‘PGT’ talent Rebucas makes Feinstein’s/54 Below debut in Sept.
Geo Rebucas is one of the most memorable PGT semi-finalists in 2011 with his falsetto singing, earning the moniker “The Mariah Carey of the Philippines” from producers and judges of the show for flawlessly reaching high notes. CONTRIBUTED
NEW YORK—What do Meryl Streep, Nathan Lane, Bette Midler, and Geo Rebucas have in common? Come September 15, Geo Rebucas will be joining this roster of artists who have performed at Feinstein’s/54 Below, where Broadway superstar Lea Salonga made history last year with 15 back-to-back performances.
“I am beyond thrilled,” Rebucas told INQUIRER.net. “As an artist, I’ve always dreamt of one day performing in one of these prestigious stages, I can’t believe it’s finally happening!”
Rebucas has been booked by Feinstein’s/54 Below for an exclusive one-night engagement on September 15. Though known as the “Mariah Carey of the Philippines,” Rebucas will be paying tribute to the legendary Whitney Houston in the upcoming show.
“I love Mariah, but actually the ‘The Greatest Love Of All’ was the very first song I learned to sing,” said Rebucas. “I was only four years old at the time and I remember my siblings didn’t stop teaching me until I got the right notes.”
Asked if he was devastated for not winning the PGT title, Geo Rebucas admitted he was hurt at first but recovered upon realizing the value of his experience and exposure from the show. “PGT made me become a better performer,” he said. CONTRIBUTED
Growing up in a musically talented family, Rebucas recalls being lifted onto the dining table to entertain visitors with a song while using a big wooden spoon as a pretend microphone. Years later, he won the hearts of the judges at “Pilipinas Got Talent,” the Philippine franchise of Simon Cowell’s “America’s Got Talent,” with a rousing rendition of Carey’s classic anthem “Through The Rain.” He emerged as one of the most memorable semi-finalists in 2011 with his falsetto singing, earning the moniker “The Mariah Carey of the Philippines” from producers and judges of the show for flawlessly reaching high notes. Rebucas is noted for his five-octave vocal range and incredible vocal power.
Asked if he was devastated for not winning the title, the 27-year-old admitted he was hurt at first but recovered upon realizing the value of his experience and exposure from the show.
“PGT made me become a better performer,” said Rebucas, who never had a formal training in voice.
Born in Pagadian City, the capital of Zamboanga del Sur province, Rebucas emigrated to the United States in 2014 with his family after finishing a nursing degree from the University of Cebu four years earlier.
For his solo performance at Feinstein’s/54 Below, Geo Rebucas has lined up a wide array of Houston’s greatest hits from her 35-year career, including “I Will Always Love You,” “Greatest Love of All” and “Didn’t We Almost Have It All.” INQUIRER/Elton Lugay
His first taste of a live performance in New York was his well-applauded guesting at Carnegie Hall during the nation’s celebration of Filipino American History Month in 2014.
Since then, Rebucas has been busy making the rounds of Fil-Am community events, becoming the most sought-after Filipino talent in tristate New York area and the West Coast. He is also popular among Filipinos in Canada.
Apart from singing, Rebucas is also known as an unforgiving standup comedian and accomplished sing-along master, talents he honed during his college years.
“My classmates and I would go to karaoke bars after class and after constant encouragement from friends, I began joining singing contests and the next thing I knew, I was already working in a comedy bar,” he told INQUIRER.net.
Performing weekly at DHaven, a Filipino supper club in Queens, Rebucas spices up his act with standup comedy.
“I am happy that whenever I roast people with my jokes, they would just laugh it off but when I start belting Mariah, Regine or Whitney songs, they get wild and that gives me so much joy and pleasure seeing them having a good time,” he said.
For his solo performance at Feinstein’s/54 Below, Rebucas has lined up a wide array of Houston’s greatest hits from her 35-year career, including “I Will Always Love You,” “Greatest Love Of All” and “Didn’t We Almost Have It All.” Tickets are already being sold at the website of Feinstein’s/54 Below.
