It was supposed to reunite last year with thousands of Pinoy fans in a dream concert every music enthusiast was eagerly looking forward to until the sad news about its postponement broke out days before the event.

The fans, while initially disappointed, did not lose hope that they would eventually get to watch the popular group perform live its greatest hits that they have loved and enjoyed through the years.

Now, the wait is over.

The musical landscape will sizzle with the authentic and endearing sound of one of the longest-running and most successful US pop/rock and roll groups when Chicago finally comes to Manila for its highly-anticipated concert on Feb. 16 at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

Titled, “Chicago Live In Manila!,” the musical event to be mounted by Ovation Productions will showcase the outstanding talent and style of the celebrated band that have endeared it to millions worldwide throughout its successful career spanning more than four decades.

The concert will also be a reunion of sorts for Chicago with thousands of local fans whom it first conquered with its magnificent array of ballads and love songs during its debut concert here in the early 1990s.

Among its greatest hits to be featured in the show are “Questions 67 & 68,” “Beginnings,” “Make Me Smile,” “25 or 6 to 4,” “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is,” “Lowdown,” “Color My World,” “I’m A Man,” “Saturday In The Park,” “Dialogue” and “Free.”

Other songs to be performed are “Feeling Stronger Everyday,” “Just You And Me,” “I’ve Been Searchin’ So Long,” “Call On Me,” “Wishing You Were Here,” “Old Days,” “If You Leave Me Now,” “Baby, What A Big Surprise,” “Love Me Tomorrow,” “Hard Habit To Break,” “No Tell Lover,” “Look Away,” and many more.

As one of the few major US rock bands whose original line-up has remained practically intact, Chicago is expected to draw a record crowd representing a cross of fans from various generations.

Throughout its successful 40-year career, Chicago has earned an enduring reputation for great songs and live performances since it was formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois and rose to international fame for a number of hit ballads in the 1970s and 1980s.

It has been listed by Billboard magazine as the leading US singles charting group during the 1970s, having sold over 120 million albums worldwide and scoring 22 gold, 18 platinum and 8 multi-platinum albums.

Throughout its career, it has charted five No. 1 albums and scored 21 Top 10 hits.

Chicago started as a rock band composed of versatile instrumentalists that initially played a series of late-night jams at clubs on and off campus in Chicago in 1967, until it turned professional as a cover band called The Big Thing and, later Chicago Transit Authority (eventually shortened to Chicago).

It made an auspicious recording debut in 1969 with the “The Chicago Transit Authority,” which featured a double LP album that included a number of pop/rock gems – “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?,” “Beginnings” and “Questions 67 & 68” – whose sales were fueled by heavy airplays on the newly-popular FM radio band.

This was followed by “Chicago II,” (January 1970), another two-record set featuring its first two Top 10 hits, “Make Me Smile” and “25 or 6 to 4;” its third double album, “Chicago III” (January 1971); and its fourth album, a whopping four-disc boxed set live compilation, “Chicago At Carnegie Hall” (October 1971).

Other successful albums and singles that followed were: “Chicago V” (July 1972), which topped the charts for nine weeks and spawned the gold single, “Saturday In The Park;” “Chicago VI” (June 1973), No. 1 for five weeks and featured the hits “Feelin’ Stronger Everyday” and “Just You ‘N’ Me;” “Chicago VII” (March 1974), another No. 1 LP, which carried the hits “(I’ve Been) Searchin’ So Long,” “Call On Me” and “Wishing You Were Here;” and Chicago VIII” (March 1975) which included the group’s fourth straight chart-topper, the nostalgic ballad, “Old Days.”

It was “Chicago X” (June 1976), however, that spawned the band’s biggest hit of the 1970s, the slow, exquisite ballad, “If You Leave Me Now,” which climbed to No. 1 worldwide and catapulted Chicago to the peak of popularity.

The song also won for Chicago its only Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group in 1977.

Another big success for the group was its 1977 release, “Chicago XI,” which included the hit ballad, “Baby, What A Big Surprise.”

After signing up with a new producer (David Foster) and a new label (Warner Bros. Records/Reprise Records) in 1978, Chicago released “Chicago XVI” and once again topped the charts with the single, “Hard To Say I’m Sorry”/“Get Away,” followed by “Love Me Tomorrow.”

Its May, 1984 album, “Chicago XVII” became the biggest selling album in the band’s history, spawning two more Top 10 singles, “You’re The Inspiration” and “Hard Habit To Break”), and two other singles, “Stay The Night” and “Along Comes A Woman,” which charted in the Top 20.

