Lani Misalucha (born August 3, 1969 in Manila, Philippines) is a singer from the Philippines currently performing in the United States where she also resides. She holds shows at the Flamingo Las Vegas with the veteran Hawaiian variety troupe Society of Seven - SOS. Dubbed Asia’s Nightingale, (declared by MTV Asia) she performs pop, rock, jazz, soul, rhythm and blues, and operatic arias.
Misalucha’s depth (vocal strength held in reserve) and wide range have been frequently compared to those of popular divas such as Whitney Houston and Celine Dion. However, her powerful but agile voice characterized by “runs and leaps” with high upper extension is closer to the artistry of multi-media superstar Barbra Streisand. Misalucha’s voice usually starts soft and thin, then gradually thickens as it approaches the peaks of a song. Although technically labelled as ‘lyric coloratura’, Misalucha has many times ventured into the territory of ‘dramatic coloratura’ with her rendition of Giacomo Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma,” a feat that has earned her much praise as well as unwanted comparisons to Italian operatic tenors and sopranos. Misalucha possesses a comedic flair and can effectively impersonate the super-divas as well as Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Gladys Knight, Toni Braxton, Gloria Gaynor, Donna Summer, Minnie Riperton, Beyonce Knowles, Shania Twain, and Britney Spears.
Since arriving in Las Vegas in 2004, Misalucha has been called “New Siren of the Strip.” In March 2008, Misalucha was voted “Best Singer” (staff pick) in the “27th Annual Best of Las Vegas” poll conducted on 8,000 respondents by the Las Vegas Review Journal. This put her in the same sentence as super-diva Celine Dion, the readers’ pick for “Best Singer”.
