Vina Morales

Biography by Michael Sutton Like many pop stars in the Philippines, Vina Morales also acts. What distinguishes her from peers is that she has received accolades from both fields. Born on October 17, 1975, as Sharon Marejno, Morales began her career as a child actress in 1986. However, she never quit singing, performing numerous Filipino standards and Carpenters covers. In 1995, Morales released her debut, Easy to Love. Mostly eschewing the middle-of-the-road arrangements of her contemporaries for more energetic numbers, Morales' first full-length was considered to be a promising musical start. A year later, Morales was selected as Best Female Recording Artist at the Awit Awards, the Philippines' equivalent of the Grammys; Morales' 1999 album No Limit won Best Album of the Year at the Awit Awards. In 2001, Morales was offered 8-million pesos to appear in an ad for hard liquor; she rejected it. She later almost lost her life when her car crashed into the back of a cement mixer in Quezon City, Philippines. Morales then toured the U.S. with the Hunks, her co-hosts on the weekly variety series ASAP, one of the highest-rated TV programs in the Philippines. 2001's dance-oriented Total Control surprised Morales' followers by targeting the international market with English songs (all written by Pinoy composers) and sultry, club-ready grooves.