Pilita Corrales

Pilar "Pilita" Garrido Corrales (August 22, 1937 – April 12, 2025) was a Filipina singer, actress and comedian. She was known for her distinctive backbend when singing and was popularly referred to as the "Greatest singer in the Philippines" and "Asia's Queen of Songs" for her vocal style and longevity. Corrales recorded 135 albums throughout her six-decade career. Her recordings were mainly in English and Filipino, while on occasion she recorded songs in Spanish and Cebuano. Lauded for her sweet voice and iconic singing style, Corrales was one of the first superstars in the Philippines and became one of the first female artists to reach the top of the Australian pop charts. In 1963, her single "A Million Thanks to You" became one of few songs by a local artist to reach the number one position on the "Hits of the World" listing for the Philippines compiled by Billboard. "A Million Thanks to You" and other signature hits by Corrales, including "Kapantay ay Langit", have since become standards. She was a recipient of the prestigious 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) for introducing Filipino musical artistry to a global audience. Her success would later extend to film and television, where her show An Evening with Pilita is considered as one of the standards in Philippine broadcasting history.