Bobby Kimball & Kenny Cetera: Rock Showdown

MANILA, Philippines - Will there be a showdown tonight at the concert Rock Legends? People may be expecting one, but its headliners Bobby Kimball and Kenny Cetera said that they will share turns on stage singing greatest hits, join forces in duets but not “out-sing” or upstage each other during their first time together in a show at the Isla Ballroom of EDSA Shangri-La Hotel.   

Bobby is the original lead singer of Toto, the legendary rock band responsible for the hit songs I’ll Be Over You, Rosanna, Africa, Hold The Line, Anna, Georgy Porgy, 99, Lea, I Won’t Hold You Back and Stairway to Heaven. Kenny, on the other hand, was with the Chicago Experience together with his brother Peter Cetera, the original frontman of the iconic rock band Chicago before launching a successful solo career.

Both Bobby and Kenny have been to the Philippines for a number of times already, and they said that there’s nothing quite like the Filipinos’ unabashed and loyal appreciation for music.  

Asked on why he thinks the songs of the multi-Grammy winner Toto remain enduring favorites among rock fans around the world, Bobby explained that it is because Toto’s songs were written and recorded well.

Bobby was Toto’s lead singer at the height of its popularity in the early ’80s, then left the group only to return again in 1988 and stayed until Toto disbanded in 2008.

Kenny, on the other hand, became a contributing musician on some of the recordings his brother Peter made with Chicago and on some of his solo works. Kenny, in particular, provided high harmony lead vocals on Chicago 17, the band’s best-selling album of all time in 1984, which resulted in such Top 10 hits as You’re The Inspiration, Along Came A Woman and Prima Donna. He also played keyboards, drums and percussions for Chicago in that same year until Peter quit the band a year later.

Told that he’s better-looking than his brother, Kenny was quick to joke, “You’re such honest people that’s why I like it here.”

Being a musician like his brother was inevitable as he was born into a family of “vast musical talents,” and grew up listening to his parents and siblings always harmonizing and rehearsing music.

Kenny admitted that he doesn’t get to perform with his brother that much nowadays as he’s also busy with his own band in the US, but his brother, the hitmaker behind The Glory of Love, theme song of The Karate Kid film, After All (a duet with Cher), among others, remains very supportive of his endeavors.

In one of Kenny’s latest gigs in Vegas, his brother tweeted about him having a show and telling his followers “see you at the concert.” Kenny thought his brother was just helping him out drum up the concert, but was happily surprised when Peter showed up backstage and even actually paid for his own ticket.  

Tonight’s concert Rock Legends is presented by Steve O’Neal Productions and EDSA Shangri-La, and will also feature the Zoo band. Tickets are available at SM Tickets, TicketWorld and at the concierge of EDSA Shangri-La.