Italian/Eng/Nat Story: Vatican Concert Date: December 18th Location: Vatican, Rome International singing stars TOM JONES and MIRIAM MAKEBA performed for Pope John Paul II at a special Christmas concert at the Vatican in Rome on Saturday (18th December). The concert, which has become an annual event, also featured American singer JENNIFER PAIGE, gospel singer SANDRA REAVES, Canadian pianist and child prodigy WESLEY CHU, German singer SASHA and the Choir of the Swiss Guards. South African Makeba was delighted to have been asked to perform: "I never thought I would be standing in that hall that belongs to the Vatican when I was running in the streets without shoes in my township". Jennifer Paige, who had a hit single worldwide with "Crush" last year, was also overwhelmed. "It was actually very incredible for me to meet the Pope", she said. "It was one thing that I never imagined I would do in my life". For the finale at the Paul VI Auditorium, all the singers performed the Christmas classic 'Silent Night'. The whole performance will be aired on Italian television on December 24th. Welsh singer Tom Jones is simply known as 'The Voice'. He was born in 1940, the son of a coalminer. His raunchy onstage antics and belting voice have made him a star since the midsixties. His biggest hits include 'Delilah', 'It's Not Unusual' and 'What's New Pussycat?' On his latest album, 'Reload', Jones duetted with Van Morrison, the Cardigans, the Stereophonics, Robbie Williams, Cerys Matthews from Catatonia and James Dean Bradfield from the Manic Street Preachers, among others. Miriam Makeba is also known as 'The Empress of African Song' and 'Mama Africa'. She started her singing career with the popular South African band The Manhattan Brothers and first drew international attention through her brief appearance in the documentary 'Come Back Africa',an attack on apartheid. Harry Belafonte invited her over to America and together they toured the world for many years. But when Makeba tried to return to her country in the early '60s she was denied entry, and her records were baned in South Africa. In the meantime, her international career blossomed with hit singles like 'Pata Pata' and 'Unify Us, Don't Deny Us.' In 1990 Makeba was allowed to return to South Africa. Although always regarding herself as a singer and not as a politician, Miriam Makeba's fearless humanitarianism has earned her many international awards. 24yearold Jennifer Paige from Atlanta scored an international hit with her first single 'Crush'. Her selftitled debut album also sold well, particularly in the US. Wesley Chu is just eight years old. At the age of three, he was giving small piano concerts in public. At four years and nine months, he became the youngest student at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Calgary, Canada. He completed a tenyear course in just twelve months, achieving a merit at the age of five. As well as playing for the Pope, Wesley has also played for the Queen of England. Sasha is one of the most promising faces on the European scene. His first single 'I'm Still Waiting' topped the German, Austrian and Swiss charts. His second single 'If you Believe' sold 750,000 copies in Germany alone. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/5e1fc7aa024b93b929b055db33c11fc0 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 24 Jul 2015
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