Jed Madela

Early life and career beginnings

Madela was born in Iloilo, Philippines, the son of JC Roy Tajanlangit, a church choirmaster, and Agnes Tajanlangit, an Administrative Assistant at Pepsi. He is the elder brother of Eric Tajanlangit and Joanne Christine Tajanlangit.

He was only five years old when he started singing and acknowledges his father as his first voice coach. He is the eldest among three siblings, and his younger brother and sister are also singers in their church choir.

Jed earned a Business Administration degree from the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City at the age of 18. During his campus years, he was also a regular fixture in various singing competitions, which he usually ended up winning.

With his educational background and a training schedule waiting in the wings, Jed was initially set to become a flight attendant for Philippine Airlines. Plans did not materialize as he explored his artistic pursuits.

For a time, Jed also became the lead vocalist of Pose (the band performed at the now-defunct Fashion Cafe in Glorietta), Prime Council and Divest (based in Iloilo City). This Cancer-born singer was also handled by Ronnie Henares of Primeline and the late Bella Tan. One thing led to another and, as fate and destiny would have it, the rest is (musical) history.

2003–2005: I'll Be Around, Voice of Asia Song Festival, Songs Rediscovered, World Championship of the Performing Arts (WCOPA)

Selling a debut album was hard, most especially to Jed. This was because, even with a strong turnout at his gig venues, he remained anonymous to the general public. His first album I’ll Be Around received lukewarm reception from the public, but it spawned an early hit single Let Me Love You.

In 2003, 16 Asian countries participated in the Voice of Asia consisting of 18 contestants. The Philippines sent him as the first official male representative to the Voice of Asia. He has ranked 1st place consistently for 3 days in the internet poll survey and was finally given the "People's Choice Award" on the finals night for being the Grand Champion in the internet polls. He also won the Silver Trophy, judged by a panel of jury in the actual competition. He also received a plaque for being the "Sponsor's Choice" in the competition. Five months later, Mainhill Awards of Kazakhstan awarded him as the "Best Voice of Asia Male Singer of the Year 2003". He also shared the limelight with George Benson and Billy Joel who both received the Lifetime Achievement Awards" in the same award-giving body. Madela's powerful voice was showcased in these winning pieces in the 3-day competition: "I'll Be Around", "Labis Akong Umibig" (I Loved Too Much) and the festival version of Martin Nievera's hit "Be My Lady" wherein he managed to hold the last high note for a good 18 seconds eliciting a standing ovation and long wild applause from the audience and spectators at the coliseum. All songs were originally composed by Mr. Vehnee Saturno who was with him during the entire competition in Kazakhstan.

Madela releases an even better record that is destined to be a classic album. The new album entitled "Songs Rediscovered" is a superb 17-track collection of all-time favorites including: Your Song (Elton John), Love Always Finds A Way (Peabo Bryson), The Past (Ray Parker Jr.), Heaven Knows (Rick Price), Changes In My Life (Marc Sherman), Right Next To Me (Whistle), Home (Michael Jackson/Diana Ross), Can't Cry Hard Enough (Williams Brothers), Because Of You (Keith Martin), Only Reminds Me Of You (St. Paul), Beauty And Madness (Fra Lippo Lippi), Time Will Reveal (El deBarge), and the carrier single How Can I Fall (originally by Breathe) among others.

He made waves during the 2005 World Championship of the Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Hollywood, California when he single-handedly won all major industry awards. He bested over 3,000 contestants from 52 countries to win the grand prize.

There were six categories whereby Jed won all the golds. For the pop category, he sang "I'm Your Angel". For the original song category, meaning a composition from the singer's home country, he did Martin Nievera's old hit, "Be My Lady". For Broadway ("Home"), pop duet (with Risa Navales, they sang ("Last Night of the World"), gospel ("Take Me Out of the Dark"), and for the final song that made him grand champion, it's Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing".

He also brought home two Champion of the World plaques, one star trophy for the award Grand Champion of the World in the singing division and a huge diamond trophy for the most coveted Grand Champion Performer of the World.

2007: Only Human

Only Human album features 17 tracks with four original Filipino compositions entitled "Iniibig Kita", "Free", "I'm Sailing" and "Whispering Your Name". While the rest are revivals, a mixture of his personal choices like "And I Love You So", "There's No Easy Way", "Forevermore" which is the carrier single, "I Want To Give It All", "Only Love", "Tuyo Na'ng Damdamin", "Human", "Every Now and Then", "Summer Breeze", "I Just Can't Let Go", "Hard Habit To Break", a duet with Gary Valenciano, "Narito", a duet with Rachelle Anne Go and a bonus track, "The Impossible Dream", his winning song at WCOPA competitions.

2009–2011: Songs Rediscovered 2: The Ultimate OPM Playlist, The Classics Album, Breathe Again

“Songs Rediscovered 2: The Ultimate OPM Playlist” is the perfect follow-up to the Double Platinum-certified “Songs Rediscovered” released five years ago. The new CD is a distinguished collection of timeless OPM songs from the '80s and '90s sung to perfection by a voice that is once heard, never forgotten. The album is available in two versions - 1CD version and 2CD edition, which includes Bonus Minus-One CD.

Produced by Platinum producer Ito Rapadas, all the 16 carefully selected songs in “The Classics Album” comprised a collection that everybody will treasure. Songs originally popularized by Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Tom Jones, Perry Como, Matt Monro, Nat King Cole, Paul Anka, Jack Jones, The Four Tops, Simon & Garfunkel and Jed’s inimitable vocal styling added more luster to the sterling qualities of these well-loved romantic and inspirational ditties. The new CD release is in a handsome package, which goes very well with the musical treasure in the album.

World Champion Jed Madela sold thousands of records reviving some of the most memorable ballads in his previous albums. Now, he is all set to fulfill his promise of recording new songs in his seventh album "Breathe Again."

2012–2014: New Record Label, Jed Madela (All Original)

After 9 years with Universal Records, Madela inked a contract with the music recording company of ABS-CBN. Madela is now a contract artist of the Kapamilya record label, Star Records.

"All Original" features songs, which according to Jed, are new and far from usual. "Everything sounds different and the songs express different feelings. Actually, each one can be a potential single on its own", said Jed, who is set to celebrate later this year his 10th anniversary in the music industry. "Of course, the signature 'high note ballads' will be in the album but there are tracks that will make the listeners wonder if it is really me singing".

True to its title, Jed's first album under Star Records features 10 original tracks including his carrier single "Ikaw Na", "Wish", "When Love Once Was Beautiful", "Dito Lang", "Ipinapangako Ko", "Sa Habang Buhay", "Dalangin Ko", "Will Forever", "Home To You" and Jed's very own composition titled "Tanging Ikaw". The album also contains bonus mixes of "Wish" and "Dito Lang".

Voice

Madela possesses the vocal range of a countertenor.