All about The Dawn

Reader Gayle Eiko Yoshikawa Zialcita sent in a list of questions inquiring about The Dawn. This was a bit of a surprise since I had always assumed that everybody knew The Dawn and what happened to Teddy Diaz and how the band is doing these days. Then I realized that The Dawn is a 15-year-old band and if Gayle is a teen-ager then she and many other people her age do not really know anything about The Dawn.

I am not an expert on The Dawn. All I really know about the group is the music I hear and what I read in the papers but I will try to answer Gayle’s queries as best as I can.

Here goes:

Q. How did founder and lead guitarist Teddy Diaz die violently? What happened which led to his sudden death? How old was he when he died? If he was a student, what was he aspiring to become? What was his career path before his death?

A. Teddy Diaz had just visited his girlfriend in Tatalon, Quezon City when he was stabbed in the throat by unidentified assailants for no known reason on Aug. 21, 1988. He was 25 years old. At the time of his death he was a music student at the PWU with guitar as his major.

Q. Name the original band members other than Teddy Diaz. Were they barkada in school?

A. The original members who formed The Dawn in 1986 were guitarist Diaz, bassist Clay Luna and drummer JB Leonor. Vocalist Jett Pangan was chosen during auditions. I do not know if they were barkada in school but they were initially friends. Clay left a few months later and was replaced by Carlos Balcells. Noel Mendez was Teddy’s first replacement. He was followed by Atsushi Matsuura.

Q. How did they begin and progress along the way?

A. I suppose The Dawn started the way most bands do. Doing little gigs here and there, getting signed with a label and then doing the big concerts after the album starts to sell.

Q. Where were their gigs regularly held?

A. I don’t really know much about this but the first concert was at Roxy’s and then there was the big show at Light and Sound. There were also memorable performances at the ULTRA and the Folk Arts Theater.

Q. How many recordings did the original group make?

A. The original group recorded two albums, The Dawn and I Stand with You.

Q. How many albums do The Dawn, from beginning to present have now including Prodigal Sons?

A. Aside from those previously mentioned, I believe there was also Beyond the Bend.

Q. Where are the original members now since they went their own way?

A. The Dawn today is made up of Jett Pangan, Carlos Balcells, Atsushi Matsuura, Francis Reyes and JB Leonor. This group has only recorded one album and done some select performances so I suppose they are also busy with other things besides being The Dawn.

Q. From their start to the present, what are their hit songs and how long did each song last on the hit chart list? How many weeks each?

A. Unlike in other countries there are really no records or official charts about hit songs so I cannot give you a definite answer. Some of the hits were Love Will Set Us Free, Enveloped Ideas, Dreams, Susi, Salamat and Rock Till You Drop.

Q. From the original group, did they all write and sing their music, or were just some of them writers and singers? Which ones?

A. I am not too sure which ones but The Dawn is known for originals so I believe each member contributes the writing and the arranging.

Q. The Japanese band member, Atsushi Matsuura, how did he join The Dawn?

A. Atsushi was born in Japan but had been living in Manila for quite sometime when he joined The Dawn. He is also a solo performer with his own albums.

Q. You wrote, the sudden death of Teddy caused widespread mourning and capitulated the band to greater heights. Please describe the ‘widespread mourning’.

A. Aside from his senseless, violent death at a very young age, Teddy was the son of the famous stage, film and television actor Vic Diaz. Then there was The Dawn, which had just attained stardom. People feel for artists snatched by death in their youth. The band’s first concert after his death became a tribute to Teddy and saw an outpouring of grief among The Dawn’s followers. Needless to say, tickets were completely sold out.

Q. Do you have a scrapbook of articles about them? I’d like to read about them. Could I have a look?

A. Sure, you may look, but the problem is I am way passed the scrapbook age and I do not have one.