Music Career
Puno introduced himself and his talent to the entertainment business by performing at folk houses and small clubs in Metro Manila. In 1975, while singing at the Palazzi, Puno met and performed with the American Motown group, The Temptations. Puno’s talent was later noticed by the executive producers from Vicor Records (now Vicor Music). His first record was Love Won't Let Me Wait, while his first big hit was the Tagalog-infused The Way We Were.
In 1976, Puno won the Aliw Award for Most Promising Entertainer. Two years later, he became Aliw's Entertainer of the Year. His Rico in Concert show at the Cultural Center of the Philippines launched him as one of the foremost Philippine pop stars.
In 1977, Puno covered the Carpenters song Merry Christmas Darling from his 1st Christmas Album, The Spirit of Christmas which was originallly sung by Karen Carpenter.
In 1978, Puno’s popularity and his regular concerts at the Araneta Coliseum (now SMART Araneta Coliseum) in Quezon City and his performance tours in the United States broke records in terms of audience attendance. His fame also made him into a sought-after product endorser including advertisements for San Miguel Beer Corporation in the 1970s.
In 1979, Puno represented the Philippines at the Tokyo Music Festival in 1979, with Lupa (Ground), a song that imparted messages on how an individual could strive to change for the better, on how to gain humility and other human values, on how not to judge others, and on how to struggle against one’s own weaknesses.
From 2001, the Greatest Hits series in Manila, produced by Viva Concerts helped maintain Puno’s popularity. These Greatest Hits concerts brought him together with other Greatest Hitmakers in the Philippine music scene during the 1980s, namely Philippine pop icons: Hajji Alejandro, Rey Valera, Nonoy Zuñiga and Marco Sison.
He also covered the song Ang Huling El-Bimbo in 2005 and originally composed by Ely Buendia, who was originally from the Eraserheads.
He also covered the song Mabuti Pa Sila in 2010 and originally composed and recorded by Gary Granada.
During Puno’s recent performances, he is often joined on stage by his oldest daughter, Tosca Camille. Rico's son is also a singer and a band member.
Read more about this topic: Rico J. Puno
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