Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.

MANILA, Philippines -- Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. are expected to leave thousands of music fans breathless with the authentic sound of The 5th Dimension (which they founded in 1966) when they come to Manila for a major concert on July 7 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Dubbed as “Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. Live In Manila!,” the one-night musical presentation from Ovation Productions will showcase the marvelous vocal talent and style of the acclaimed duo from the late ’60s through the early ’70s.

Among these hits are “Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In,” “Workin’ On A Groovy Thing,” “Saving All My Love For You,” “You Don’t Have To Be A Star,” “I Hope We Get To Love In Time,” “Somebody Warm Like Me,” “If I Could Reach You,” “Last Night I Couldn’t Get To Sleep At All.”

The 5th Dimension rocketed to popularity in the ’60s with huge hits like “Up, Up And Away,” “Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In,” “Wedding Bell Blues,” “One Less Bell To Answer” and “Stoned Soul Picnic,” to name a few.

In 1975, McCoo and Davis – who got married in 1969 – left The 5th Dimension and began performing as a duo, attaining immediate success with the single, “You Don’t Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show),” which became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in January, 1977.

In the early ’90s, the couple joined the other original members of The 5th Dimension in a special reunion tour and shared in its collective triumph when the group was honored with a star in Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in August, 1991.

In 2004, the couple wrote a book, “Up, Up And Away… How We Found Love, Faith And Lasting Marriage In The Entertainment World,” where they share their secrets for staying committed. They mark their 42 years of marriage in 2011.

The couple’s Manila show is produced in cooperation with Talk TV, ETC, 2nd Avenue, Diva Universal and Jack TV. It is also supported by The Philippine Star, BusinessWorld, The Rockwell Club, Edsa Shangri-La Manila, 97.9 Home Radio, Mellow 94.7, dwBR 104.3, RJ 100.3 FM and Optima Signsolutions.

Tickets are available at Ticketnet outlets located at SM and at the Araneta Coliseum box office.

Singing divas in benefit concert

Two singing divas, Sophia Montecarlo and Jona Lumbera, are slated to do a benefit concert tomorrow, June 11, at 6:30 p.m. at the Sapphire Room of Tiara Oriental Hotel along Malugay St., San Antonio Village, Makati City. Proceeds of the concert will go to a cancer foundation.

Sophia Montecarlo, a finalist to ABS-CBN’s reality show “Born Diva,” represented the country in the World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) where she won a string of awards: Gold for the Contemporary category; Silver for Formal Voice Contemporary; Silver for Female Vocal Latin; Silver for Female Voice Open; and Bronze for Female Voice Rock. Sophia just released a single, “Fine Me,” which is now available for download at online music stores: iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, My Square Music, Media Net, eMusic, Zune, Rhapsody, Nikon, Thumbplay and IMVCA.

Jona Lumbera, on the other hand, is the 3rd runner-up in the ABS-CBN “Search for a Star in a Million Season 3.” She will be singing her winning piece during their benefit concert billed as “Samut-Sari,” organized by the International Association of Educators for World Peace, a UN-NGO chaired by Dr. Josef de Ubaldo, Ph.D.

Other performers in “Samut-Sari” include Dave Santos, stage director Njel de Mesa, Michael G. and Bataan BM Teri Aunor, and Willy Jones.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, June 10, go to Judge Tessie Nicolas-Cativo, former Rep. Ranjet R. Shahani, multi-talented RJ Ledesma, Belen Lizaso, Don Dolina of Tacloban, Nita Burgos of New York, Soledad Santiago-Tiongson, Daisy Tamayo, Judy Bangalan, Ginggay Joven, Ryan Barrion, Darlene Lapiz and Star Magic’s Valeen Montenegro and Zaira dela Peña…