SuperStar Aquarius - Star Entertainers

MARIA CORDERO BIOGRAPHY

Maria Cordero:
Maria was born in the tiny enclave of the then Portuguese Territory, of Macao. Originating from an ethnically mixed family of Portuguese, Chinese and Pakistani heritage, Maria personifies all the finest qualities of her mixed legacy. At the age of ten, together with her family, Maria immigrated to Hong Kong. As a teenager, Maria, the eldest daughter in the family, assumed the responsibility of assisting her parents with the upbringing of her younger siblings.

Never one to shy away from hard work, Maria, emerged herself into the wage earning world, taking on jobs as a factory worker, waitress, kitchen helper and accepting other menial and odd jobs in order to make ends meet. Gifted with multi talents in singing, dancing and acting, coupled together with her aptitude to learn and her bravado to endeavor, and armed with self determination, a devotion to her family, an insatiable desire to improve herself and a passion to succeed, Maria, now in her early twenties, embarked on her career in the entertainment world.

The Recording Artist:
Maria began her professional singing career in 1985 at the Canton Disco, a popular rendezvous for local celebrities, artists and people from the entertainment industry. Her outgoing and pleasant personality generated friendships with many of the clientele, plus her powerful, versatile and original vocal style soon attracted the attention and admiration of the local music industry people.

Her career as a Recording Artist was launched two years later when she was singled out by the well known local Film Director, Lam Ling Tung, to sing the theme song from the movie “City On Fire”. As with the success of the movie, the sales of Maria's debut record album, of the same name, reached Gold in 10 days and Platinum in 20. The album's title song “Beam of Friendship” became so renowned that it bears the distinction of being synonymous to locals, even to the present generation, as what “Auld Lang Syne” is to the Westerners. In the following year, 1988, “Beam of Friendship” won a gold honor in Hong Kong's prestigious “Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Awards”. This launched Maria's career in Hong Kong's music scene and she began entertaining her fans with solo concerts at the Hung Hom Coliseum, the Queen Elizabeth Stadium and the Hong Kong Baptist University Academic Community Hall.

In 1988, sales of Maria’s second album, “Mama I Love You”, reached gold soon after the album was released.

In March 2005, Maria together with a Guangzhou based record company produced the album “Maria - Music Chronical”. In this album, Maria digresses from her usual powerful vocal style, and delivers her laid back renditions of traditional, classic and popular songs performed in Mandarin and rendered in jazz, blues, swing and latin tempos. The musical backing is a tasteful blend of acoustic, wind, string and electronic instruments, complimented by acoustic and electronic drums and percussion.

This album spearheaded her introduction in the China Music Market, and the proceeds from this release were donated to the “Children’s Kidney Trust Fund”. Since 1987 Maria has recorded and released 15 albums, including one in China and one in Taiwan.

The Entertainer:
Maria's reputation and fame, not just as a versatile and soulful singer, but as a multi talented entertainer, spread far and wide, and soon offers to appear in movies and television, plus overseas performance contracts were pouring in. The highlight of her entertainment career came in 1995, when Maria was invited by the then President of the USA, Bill Clinton, to attend a charity award ceremony in August where she was presented with the “Asian American Award” for her commitment to charitable causes.

Maria’s warm personality, pleasant nature, good sense of humour, sharpness of mind and instant adaptability soon made her one of the favourite Emcees for functions, private parties and ceremonials, locally and overseas. Her attributes and the ability to gel closely with people from all walks of life, soon earned her the affectionate and well known name “Fei Ma”, “Fat Mama”.

The Television Personality:
In the late 1990s Maria was contracted by i-Cable Communications to host the “Maria’s Phone Talk Show” on the entertainment channel and the show ran from 1997 until 2000. Due to her straightforwardness and unflinching character to comment on all aspects of the entertainment industry her show became immensely popular. In 2000 her show was awarded “The Most Improved TV Show” in i-Cable’s Year 2000 TV Show Census.

In 2001 she hosted the series “Maria Sing and Dance with Friends” and in 2003 hosted “Happy Nightly News.” Simultaneously, Maria, who has a passion for cooking, embarked on her own cooking show “Maria’s Private Kitchen”. Maria’s unique style ensured the show became one of the highest rated shows on local TV until today, and her interaction with her viewers has them accompanying her to the market to purchase her ingredients for her recipes. In 2005 her cooking show received top honors in the Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK)’s “17th TV. A1 best Programming Awards”.

The Movie Star:
From 1987 Maria has manifested her versatility by expanding her talents to include acting in some 43 movies, from cameo to substantial roles, locally and overseas. Her latest film in 2006, “Invisible Waves”, had Maria packing her bags again to film in Thailand.

The Dedicated Chef:
Maria’s passion for traditional and creative cooking spurred her to begin publishing her recipes in a series of successful cookbooks, “Maria’s Kitchen Easy Cooking” series One, 4 editions and “Maria’s Kitchen 2” series, 2 editions. Maria’s steadfast character was demonstrated again in 2003 when she embarked on a fitness and healthy lifestyle program where she trimmed off 70 lbs, in four months, to validate her role as the Spokesperson for a Wellness Spa. Due to first hand experience and personal knowledge in this area she published “Maria’s Fast Slimming Book” and two other books on recipes for “Mothers and Infants”.

Maria’s dedication and passion for cooking was recognized by the “Les Amis d’ Escoffier Society, Inc.” in 2006 and 2007 when she was awarded the “Diploma of Membership” as “Honorary President” and “Honorary Chairman” respectively, “in grateful recognition for meritorious service and outstanding contributions in her untiring efforts to promote the art of fine dining.”

Charity:
Maria’s firm belief that in order to receive you must also be capable and willing to give, led her to utilize her status as a celebrity to be the Spoke-person for the non-profit organization “The Childrens Kidney Trust Fund” for the past 7 years. She is also the “Caring-Star” for the Hong Kong Alzheimer’s Disease Association and the Changing Young Lives Foundation. Apart from this, Maria embraces every chance to participate in charitable activities and events, such as visiting the elderly and sick, and performing for Charity and Fund Raising Events like the 2005 South Asian Earthquake Victims Fund Raiser, the Fight Hunger 2005 Fund Raiser Concert, etc.