FilAm group Legaci rockets to fame with Justin Bieber

Pop sensation Justin Bieber has company on the stages he's been storming. Discovered on YouTube just like the shaggy-haired teen idol was Legaci - a group of four Filipino-American R&B singers who are part of a wave of Pinoy talent cresting in America. Before making it to Saturday Night Live and Ellen, Legaci could be found auditioning for talent shows everywhere. You name it, they tried it. The late ’90s found the group as part of a larger Filipino R&B boom in Northern California alongside groups like Pinay, DNH and Kai. They circuited the clubs and college campuses, released two albums and auditioned for television talent competitions with open calls: “American Idol," “The Sing Off," “America’s Got Talent" and MTV’s “Top Pop Group." Despite their obvious talent, they weren't getting any big breaks. So they turned to YouTube. Which turned out to be a good thing, because it was through their YouTube video of Bieber's runaway hit "Baby" that they skyrocketed to invisible fame. The video had been posted for just one day when Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, invited Legaci to join them. A week after the call, Legaci found themselves rehearsing with Bieber in New York and performing live with Bieber on MTV, and on New York's top pop radio station Z100. This time, their talent isn't going unrecognized, despite being overshadowed by Bieber, who is, of course, still in the spotlight. Bieber has adjusted his set to give way for Legaci to perform one of their own songs. While most of their exposure now is shared with Bieber - many of their Twitter followers and YouTube subscribers are also Bieber fans - Legaci may just be making it big on their own. A record deal with Braun is already in the works. Asian-Americans are a rarity onstage, but the gates to the mainstream are opening a bit wider as Legaci joins the ranks of Charice Pempengco, the Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger, and Allan Pineda - more popularly known as Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas. —VS/HS, GMANews.TV