Lito Camo, Vehnee Saturno in concert

Lito Camo and Vehnee Saturno, two giants of the Philippine music industry, are set to perform together in The Camo & Saturno Show at Metro Bar on West Avenue, Quezon City at 8 p.m. on Aug. 31. Camo and Saturno may be famous songwriters and producers but they both started out as singers. This is a chance for fans to find out what they can do as performers and all for a very good cause, too. Beneficiaries of the show will be the kids of Sitio Kinaragan in Limay, Bataan. Proceeds from the sale of the tickets will go into building their school library.

Camo’s rags-to-riches story is now legend. Raised in poverty in Bungabon, Oriental Mindoro, he made the rounds of talent contests in the province to help his family. This was also how he found the money to finish high school. Unable to go to college, he went off to Manila where he found work as a houseboy and later as a family driver, while studying to be a diesel mechanic. He never lost interest in music though and continued to perform and write songs whenever he could.

It was Boom Dayupay who gave Lito his big break. Through the rapper’s help, he was able to record two albums of his own compositions, Sino Camo? and Ano Camo? It was after these that he came into big demand as a songwriter. Lito has since then composed and produced songs like Bakit Papa? Spagheti Song, Bulaklak, Wowowee, Otso Otso and many others for artists like the Sexbomb Dancers, Bayani Agbayani, Viva Hot Babes, April Boy, Angelika Jones, Ai-Ai de las Alas, Sandara Park, K & The Boxers, Manny Paquiao and Willie Revillame. These hits earned him the title King of Novelty Songs.

Saturno is one of the most prolific hitmakers we have today. It was in 1981 when he decided to leave an office job to go fulltime into songwriting. His efforts paid off after only a year when his song Isang Dakot won the Grand Prize at the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival. A year later, he was at it again with two songs in the Metropop finals, Ako’y Ako, which won second place and Be My Lady which did not win anything but later became the big breakthrough hit by Martin Nievera. It was also later covered by the British balladeer Matt Monroe.

Vehnee’s life since then has been a succession of hit songs and music awards: Sana Kahit Minsan for Ariel Rivera; Til’ My Heartaches End, Ella Mae Saison; Someone’s Always Saying Goodbye, Allona; Nag-iisang Ikaw, Louie Heredia; Isang Lahi for Regine Velasquez; Kristo by Basil Valdez. Only Me And You, Donna Cruz; Bakit Pa? for Jay R; Dahil Tanging Ikaw Jaya; Forever’s Not Enough, Sarah Geronimo; From The Start, Rachelle Ann Go; I Love You by Willie Revillame; and many others.

Watch Lito and Vehnee perform their hits live and more in The Camo and Saturno Show at the Metro Bar on Aug. 31. The show is directed by Ladine Roxas with Elmer Blancaflor as musical director.

Meanwhile MYX, the Filipino music channel, lists the following as the top videos of the week. 20/20 by Pupil; Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal by Itchyworms; Pawiin by BBS/Kean Cipriano/Jay Durias; I’m Already King by Christian Bautista; Regal by Sponge Cola; Siguro by Yeng Constantino; Carried Away by JM de Guzman; Fire by Solenn; Kahit Di Mo Sabihin by Juris; Kulang Ako Kung Wala Ka by Eric Santos.

Naiisip Mo Ba by David Dimuzio; Connection by Chelo A/Q-York/Jay R; Yuoy by Q-York; Heartbreaker by Dice &K9 Mobbstarr; Kung Siya Ang Mahal Mo by Sarah Geronimo; Kunin Mo Na Ang Lahat Sa Akin by Angeline Quinto; Panaginip by Noel Cabangon; Pangarap Lang Kita by Parokya Ni Edgar; Gabi Ng Lagim by The Chongkeys; and Batang Bata Ka Pa by Chiro.

Take note that the newest hit by the band Itchyworms is its version of the beautiful composition by National Artist Ernani Cuenco, Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal. The song was originally recorded by the trio of Babsie, Chit & Louie in 1972 and later successfully covered by Celeste Legaspi in 1978. I hope that Itchyworms does more of the old masterpieces. I also hope that other bands would get contaminated with the bandwagon mentality and also record more of the same.