Before they were legends! The early beginnings of Phil Music recording in the late '60s & early '70s.
Touring Japan
Noong late '60s at early '70s karamihan ng mga matitinik na bandang Pinoy ay dumadayo sa Japan. In those days in-demand ang mga bandang Pinoy dahil talagang nahiligan ng mga Hapon ang tugtugan ng mga bandang galing Pinas.
Doon sa Japan nahasa ang maraming nagsisimulang banda; touring Japan was basically "paying your dues" (ika nga) as a young Filipino band. Kaya naman pag-uwi ng banda sa Pinas from their Japan tour, ibig sabihin matindi talaga ang kanilang tugtugan at respetado sila ng mga musikero ng music community.
Before They Were Legends
This photo features The Ramrods and The YoungTones touring in Tokyo in the early '70s. The Youngtones had well-known guitarist Nestor De Las Alas, who was good friends with Ramrods members: Bob Guzman who would later form Boyfriends (famous for their hits "Sumayaw Sumunod", "Dahil Mahal Kita", & "Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal"), Celso Llarina and Snaffu Rigor, pioneers or the Manila Sound and would later form Cinderella. A few more years later Snaffu Rigor would start producing and make stars out of many OPM artists including Freddie Aguilar. Celso Llarina would later become a member of legendary disco kings and hitmakers Vst & Company.
Early Recording & Vicor
Dalawang generation ang Ramrods: 1st Gen featured Orly Ilacad, 2nd Gen featured younger brothers Guy and Sonny. Orly Ilacad was the co-founder of Vicor Records which he established with Vic Del Rosario. Wala pang mainstream recording company ang Manila noon, at nagsimula ang maliit na recording company sa Paco. Karamihan ng early singles na nilabas ng Vicor ay mga kanta nila Nora Aunor at Tirso Cruz and other matinee idols of the period. Ang backing band na madalas tumutugtog sa mga recording sessions usually consisted of Ramrods members, pati na rin si Spanky Rigor who played in Purple People, Cinderella, Blackbuster, then later VST & Company.
Magandang tingnan ang espesyal na litratong na ito. Maraming mga masasayang alaala ang nakaukit sa mga mukha ng mga nakangiting musikero. Dahil sa kanilang pagmahal sa musika ay nasimulan ang mainstream recording industry sa Pilipinas na nagbigay buhay sa culturang sariling atin.
For more Phil Music history and nostalgia read: Nostalgia Manila Exclusive interview with Roger Rigor of VST & Company.
Technorati Tags:60s, 70s, music, nostalgia
10 comments:
my uncle was one of the original rainmakers. he was the one who composed the song binibini, which have been revived several times - first my janno gibbs and now the brownman revival. rainmakers and the apo hiking society were contemporaries in their time and it would be interesting to learn why their career paths took opposite directions.
What happened to the members of the Rainmakers now? "Binibini" is their most famous song. Aside from that, I can't remember other songs of The Rainmmakers. Maybe, they sang mostly English songs? Does your uncle get royalties each time his song is sang or where the rights exclusively owned by Vicor?
Binibini is a classic! I love that song! Everyone does. I'm not actually a fan of revivals, especially those by bands of today! These bands of the younger generation cover legendary hits because they don't possess the natural talent needed to compose a classic. Original hits of the '70s will never be surpassed.
Other Rainmakers favorites are Ale,Ale and Sinta (Can't Last a Day Without You). Ganito yung senti mood ko dati, I'll turn on the tape recorder and play these songs tapos hihiga sa kama at tutunganga sa ceiling. OK, maglalakbay na yung isip ko...
Nostalgia Manila, please also interview the Main Man, Ramón "RJ" Jacinto.
Guys, can anyone remember one of the best touring and session bands of the 70's? The Larry Matias Orchestra, it was a big band touring the Middle East, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam. They even backed Dionne Warwick and Engelbert Humperdink in one of their tours in Japan. The Matias brothers were great. The founder Larry died in the 90's. One of the active brothers is Jerry Matias, who used to share keyboards in Eat Bulaga also during opening numbers. Other members are still on tour. Many have gone and the group's lineup has changed over the years. Some have formed other touring bands, some were sessionist, and some went on their private lives. I knew them, I saw the history. My father was one of the vocalist of the band, Johnny Laguatan. Larry Matias was my godfather. I'll be sharing a couple of photos and stories by my dad with the band and encounters with other top pinoy bands then. Those were the days, the good ol' days. =)
hi peachy,
you said your uncle was one of the original rainmakers, a group i really liked. is it possible to get (buy) cds of their songs? can't find them in the market. i used to have cassette tapes, but these are now all gone.
Kristoperson said...
Guys, can anyone remember one of the best touring and session bands of the 70's? The Larry Matias Orchestra, it was a big band touring the Middle East, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam. They even backed Dionne Warwick and Engelbert Humperdink in one of their tours in Japan. The Matias brothers were great. The founder Larry died in the 90's. One of the active brothers is Jerry Matias, who used to share keyboards in Eat Bulaga also during opening numbers. Other members are still on tour. Many have gone and the group's lineup has changed over the years. Some have formed other touring bands, some were sessionist, and some went on their private lives. I knew them, I saw the history. My father was one of the vocalist of the band, Johnny Laguatan. Larry Matias was my godfather. I'll be sharing a couple of photos and stories by my dad with the band and encounters with other top pinoy bands then. Those were the days, the good ol' days. =)----->I wonder why ngayon ko lang nabasa ito. This is Larry Matias' Youngest daughter. How I wish you can share those photos. So if ninong mo si dad, that makes you my "kinakapatid".. My name is Rowie and I am 25 years old. I hope you can share me some of their pictures. Thanks. Here's my email address: tashyrowie26@gmail.com
maraming salamat po sir sa article. dagdag ko rin po, na isa sa haligi ng pinoy rock na si mike hanopol at pepe smith, ay sumalang din sa japan, zero history po ata ang banda kung di ako nagkakamali. In fact, ang status ni Pepe the hepe sa japan ay legendary, even before pa nabuo nila ang astig na juan de la cruz sa pinas. Kasama po si pepe sa isang japanese supergroup na speed, glue and shinki nuong 70's, isang notorious na rock and roll/psychedelic band, bilang bokalista, drummer at songwriter. Kasama nya po dito ang kino-considered na Jimmy Hendrix ng japan na si shinki chen. Hanggang ngayon po ay marami paring pong naghahanap ng album nila, lalo na sa mga kolektor ng music sa buong mudo, at sumasaludo sa groundbreaking music nila. thank you po sir and more power po.
Kristoperson, I would love to see photos of the Larry Matias Orchestra. I was also once, one of the singers, though only for a short time cuz I was recruited by another band.
Thanks,
Babes
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