How a Fil-Am couple's viral music landed a major record contract

ALHAMBRA, California – Filipino-American Carissa Rae Alvarado and her husband Mike have hit the big time, doing it 6 seconds at a time.

Known as 'Us the Duo', the couple became the first Vine Sensations to be signed to a major record deal when Republic Record signed them.

"It's crazy all of this just happened so quickly. We didn't realize we were going to get so many followers from this app, but we kind of just stayed consistent and kept on doing it. People like it so it was a lot of fun and for it to blow up the way it did, we're just really grateful that it all worked out that way," Carissa said.

Vine allows users to loop a six second video filming just their mouths and instruments. The southern California-based couple has amassed some nearly 5 million Vine followers with their six second covers of hit songs from pop to classics.

"We just try to find the most recognizable 6 seconds of a song. Whatever the hook is and we can probably do 10 seconds of it and cut it down into 6. It's funny how our brain works in 6 second increments. So we listen to the radio and that was 6 seconds," Mike said.

When they do break out of their 6 second box, 'Us the Duo' isn't shy to show their lovey-dovey side in music video form.

Both Carissa and Mike were solo artists who met on a music video set in 2011.

Despite Mike living in North Carolina, the two were married a year later and are now inseparable.

After signing with Republic records, they did the soundtrack for the animated film the 'Book of Life'.

They were then invited to appear with Oprah during her 'The Life You Want Weekend' tour.

"We never could have imagined that we could be doing what we love with the one we love. It's a scary thing to get on stage, to go in front of thousands of people and play music. But when you look next to your left, and see your best friend, it makes it a lot easier," Mike said.

Carissa and Mike will be on the road together opening for music sensation Capitol Record signee Torry Kelly.

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source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Marquez survives knockdown to beat Alvarado

LOS ANGELES -- Mexican veteran Juan Manuel Marquez rallied from a ninth-round knockdown to win a unanimous decision over Mike Alvarado in a 12-round non-title welterweight fight Saturday.

The 40-year-old Marquez, who scored a knockdown of his own in the eighth, has likely earned a shot at a fifth fight with Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao with this victory.

"He was strong, fast and very worthy," Marquez said of Alvarado. "I wanted to put on a good performance for the fans."

Marquez dominated the early rounds but then had his hands full in the second half of the fight as the hard-punching Alvarado showed a lot of heart in coming back from being knocked down.

Marquez improved to 56-7-1 as two judges scored it 117-109 and the third had it 119-108. He also landed more punches, 278-178, than Alvarado in front of a crowd of 12,090 at The Forum arena.

Marquez knocked Alvarez down late in the eighth round with a blistering right hand on the chin that was set up by a left jab. Alvarado got up just in time to hear the bell sound, ending the round.

The knockdown seemed to help wake up the 33-year-old American as he came out for the ninth with more energy and focus. With just over two minutes left in the round, he got into a wild exchange and beat Marquez to the punch with a short right that dropped the seven-time world champion to the canvas.

Alvarado also staggered Marquez twice in the fight, hurting him in the seventh with a similar short right hand then almost knocking him down again in the 11th. Marquez's knees bent and he fell back slightly but somehow managed to stay on his feet.

'I like wars'

"I like wars," Alvarado said.

In between rounds, Alvarado's corner kept urging their fighter to "beat up this old man up."

"It was a great fight," said Alvarado. "He felt the power from me. It was a good experience."

Alvarado, who fell to 34-3, took a lot of punishment in the first six rounds and fought the second half of the fight with a cut under his left eye.

Alvarado said he wishes he had been busier in the first six rounds. "I was warming up a little too much before getting off. I needed to let my hands go," Alvarado said.

Marquez, who has won titles in four weight classes, is expected to next fight Pacquiao in the fall which would be their fifth bout. In 2012, Marquez spectacularly knocked out the Filipino congressman in fight number four in Las Vegas.

Asked if he wants to fight "Pacman" one more time, Marquez sounded more like a promoter than a challenger. "I don't know at the moment, but whatever decision it will be good for me, my family, and all my Mexican fans."

This marked the first boxing match at the refurbished Forum facility in 13 years. Marquez kept his perfect record intact at The Forum as he fought there several times as a much younger boxer.

This was the second straight defeat for former champ Alvarado who lost to Ruslan Provodnikov in his last fight.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com