I've known Deodato way back when

MANILA, Philippines - One morning, while I was doing my radio show on RJ100, big boss RJ Jacinto shared some trivia with me. He said, “Did you know that Dato Arroyo, former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s congressman-son, was named after the jazz artist Deodato?”

I reflected a few seconds and thought about how I named my youngest daughter after the two Russells of Air Supply.

RJ continued, “Deodato is one of (former first gentleman) Mike Arroyo’s favorite artists.”

Deodato is also my favorite and I’m happy he is coming back to perform all those immortal melodies I used to play on DZBM the big 74 back in the `70s.

Deodato’s full name is Eumire Deodato De Almeida. A native of Brazil, he is currently living in New York.

His first album in the US, Prelude, released in 1973, was of a big band Latin jazz style that immediately attracted a wide audience. His funky version of Richard Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra won the 1974 Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance and became No. 2 in the pop charts in the US, No. 3 in Canada, and No. 7 in the UK.

 It was used to great effect in the 1979 film Being There, starring Peter Sellers and Shirley MacLaine. It has also been covered extensively by the rock band Phish in their live performances and included in several of their live releases.

Deodato has been in demand as a producer and arranger since the ’60s. He has worked on more than 500 albums, 15 of which have reached platinum. His skills as an arranger provided entree to the American recording industry, writing charts for Wes Montgomery, compatriot chanteuse Astrud Gilberto, and most notably Frank Sinatra, the results of which were released as the bossa nova side of Sinatra’s 1971 LP, Sinatra & Company.

Other collaborations included production duties for Kool and the Gang in the early `80s, the first solo album by Kevin Rowland of Dexys Midnight Runners in 1988 and orchestrations for Björk on her 1997 album Homogenic. Deodato has also written scores for a number of films.

Deodato is returning to Manila for the nth time and he is very excited. Included in his Manila repertoire are his hits Also Sprach Zarathrusta, Moonlight Serenade, Adams Hotel, Do It Again, Rhapsody In Blue, Baubles Bangles & Beads, Skyscrapers, Peter Gunn, Carly & Carole and more.

One scoop I got from Deodato when I spoke with him a few weeks ago is that he is getting married after the Philippine tour. I offered him to get married in Boracay if he wanted. He said my offer came too late. He has already arranged a beach wedding in Honolulu. Maybe next time.

Deodato’s concerts will be held at SMX Theater (Mall of Asia, Pasay City) at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 31 and at the Grand Ballroom of the Dusit Hotel on Sunday, Aug. 1 at 7 p.m. with special guest Janet Basco and featuring the Hotsteps. Tickets are available at all Ticketworld outlets, National Bookstores, Ayala Malls and Robinsons. For details, call 891-9999.

Deodato, the Whirlwind tour is the debut concert for the newest concert promoter in the Philippines - Billboard Concerts Live. The company is affiliated with Billboard Live Korea and Japan and intends to bring quality concerts to Pinoys.