The song, played and replayed over AM stations, follows the tradition of jukebox materials the likes of which April Boy Regino and Renz Verano, and Victor Wood and the late Eddie Peregrina before them, sang.
But the sad part is, so little is known about the voice behind But If You Leave Me. Few people really know who Von Arroyo is. So his producers, Viva Records, the same company behind his second album Mr. Lonely, decided to give him the push he needs.
Von surprised members of the entertainment press when they found out that the voice behind such vintage songs as Mr. Lonely (originally sung by Eddie Peregrina), But If You Leave Me, a Tagalized version of If You’re Not Here By my Side, Knife and Michael Jackson’s Happy, is not some buttoned-up balladeer. He is a young man who can pass off as a boy band member or part of a hip hop dance group. His outfit was anything but buttoned-up. He wore a pair of striped pants topped with sleeveless shirt.
Von’s was an early start in the business. He auditioned, and passed Ryan Cayabyab’s exacting standards to become part of the 14K singing group, batch one. Von was only 13 then. With him was another recording artist, Jeffrey Hidalgo.
In-between his studies, Von joined bands such as Boyz Ovher and Von’s Army, which the singer himself formed. After graduating cum laude, with a degree in mass communication from the Perpetual Help College, Von signed a contract with Viva Records.
Viva executive Pat Castillo hit upon the idea of grooming Von as another singing idol of the masses. Judging from the positive response to Von’s revival songs, Pat couldn’t have been more right.
Viva is banking on the same formula again in Von’s second album, whose cover includes a teardrop falling down the singer’s boyish face, and the words "Mr. Lonely" displayed at the top.
There is another aspect to Von’s talent that comes in handy in his musical career. The guy composes music. In fact, he joined the Metropop once with the entry Wish You Were Mine, which he himself interpreted.
Trust this guy to come up with new melodies, new rhythms as he moves on.
And now that Viva has finally given that mysterious voice a face and a name (a Luzon tour has been lined up to promote his latest single), trust Von Arroyo to build on that name the best way he knows how: through talent and a personality oozing with boyish charm.