Simon Wood ready for stardom

There is a new music artist in town. He is tall, young, very talented and named Simon Wood. He plays several musical instruments. Take guitar, piano, drums, Korg x 5d keyboard. He also writes songs, arranges them and can even take over the controls at the recording studio to mix and master his works or maybe edit his music videos. He also has this singing style that is a cross between soulful emo rock and our plaintive kundiman.

This is all very impressive and should help propel Simon to stardom. But the guy has mighty big shoes to fill and everything he does will surely be minutely scrutinized by the public. That is only to be expected, more so nowadays when everybody already knows that this aspiring idol is the son of the ’70s jukebox hero, the legendary Victor Wood. Simon’s dad is considered one of the biggest selling recording artists of all time in the history of Philippine pop music.

Victor came to prominence during the late ’60s and rode to the top of the charts through jukebox friendly recordings of old favorites. Although his first big seller, I’m Sorry My Love, was an original by Daryl Boy Garcia, it was his series of covers that clinched his claim to fame. Among his best remembered covers were Eternally, Sweet Caroline, Carmelita, Cheryl Moana Marie, Teen-age Señorita and Filipino originals like In Despair and Inday ng Buhay Ko. A tall and handsome mestizo, he was also a popular movie actor and concert and TV performer.

Victor is also a painter who has exhibited his works several times. He dabbled as well in politics until he decided to retire from the limelight and live in the United States. It was there where he married Ophelia Mercado and settled in California. Their two children, Sidney and Simon were born and brought up there. Victor returned to the Philippines six years ago and the family has since then traveled back and forth in the Philippines and the US.

Simon has not done much traveling lately though. He spent the past year working on his first album for Viva Records. He got lots of assist from Dad of course, laying down tracks in their studio in Antipolo through many all-night sessions. And from Vic del Rosario Jr., the same man who as vice-president of Vicor Music Corp. steered Victor’s career to the top for 40 years ago. From a collection of over 30 songs, Simon and producer Civ Fontanilla picked out their Top 12 favorites that made the final cut.

Titled simply SW by Simon Wood and the CD is a mix of pop covers and jukebox revivals with one of Simon’s own originals, Pangarap Ko Natupad Sa’Yo. The instant winner among first time listeners though is Luluha Ka Rin. The song was composed and recorded by Victor’s Malupit Na Pag-ibig in the early ’70s for his album Ako Ay Pilipino. Simon brought a modern touch to the arrangement by rocking it a bit and going all emo with his vocals. It sounds like a big hit.

SW also includes Love Will Keep Us Alive by The Eagles; Everything I Own by Bread; Pangako by The Flippers; What Am I Living For by his Dad’s biggest rival, the other Jukebox King Eddie Peregrina; How Can I Tell Her by Lobo; Don’t Fade Away by Acosta-Russell; Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton; Every Breath You Take by the Police; Muntik Nang Maabot ang Langit by True Faith; and Next In Line, the modern classic composed by Wency Cornejo and popularized by the band Afterimage.

Now that his album is in the stores, Simon should be able to catch up on his travel bit. But his next trips will not be for pleasure. It will be all work. He is joining Sarah Geronimo in the The Next One Philippine Tour, which includes the following places: June 12, The De La Salle Centrum in Lipa, Batangas; June 20, the Bren Guiao Convention Center in Pampanga; June 26, the CSI Stadia in Dagupan; July 3, the Limketkai Atrium in Cagayan de Oro City; July 17, the St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod; July 31, the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu; Aug. 21, the San Agustin Gym in Iloilo.