Pinoy Entertainment News, Balitang Showbiz, Viva Entertainment

Smith was a member of the nationalistic and the seminal Philippine rock group, the Juan dela Cruz Band along with fellow musicians, Wally Gonzales and Mike Hanopol. "Juan dela Cruz" is the recognized term for the "everyman" in Philippine society. The Juan dela Cruz Band initiated the rock music revolution in the Philippines, veering away from covers of foreign hit songs and focusing on original songwriting. The trio has always been credited of spearheading the Pinoy Rock genre in the Philippine music industry.

Smith was also a member of the Japanese rock trio, Speed, Glue & Shinki, an interest in amphetamines being the attribution for the "Speed" moniker in the name of the band.



Joey "Pepe" Smith solo artist and member of the Juan de la Cruz Band, Himig Natin, Balong Malalim, Teacher's Enemy Number 1

 

Mike Hanopol

Started as musician/guitarist for many different bands. Bands like Jungle Cats, Downbeats, Bulwarks, Chetniks, Glenmores Band, and others, bass player for Juan de la Cruz Band and Singer Songwriter, Arranger as well.

 

Went solo and recorded the first hit song Buhay Musikero. Followed by multitudes of hits like Laki sa Layaw, Jeproks.  Then with subsequent hits like Mr. Kenkoy, Kayabangan, Awiting Pilipino, No Touch, Tulungan Natin, Upos na Lang, Bayan ni Juan, Buhay Amerika, Chelsea, Pusong Bakal, Umiikot –ikut, Baguhin ang mundo, and much more.

 

Then with the advent of “Hagibis” wrote most of their songs, Katawan, Legs, Babae, Mama Monchang, Ilagay mo Kid, and much more.

 

Much more hits like Balong Malalim, Panahon, Divisoria, Project, Kahit Anong Mangyari, and more. Finally his last recorded album released thru Warner  Phil, entitled  “Lagablab” with the hit song “Maghihintay”. Mike Hanopol solo artist and also of the Juan de la Cruz Band Laki Sa Layaw (Jeproks), Buhay Musikero, No Touch.

 

 

 

 

 

Lolita

It was the combination of indigenous musical instruments like the bamboo flute, the kudyapi, higalong, kulintang and dabakan with pop arrangements that easily distinguished the music group Asin from other folk pop artists of the 70's era. But what made their songs truly memorable was the smoky tones of vocalist Lolita Carbon.

 

Asin was made up of Pendong Aban on bass; Nonoy Pillora Jr. on acoustic guitar; Saro Banares, lead guitarist and Lolita as vocalist and rhythm guitarist. They made hits out of their own compositions that included Masdan Mo Ang Kapaligiran, Pagbabalik, Itanong Mo Sa Mga Bata, Ang Bayan Kong Sinilangan, Orasyon, Mahiwagang Tao, Sinisinta Kita, Sayang Ka, Ludima, Lagablab Sa Katimugan, Mahal Kong Panaginip and Para Sa Iyo.

 

Singer-songwriter Florante de Leon, popularly known simply as "Florante", emerged as the early leading exponent of Pinoy Folk-Rock during DZRJ-AM radio boom in Manila during the 1970s. Florante is a Filipino folk singer, guitarist, songwriter. He is most famous for composing the hit ballad, "Handog" and several other enduring modern Filipino songs, including "Ako'y Isang Pinoy", "Abakada", "Digmaan" and "Pinay". Other singer-songwriters in his wake during the emergence of OPM included Freddie Aguilar and Heber Bartolome.

Florante's witty stage patter and memorable lyrics reveal a weathered and multi-talented performer, a “one-man-show” plucking his guitar. Not surprisingly, a songwriter's character is usually reflected in compositions. It has been said that the true character of a man is gleaned in his writings or compositions, because no writer or composer can ever generate imaginative work without involving his innermost feeling and thought. In real life, Florante is a very kind hearted man; a loving father who dedicate his life taking care of his family, particularly his wife and children. In every rehearsal and public performance, you will see Florante together with his family.

 

 

Heber Bartolome & Banyuhay

Heber Bartolome acquired his music education from his parents. His father was a rondalla band leader who also made guitars and violins. His mother was a sarswela singer. He learned how to play the guitar and the banduria as a child. This coupled with growing up in Cabanatuan in an environment steeped in folk and religious music became the root for the nationalistic bent of Heber's music.

 He got his degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines. He was a member of the ROTC Band, the UP Concert Chorus and on his own a singer in the folkhouse circuit around Manila singing the songs of The Beatles and Bob Dylan. He formed his group Banyuhay in 1975. He also began to play his own original compositions, combined folk, rock, blues and ethnic rhythms and which mostly commented on social ills.

 

 His first hit was Nena, about a lady of the night and the reasons for her predicament. He next scored big time with Tayo'y Mga Pinoy. The song was a finalist at the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival in 1978. Some of his other compositions are Karaniwang Tao, Almusal, May Panahon Pa, Pasahero and Inutil Na Gising. He also wrote the music for the musical Ibong Adarna.

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