RJ celebrates 50 years with Duets album

Back in the olden days of 50 years ago, Ramon Jacinto was just this rich kid from Ateneo with his own combo. They did mostly tunes by The Ventures, The Shadows and The Beatles plus occasional originals. Good enough for twisting, some boogie and slow-dancing. It helped that he had the looks and the girls found him cute. Parties and combo concerts were packed when RJ and the Riots played.

RJ was not the best of that time. Jose Mari Gonzales had the Electromaniacs, Orly Ilacad had the Ramrods, Joey Smith played with the Downbeats. There were lots of other good bands. But I do not think any of them had RJ’s tenacity or dedication or genuine love for the music. RJ had been known to accept gigs that paid less than his weekly allowance. All because he enjoyed playing the music.

It also helped that he had the resources and the business know-how. He wanted to release a record. He put up his own label and later even his own recording studio with state-of-the-art equipment. He thought it would be good for him and other bands to get more radio airplay. So he set up his own radio station in the backyard of the family home. That was the start of what later became the DZRJ, which helped fuel the EDSA Revolution. It continues to dish out great sounds both Pinoy and foreign to this day, with a TV adjunct at certain times. 

Not even martial law kept RJ away from the music scene. His family ran into problems with the Marcos government and their businesses were confiscated, including his beloved DZRJ. Unfazed by this development, RJ spent 14 years in exile in the US and continued to make music. Those recordings, like the big hit Muli, would from time to time find their way home where they became underground hits with the preppy set. It was no wonder then that he was most welcome when he came home after Cory Aquino assumed the presidency.

DZRJ topped the ratings and fans made his Bistro RJ, where the Riots and other bands played on weekends a huge success. Although he was by then also deep into running the family business, there was no way that RJ was going to give up his music.

He was a DJ in his radio station. He played gigs and appeared in TV shows and concerts. He also discovered new artists. One of them was rapper and comedian Andrew E. In case you do not know, it was RJ who first saw Andrew’s potential while the latter was a disc jockey at the Euphoria disco in Makati. He was also the producer of Andrew’s breakthrough song, Humanap Ka Ng Pangit.

To top it all, RJ had become a serious musician. He was no longer just the rich kid with the combo, he had become a respected guitar player. Fact is, his name is now synonymous with guitars. RJ now has his own line of very good, Philippine-made guitars selling at reasonable prices. What I like about this is that it puts quality guitars within reach of kids who want to play but cannot afford those expensive Yamahas or Gibsons. 

I have heard music lovers saying, “Ang galing ni RJ tumugtog,” as he performed and I thought, this guy really loves what he does. He had been in the music business since he was 15. He is a business tycoon, who does not have to play for his supper and you have a man, who is doing something he loves very much. He is now in his ’60s; his friends have accepted retirement. Not Ramon. He is now celebrating his 50th year as RJ in a big way.

I do not know what events he has scheduled but one of them is the release of RJ Duets, a two-disc collection of RJ singing duets with foreign and Filipino artists. Tops is a live medley of the instrumental hits Bulldog and Yellow Jacket with The Ventures. This band was doubtless one of those who inspired RJ to turn musician.

Among the cuts included are Nights Are Forever with John Ford Coley; Dreaming with John Claude Gummoe of The Cascades; a medley of RJ’s Trip To Manila and Hotdog’s Manila with Rene Garcia of Hotdog; Rosanna with Bobby Kimball of Toto; Muli with Sitti; and Afterglow with Jose Mari Chan, another guy who has kept playing the music all these years.