Get groovy. Reach Cloud Nine. Get high on nostalgia.
Listen to electrifying upbeat tunes of the bands that created and built the unique Taglish (or Engalog?) musical genre known as “Manila Sound” in the Philippines some four decades ago.
Savour memories inspired by songs its lyricists penned eons ago for all to hear, relate with and sing in public or in the shower.
Hang out at a near replica of the disco joint “Where Else,” and marvel at a mini-music museum therein, where “Manila Sound” memorabilia are on display.
Burn the dance floor with “maskipaps” and swing.
On September 29, do all these with The 70s Superband, at the Korean Cultural Centre.
Yes! Member-performers Nonoy Tan and Rey Magtoto of WADAB, Monet Gaskell of VST & Co., Mon Espia of Labuyo, composer-lyricist Tito Cayamanda, drummer Tek Faustino and Toronto’s own Mon Torralba of Hotdog and WADAB have teamed up to perform live in Toronto.
Most of The 70s Superband members have lately returned from a successful tour in the United Kingdom.
“This is not just a gig. This is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime grand reunion – between these recording artists and great proponents of “Manila Sound” and an audience they have been playing for through the years, whether they were the teenagers and “young once” of the 70s and 80s or the teenagers and young ones of today,” says Torralba.
Aptly said, many of the songs that members of The 70s Superband wrote, sang and played still glide through the airwaves and the Net; and still boom and echo in ballrooms and in line dances.
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Member-artists of The 70s Superband carry with them a sterling litany of musical achievements.
WADAB’s Nonoy Tan — songwriter, jingle composer, record producer, publisher and musical director – is a five-time Philippine Awit Award winner. His more popular compositions include My Love Will See You Through, You Made Me Live Again, Pag Tumatagal … Lalong Tumitibay and Simple Ka Lang.
Fellow WADAB bandmember Rey Magtoto’s Eroplanong Papel, interpreted by Lorna Galvez under Alpha Records, hit the charts in 1989.
VST & Co. vocalist Monet Gaskell of is one of the ageless and strong pipes that sent disco’s happy feet to the dance floor with hits like Ikaw Ang Aking Mahal, Magsayawan, Rock Baby Rock, Awitin Mo At Isasayaw Ko, and Swing, among others.
Another multi-Awit awardee Mon Espia, of Labuyo, is known for songs like Letting Go, Ito Ay Naganap, Get My Drift, and Somewhere In Between. This year, he finished and released Caleb’s Song, Way for the Heart and Waiting Game.
Tito Cayamanda wrote a lot of 70s hit tunes and arranged soundtracks for a number of Filipino movies too. His compositions included Pati Ang Pangarap Ko popularized by Sarah Geronimo; This Crazy Game and Photograph by Ariel Rivera.
Ferdinand “Tek” Faustino is better known as the professional drummer who played with the Powerplay Band in almost all shows and concerts and shows of famous Filipino artist Gary Valenciano, since 1989. He performed with Gary V in Canada a number of times.
And who – in Toronto’s landscape and in the Filipino-Canadian community — does not know Mon Torralba, an original member of Hotdog and WADAB? A composer, band player and musical arranger in his own right, Torralba has been a mainstay in many community events and festivals, sharing his love and passion for music to a captive audience.
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“The 70’s Superband Live in Concert” is presented by Mentor Productions in partnership with Reliable Money Remittance, TFC, FV Foods, Action Honda and Galang Law Offices; and in cooperation with Imperial Travel & Tours, Tilted Kilt Pub & Restaurant, Modelo Cosmetic Clinic, Roadsport Honda, LBC Cargo, Kabalen Restaurant, Onette Mendoza Financial Services and Trureal.
Ticket reservations may be arranged with Terry at 416-526-0873 and Teresa at 647-718-1360. Tickets are also available at FV Foods at 2085 Lawrence Ave. E.
Tickets sell at $60 each.
“It will be HISTORIC! It will be FUN! Better yet, The 70s Superband will bring back to hearts and minds the best era of a lifetime,” Torralba adds.
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This 70s Superband concert, by all intents and purposes, is a must-see for many of us who believed that long hair, street-sweeping bell bottoms, sweet love songs and upbeat dance music did influence, in a good way, the social mindset of a generation struggling to understand its place under a disconcerting martial law rule in the Philippines.
Fashion sense back in the late 60s and the 70s blended well with the tune and tempo of “Manila Sound.”
Who would not have hummed or vocalized Pers Lab and Ikaw Ang Miss Universe Ng Buhay Ko after breaking the “bakuran” to have a fleeting hold and cheek-to-cheek moment with the girlfriend, who had no idea of such an arrangement?
Or put their terpsichorean moves to the test, to the music of Annie Batungbakal, Manila and many others?
“Manila Sound” definitely kept that generation – our generation — alive.
If being and staying alive and kicking will get us together, then we should all be preparing to go to The 70s Superband live concert.
The time to see and be with – not just hear their songs and voices from vinyl records, cassette tapes and CDs and over the Net – our favourite artists is of the essence. The rare opportunity beckons on September 29.
See you at Where Else … ooops, the Korean Cultural Centre. Remember. Be there.
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How I wish my good friend Tenny Soriano (January 9, 1946 to July 22, 2018) still is in the zone.
I recall that every time a member of the barkada proposes to see band or group concerts at Casino Rama and Fallsview Casino, Tenny (as paraphrased) says: “Kung hindi na orig ang banda, duon na lang ako kay Cleopatra,” Makes sense, huh?
Tenny, besides being a seasoned journalist, and brother Gus were former band members. They played gigs in bars and clubs in Manila. Thus, Tenny had a good grasp of what music was all about – from the days of the Beatles to more contemporary pop and rock groups.
If he was here, we will go together to the 70s Superband concert. “Ito na! Puro at siguradong original.”
Pero kapag nagpakita at nagpilit sumama … eh, takbuhan na!
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Siyanga pala, muling nagpapasalamat si Myrna, maybahay ni Tenny, ang kanyang mga anak at kapamilya sa lahat ng mga kabagang, katoto, kaibigan at mga kasamahan sa media na dumalo sa paglalagay ng mga abo ni Tenny sa kanyang huling hantungan sa Pines Cemetery columbarium nitong September 1.
Myrna also expressed gratitude to all who joined them in prayer, as they celebrated the 40th day of Tenny’s passage on August 27.
With finality, I state: A Blessed and Happy Trip, Tenny. Till we meet again, my friend. #####
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Thanks and cheers, Tess.