Martin Ramon Nievera was born on February 5, 1962, in Manila, Philippines together with twin sister, Victoria, to Bert Nievera & Conchita Razon. Nievera spent most of his childhood in Hawaii together with his father as his father sang for the group S.O.S. (a.k.a. A Society of Seven). Inspired by his father's talent and success, he returned to the Philippines in 1982 to begin his own singing career and by June 1982 he released his first LP, Martin...Take One, with the album reaching platinum in just five months. Martin also began co-hosting the TV variety show Penthouse Live! together with Pops Fernandez, the Philippines' "Concert Queen," who would later become his wife. Martin's second LP, 1984's "The Best Gift", also reached platinum. In 1987, Penthouse Live! was changed to Martin and Pops Twogether, in celebration of their marriage. Martin's affable on-stage personality had mass appeal, and throughout the 80s and 90s his albums and live performances were fanatically devoured. After his marriage to Pops, with whom he has two sons, Ram and Robin, failed in 1998, he wrote and recorded music for the sole purpose of winning her back, which he called Forever. Even though he didn?t succeed, the music ended up in the hands of the public and rose to become a best-selling music collection. The two sequels, Forever Forever and Return to Forever are also about the split. Both of these albums hit platinum sales as well.