Manila Sound - Artists

Artists

Hotdog: The brothers Dennis Garcia, Rene Garcia and Jerss Garcia created the legendary Hotdog band in the mid-70s, a reconfiguration of an earlier band called Red Fox, which spawned what became known globally as the 'Manila Sound'.

Crafting melodic, radio-friendly pop songs, Hotdog etched an indelible mark in Philippine music history with multi-generational chart toppers like "Manila", "Annie Batungbakal", "Bongga Ka Day", "Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko", "Pers Lab", "Langit na Naman", and "Behhh, Buti Nga", among others. Apart from dominating Manila's music charts, Hotdog was instrumental in bringing the quality of local pop music on par with international standards.

Baby Gil, Philippine Star's influential entertainment columnist, observed: "Hotdog killed colonial mentality in pop music with its phenomenal original music. Suddenly it was cool to talk Taglish and listen to a Pinoy band. But a decade before that, the current Filipino songs were "God Knows" by Pablo Vergara and "Sapagka't Kami ay Tao Lamang" by Tony Marquez that teen-aged buyers would never be caught dead with."

The songs of Hotdog (written and produced by the siblings Dennis and Rene Garcia) heavily influenced and sowed the seeds of Original Pilipino Music or OPM that was to later emerge in the late 1970s. Also for the first time, local songs begun to dominate the Philippine music scene (then monopolized by American pop and rock songs) and establish the style and identity of mainstream Filipino music. Since then, songs by Hotdog have been used in movies, television and radio commercials, videoke products, cellphone ringtones, and so forth.

In a nation of musically-inclined people, Hotdog's songs are probably among the most recognized and revered. Hotdog also paved the way for the spectacular solo musical careers of its female singers like Ella del Rosario, Zsa Zsa Padilla and Maso Diez.

VST and Company: This group started out with the famous Sotto Brothers. The group scored a number of disco hits such as "Disco Fever", "Awitin Mo Isasayaw Ko", "Kiss Kiss", "Step No Step Yes", "Swing", "Tayo'y Magsayawan", and "Rock Baby Rock", as well as the romantic ballads "Ikaw Ang Aking Mahal" and "Ipagpatawad Mo". Currently, VST and Company has incorporated Bossa Nova influences in its music as evidenced by its album, The Bossa Nova Collection: VST and Company. The group also help launched the careers of some Filipino artists, particularly that of Sharon Cuneta.

The Boyfriends: Band famous for the song "Sumayaw, Sumunod", which became a big disco hit. Other popular singles include the disco songs "Araw-araw, Oras-oras" and "Dance With Me", and the love ballads "Nais Kong Malaman Mo", "First Love", and "Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal".

Soul Jugglers: Funk band that released the singles "Hanggang Magdamag" and "Pinoy Disko".

Cinderella: Pop band more commonly known for its love songs, particularly enduring classics such as "T.L. Ako Sa'yo", "Bato Sa Buhangin", "Sa Aking Pag-iisa", "Ang Boyfriend kong Baduy", "May Crush Ako Sa 'Yo", "Pag-ibig Ko'y Ibang Iba", "Superstar ng Buhay Ko", and "Tulak Ng Bibig, Kabig Ng Dibdib". Cecile Colayco and the late Yolly Samson were lead vocalists. In its later output, Cinderella incorporated Bossa Nova in its repertoire, as exemplified in the album The Bossa Nova Collection: Cinderella.

Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society: More popularly known as the APO Hiking Society, their album releases from 1975 to 1980 included many popular singles, including "Softly", "Love Is For Singing", "Mahirap Magmahal ng Syota Ng Iba", "Show Me A Smile", "Bakit Ang Babae Sa Tagal Ng Pagsasama (tila Mas Mahirap Maintindihan)", "Batang-Bata Ka Pa", "Nakapagtataka", "Kabilugan Ng Buwan", and "Pumapatak Ang Ulan". APO started out as a large musical ensemble, but was later reduced to a trio consisting of Jim Paredes, Danny Javier and Buboy Garovillo, which achieved great success during the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. In December 2009, APO announced its plans for retiring from active performance, citing "diminished creative processes". After a series of warmly-received concerts in February 2010, the group officially disbanded. Kami nAPO Muna, a tribute album, is a latter-day release.

Sampaguita: Folk rock band renowned for the hit singles "Bonggahan", "Tao", and "Nosi Ba Lasi", among other songs.

Hagibis: Song-and-dance male group known for its disco hits "Katawan", "Lalake", "Legs", "Nanggigigil Ako", "Babae", and "Ilagay Mo Kid". The group's musical and performing style nearly parallels that of the American disco group The Village People.

Rey Valera: Pop artist and singer-songwriter known for releasing a string of romantic ballads including "Di Mo Pansin", "Kamusta Ka", "Kung Kailangan Mo Ako", "Maging Sino Ka Man", "Malayo Pa Ang Umaga", "Naalaala Ka", "Pangako Sa Iyo", "Kung Tayo'y Magkalayo", and "Kahit Maputi Na ang Buhok Ko", among others. He made his first appearance in music with the group Electric Hair Band.

Sharon Cuneta: Pop singer/screen actress who started her musical career as a twelve-year old in 1979 when she released a Rey Valera composition entitled "Mr. DJ". She also recorded a cover version of "I-swing Mo Ako", which was a VST & Co. original release. Two other singles, "Kahit Maputi Na ang Buhok Ko" (another Rey Valera composition) and "High School Life" also received considerable airplay. She later successfully crossed over into OPM, retaining and even increasing her commercial appeal.

Florante: Folk-pop artist who recorded the inspirational song, "Handog". He is also known for the hit songs "Ako'y Isang Pinoy", "ABaKaDa", "Pinay", and "Sana".

Rico J. Puno: Soul balladeer acclaimed for a number of hit songs, including "Lupa", "Damdamin", "May Bukas Pa", "Kapalaran", "Macho Gwapito", "Sorry Na Puede Ba", and "Diyos ang Pag-ibig", among many others. After the collapse of the Manila Sound, he remained popular with the emergent OPM (Original Pilipino Music) genre. At present, he continues to perform locally and internationally. He is likewise famed for recasting American pop songs (e.g. "The Way We Were") with Tagalog lyrics with the aim of reaching a bigger sector of the listening public.

Other artists/bands that contributed to Manila Sound include ABC Express ("Magandang Binibini (I Love You)"), Asin ("Itanong Mo Sa Mga Bata"), Azul ("O Pag-ibig"), Blue Jeans ("Paniwalaan Mo"), Bong Peñera and the Batucada ("Samba Song"), Celeste Legaspi ("Saranggola Ni Pepe", "Mamang Sorbetero", "Tuliro", "Gaano Kita Kamahal"), Cherie Gil ("Boy"), Ella del Rosario ("Mr. Disco", "Lagi Na Lamang", "Shake It Baby"), Fred Panopio ("Ang Kawawang Cowboy", "Bilmoko", "Pitong Gatang"), Jose Mari Chan ("Can We Just Stop and Talk Awhile", "Refrain"), Juan de la Cruz Band ("Ang Himig Natin"), Junior ("Yakap"), Labuyo ("Tuloy Pa Rin"), Rainmakers ("Binibini", "OK Sa Akin", "You and Me", "Miss Maganda"), Tito Mina ("Ikaw Pa Rin", "Honey", "Got To Let You Know", "Both In Love"), and Wadab ("Pag Tumatagal Lalong Tumitibay", "Iniibig Kita").