the music industry with a spectacular concert titled “Beyond Gold: Songs of a Lifetime” at the Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT). The show, held on a Friday night, was a sold-out event weeks in advance, drawing a full house of devoted fans, many of whom have followed Zuñiga’s career since the mid-1970s.
The concert opened with performances by bossa nova singer Andrea Gutierrez, Raymond Gorospe, and Isha Ponti, who warmed up the audience with classic and original songs. Zuñiga made a grand entrance, rising on a mechanical platform and opening with “Pure Imagination” and “Fill Up the Night with Music,” before greeting the crowd with his signature hit “Kumusta Ka.”
The audience included many elderly fans, some in wheelchairs or using canes, underscoring Zuñiga’s enduring appeal across generations. He even reminded them to take their maintenance medicines, showing his heartfelt connection with his supporters.
Zuñiga’s musical journey includes memorable film theme songs penned by the late Willy Cruz, such as “Mahawi Man ang Ulap” and “Init sa Magdamag,” as well as starring in the 1983 film “Never Ever Say Goodbye” alongside Vilma Santos. His musical influences include his Vietnam War veteran father and his 93-year-old mother, who was present at the concert.
A highlight of the evening was a performance with his brothers Zebedee and Zoe, delivering a ‘60s medley featuring The Beatles’ “She Loves You,” The Critters’ “Mr. Dieingly Sad,” and The Turtles’ “Happy Together.” Guest artists Marco Sison and Rey Valera joined Zuñiga for “Doon Lang,” reminiscing about their days with The Hitmakers.
Zuñiga showcased his guitar skills with folk classics like James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain,” Don McLean’s “Vincent,” and John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” reflecting on his early days as a folk singer.
Pop divas Kuh Ledesma and Lani Misalucha also performed duets with Zuñiga, delivering heartfelt renditions of “You’ll Never Find Another Me,” “Starting Over Again,” and “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You,” among others.
The concert paid tribute to Filipino music legends Hajji Alejandro, Anthony Castelo, and Darius Razon with classic songs “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika,” “Balat-Kayo,” and “Everybody Knows.” Zuñiga then performed his own hits, including “Love Without Time,” “Araw Gabi,” “Basang Basa sa Ulan,” “Fragments of Forever,” and “Never Ever Say Goodbye,” demonstrating his timeless vocal prowess.
Musical direction was led by Bobby Gomez, with Calvin Murphy Neria as conductor and Noel Ferrer as scriptwriter. Backup vocals were provided by Zebedee Zuñiga, Angie Gomez, Gail Blanco, and Mamie Jereza. The concert was produced by Echo Jham Entertainment Productions, DMC Philippines, and Ponti Entertainment Productions.
Zuñiga acknowledged the challenges he faced throughout his extraordinary career and expressed gratitude to his audience for their unwavering support. Plans for a repeat concert within the year are already underway.
Among the audience were notable personalities such as Dulce, Chad Borja, concert producer Jessie Cambosa, and jazz pianist-composer David Benoit, who performed at NPAT the following night.
Nonoy Zuñiga’s “Beyond Gold” concert was a heartfelt celebration of a remarkable 50-year journey in Philippine music, honoring his legacy and the enduring bond with his fans.