Turning back the hands of time

Haven’t you noticed that lately, old international performers have been serenading our local audience, and the venues are usually jam-packed to the rafters with nostalgic folks aching to relive the good old times?

The CASCADES started the ball rolling, and this friendly unassuming group has been very visible, granting several interviews on TV and probably laughing their heads off at the silly, but downright mean, rumor that circulated in the 60’s about the sudden demise of this very popular singing group in a plane crash, all in one fell swoop, after only one highly successful album. It has remained inexplicable up to now, but the Pinoys have warmed up to the Cascades again, and they certainly seem to be the real McCoys, not some relative or wannabes, and if you still have the original record, or you have a keen ear, you can discern all the nuances. I should know. I was a disc jockey in my younger days, and disc jockeying will always hold a special place in my heart of hearts.

Being unabashedly a music lover, I couldn’t resist the temptation of going to one of these retro performances, so fellow baby boomers Tony and Liz San Diego with daughter Claudine in tow, and Babes, my kids Tin Tin and Ray Louis and me trooped to the Araneta Coliseum to watch GARY LEWIS AND THE PLAYBOYS, singing sensations of the ’60s. It was in 1963 or 64 that they launched their first album with their hit song DIAMOND RING, and when they came to the Philippines to perform, at the height of their popularity, and got smitten and eventually married Filipina socialite-dancer Jinky Suzara, our kababayans were thrilled no end. The lanky bespectacled first son of Jerry Lewis, with his easy melodic singing style, became an adopted son of the Philippines.

The Dome was comfortably full. There was a good crowd of baby boomers, some with teen-aged children in tow. I must confess my own kids were not exactly thrilled by the promise of a night with Gary Lewis (my youngest Ray Louis even quipped, "Who’s he Papa?") but they did not have much say in the matter. After a few minutes and almost halfway into the huge tub of buttered pop corn we were happily munching on, the show’s openers came on stage – the BLOOM FIELDS, youngsters from De la Salle, or so my daughter Tin Tin tells me, all clad in retro formal attire. That means tight fitting suits that come just a little short around the wrist and the ankles. Did we look like that before??

Up close, those kids were too young to even have baby boomers for parents. But they rocked like they belonged to the era, and they had enough fire and spunk in them to last through the night. They breezed through old favorites like they’ve been listening to them all their lives, when their parents may not even have been around then! Amazing.

Their 30 minutes or so came to end much too fast – we were actually enjoying these young retro singers. I understand they perform at the ABS-CBN’s night spot on Tuesdays.

Then Gary Lewis and his band, "The Playboys", walked into the stage and immediately broke into an old familiar song. The crowd was pleased with that, and then he segued into another, and another, and another. Let Me Tell Your Fortune, Diamond Ring, The Night Has a Thousand Eyes, Tina, Sweet Sixteen, and many more. But Gary unfortunately did not have all that many hits before, so halfway into the show he treated us a short film clip where he first appeared with his famous Dad Jerry Lewis. Gary must have been around 10 years old in that film clip, and from his own account that was taken in 1957 (please don’t do the mathematics, he implores the crowd). Just six or seven years later, he launched his own successful singing career, and just about this time, he showed another film clip where his Dad introduced him on stage, his eyes full of pride at his first born’s successful career.

Somebody from the audience asked Gary, "How’s your Dad?" Gary answered, "He’s Fine, thank you", and then immediately launched into another set of songs, this time old favorites borrowed from others but retro just the same. When his band launched into Wooly Bully, the crowd just let go of all the inhibitions just aching to burst out at the seams. Men and women, all happily middle-aged, were clapping and swaying to the music. Several of them started lining up the aisles, the infectious beat prompting them to dance the all-too-familiar "Jerk" of the sixties. Those who were still a little too shy to jerk away with the beat simply clapped to the beat and enjoyed the sights.

After the catchy Wooly Bully, the crowd became more alive, and Gary next launched into a medley of Beatles songs, which was enjoyable, but not half as much as Wooly Bully. Then, all too suddenly, his hour-and-a half show came to an end and before we knew it, he was bidding us good-bye. I think he truly appreciated the enthusiasm of the crowd and several times during the show; a few men and women would pick up the beat and dance unabashedly in the aisles. That was nostalgia right there.

When it was evident that he really was going to call it a night, the crowd started clamoring and clapping for more. Would you believe what they were specifically asking for? Would you believe another round of Wooly Bully? No kidding. Ironically, that was really a Sham, the Sam and the Pharaohs hit.

More of these retro guys are coming, as Araneta management kept announcing prior to the show. That famous duo, PETER AND GORDON is coming this month (second time?) and the LETTERMEN! This thrills us again no end as we are great fans of the Lettermen. I understand Ovation Productions under Renen de Guia, a colleague in radio, is bringing the Lettermen over for a show on Jan. 28. Tony and I already made a pact to see this show. Must get good seats for this like we did for the Gary Lewis show which, incidentally, was made possible by Steve O’neil Productions. Of course, most of you know that Steve O’Neil is Danny Samonte in real life, and though Danny (a Beatles fan through and through) is comfortably settled by now, he continues to spin records on the air and bring in performers like the Cascades and Gary Lewis and the Playboys. Like all deejays, music is his life and continues to bring the magic of music to as many people as possible.

Believe me, if I only had the time to squeeze disc jockeying in between the four weekly TV shows that I produce and host and the two weekly columns I write, I would still be happily spinning those retro hits and loudly shouting "Yeba" in between.

Reservations are piling up

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Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be Filipino.

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