“Chicago XIX” (June 1988) was another great success, featuring three Top 10 hits, “I Don’t Wanna Live Without Your Love,” the No. 1 “Look Away” and “You’re Not Alone.” A fourth song from the CD, “What Kind Of Man Would I Be?,” became a hit when it was included in the top-selling “Greatest Hits: 1982-1989” (November, 1989).

Chicago’s triumphant streak continued through the 1990s. It received one of the highest recognitions from the entertainment industry when it was honored with its own star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on July 23, 1992.

Its next albums included “Night & Day (Big Band)” (May 1995), “The Heart Of Chicago: 1967-1997,” “The Heart Of Chicago: 1967-1998, Volume II,” while its first-ever Christmas album, “Chicago XXV” (November 1998), eventually became another gold record. “Chicago XXVI Live In Concert” was released in October, 1999.

The members of Chicago are Robert Lamm, James Pankow, Lee Loughname, Walter Parazider, Lou Bardini, Jason Scheff, Tris Imboden and Keith Howland.

“Chicago Live In Manila!” is supported by ETC, 2nd Avenue, RJ 100.3 FM, Jack TV, Edsa Shangri-La Manila, Imarflex, Philippine Star, BusinessWorld, philstar.com, GetzMo!, Focalcast Network and OptimaSignsolutions.

Tickets are priced at P4,700, P4,500, P3,500, P2,500, P1,000 and P500 and are available at Ticketnet outlets at all SM Department Stores. For inquiries and reservations, call Ticketnet or Ovation Productions.

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Sitti and Juris: ‘Love is in the Air’

Two of the finest female singers in the local contemporary music scene perform back-to-back in a must-see pre-Valentine show. Sitti, the Queen of Bossa Nova, performs on stage with acoustic princess of soul Juris in “A Night of Serenading Music.” The concert is to be held on Feb. 10, at the Metro Comedy Bar along West Avenue in Quezon City.

“A Night of Serenading Music” is guaranteed to capture the hearts of both young and old with an enchanting string of love songs from Sitti’s bestselling bossa albums and Juris’ own heart-warming repertoire of MYMP and post-MYMP megahits.

Juris (Julie Iris Fernandez) is originally from Davao. She didn’t grow up exposed to music on a regular basis, but later underwent self-training. After graduating from Miriam, Fernandez proceeded to the Ateneo de Manila University, where she worked towards completing her pre-med requirements. After being paired with Jimmy Bondoc, she auditioned for the MYMP (short for Make Your Momma Proud) and officially joined the group in 2003. The MYMP debut album “Soulful Acoustic” has climbed up the charts to certified platinum status. Her other successful band albums include “Beyond Acoustic,” “Versions,” and “New Horizons.”

Sitti (Sitti Navarro), of Maranao descent, hails from Las Piñas City. Since age 16, Sitti has been performing gigs at the Hyatt Calesa Bar and others. Her win at the MTV Supahstar search became a turning point for Sitti, and her debut album “Caffe Bossa” in 2006 spelled top stellar success, with Sitti delivering such commercial hits as “I Didn’t Know I Was Looking for Love,” “Para sa Akin,” and of course the most unforgettable, “Tattoed on My Mind.” Sitti is also known for her version of “One Note Samba,” originally performed by the legendary Astrud Gilberto. Other Sitti CD collections include the platinum seller “My Bossa Nova Live,” “Sitti Live!,” and “Contagious,” which contains “Is This Love.”

Part of the proceeds for “A Night of Serenading Music” will go to the MarkProf Foundation, Inc., whose vision is to develop future Philippine leaders today, to uplift marketing education in the country, and to give equal opportunities to talented individuals. MarkProf has been providing assistance to young professionals since 2004.

Love is in the air! And a unique way to celebrate Valentine with your loved one is to spend it with two unforgettable ladies, Sitti and Juris.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Jan. 26 go to senatorial aspirant Imelda Papin, Napoleon Abueva, Johnny Revilla, Timmy Cruz, Carol Sy, Lulu Cambay, Dr. Pons Doloroso, Tony Gana, Mini Koa, Vilma Umengan, Milagros dela Cruz, Teresita Goquingco, Gloria D. Rivera, Reina A. Garcia, Margaret Go, Joset Endozo, Raya Mananquil, Peep-Peep Villa, ex-housemate Kian Kazemi, Gorgy Rula of StarTalk and talent manager Alfie Lorenzo. Happy wedding anniversary to Paul and Ising Naidas.