The Music Making Company together again

MANILA, Philippines - They made waves and beautiful music in the late ‘70s, when the group was formed and started performing in top entertainment venues in Manila. They gained a loyal following and came to be known as the Sergio Mendez of the Philippines.

The Music Making Company became the show band to reckon with during its prime. The group started in 1978 with original members Wilson Tantongco (vocalist), Egay Gonzales (keyboardist), Uditte Cayton (vocalist), Milet Ferrer-Jacinto (vocalist), Rene Espinosa (band leader, bass player and musical arranger), Rene Dumana (second lead guitarist), Walter Calinawan (drummer) and Teddy Vano (lead guitarist).

They did the rounds of the top nightspots in town - Manila Hotel’s Tap Room and Jungle Bar, Le Bistro Manille, Spindle, Bacchus, Ramada Hotel, Pension Filipino, Le Boulevardier at Hotel InterCon, Papa Jun’s and Regent of Manila.

They also got to perform in big venues like the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and Araneta Coliseum, where they did the front act for the concert of Puerto Rican singer-guitarist Jose Feliciano.

The Music Making Company performed all over the country and also toured Europe, South East Asia and the US. They won the Aliw Awards for Best Show Band for two consecutive years (1979 and 1980).

In the early ‘80s, some performers left the group. Rene Dumana was the only original member who carried on. Subsequently, new ones came in, like Pinky Marquez, Cathy Melendez-Castañeda, Margot Andolong, Gerry Paraiso, Menchu Apostol, Larry Martinez, Colby de la Calzada and Lyn Astronomo.

The group hasn’t really been away from the performance scene, according to Uditte Cayton. Some original members left the band to join other groups, while there were others who already passed away. “We’ve been making music for the past 35 years now,” Uditte beams.

Two years ago, Uditte decided to invite the members of Music Making Company to celebrate her birthday and watch her perform at Conway’s Bar of Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

“After that reunion, we realized the camaraderie was still there and so was the passion to sing,” Uditte shares. “While eating, laughing and reminiscing, Egay brought up the idea of regrouping. He was able to convince others by introducing a new style in rendering songs with the five-part harmony.”

Egay gets the credit for keeping the members’ passion for music alive. While he used to work as musical director of Pagcor’s musical extravaganza, Wanders, he also gave up lucrative projects for top artists to teach the members of Music Making Company again.

“Our common love for music was still there that’s why it wasn’t hard to bring everyone back together again and perform,” Egay grants.

Milet Ferrer-Jacinto offered her studio in Quezon City, where the group convenes twice a week to rehearse. Egay lined up the present repertoire which includes over 30 tunes like Laughter in the Rain, Working on a Groovy Thing, Ang Pipit, Panalangin, You Will Be My Music, The Things We Did Last Summer, Moon River and a Sergio Mendez medley.

“Half of the songs we used to sing made it to our present repertoire, but with new arrangement,” Uditte informs. “To make it different this time, Egay conceptualized the songs in a five-part harmony. Everybody gets to sing, so even if one is absent, the band will still be able to perform because everyone is a vocalist. Every part is essential.”

On May 6 and 27, the Music Making Company will hold a reunion concert at Merk’s Bar and Bistro in Greenbelt 3, Makati, upon the invitation of owner Richard Merk and wife Roni Tapia-Merk.

Richard and Egay go a long way back when they used to perform in a band in Yemen for two years. “Richard and I never lost touch all these years,” Egay allows. “We are so thankful to him for giving the group a chance to perform at Merk’s. “

Joining the Music Making Company in their present gigs are Cholo Santiago from Spirit of ‘67 and Cash Manalang from Area One.

“Whenever we rehearse these days, it’s always a time for sharing and what we’ve gone through all these years,” Uditte asserts. “We’ve mellowed and we’ve become wiser. We’re more conscious now about our health and we look after each other.”

Uditte notes that every member exerted an effort to bring the group back. “We believe this didn’t happen by chance,” she says. “There is a reason for bringing us back together. We are able to renew relationships. But it’s really a thrill to hear ourselves again.”