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.

May magandang kwentong nakaukit sa litratong ito. Ang kwentong ito ay tungkol sa makulay na pagsimula ng OPM recording industry ng Pilipinas.

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.



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