RJ brings his rock and roll to Solaire

All this talk about the success of the Diary Ng Panget package, you know, book, movie plus music album all making money, has got me thinking about that other Panget from 1991, the rapper and comedian, Andrew E, who was discovered while working as a disc jockey at the Euphoria Disco. And do you know who discovered him?

It was none other than Ramon Jacinto, you know RJ, the businessman, radio and TV disc jockey, radio and TV tycoon, combo player, guitarist, guitar maker, etc.  This main man was also once upon a time responsible for creating gold out of being Panget. He even produced Andrew’s first album for his music label, which of course, included the phenomenal rap tune Humanap Ka Ng Panget.

Panget connected to RJ and RJ connected with Solaire.  All these came to mind while looking at the latest schedule of shows for the Eclipse Music Place at the Solaire Resorts & Casinos. Among those is a special show starring RJ on May 15 at 9:30 p.m.  This should not really be a surprise because there are times when RJ, who is now in his 52nd year in the music business, literally seemed to be everywhere.

Now RJ maybe a lot of things in a lot of places at the same time.  For an example, think of the DJ RJ playing rock and roll sounds in his radio station, which is also aired on TV in the channel that he owns. That is how things are with this guy. But everything else takes a back seat when word gets around that RJ will be performing with his band. Fans look forward to these gigs and although he has certainly done too many to count over the years, they keep coming back for more.

Like most kids who wanted to be in a band, RJ, then a rich kid from Ateneo with his own combo, started out as a copycat. He did the Beatles, the Ventures, the Dave Clark Five, the Shadows and every rock and roll tune in the charts during those early days. As time went on though and along with his occasional originals, he developed his own take on rock and roll. This RJ style is as fun as rock and roll should be. Kids can dance to them and admire his extraordinary guitar work. At the same time, business tycoons like him and their ladies can also groove to the sounds of their younger days. And this is the music that RJ is bringing to Eclipse on May 15. So go and get yourselves a rocking good time.

For those interested in more of RJ, his album RJ Duets, is still available in the stores.  Released to commemorate his 50th year in the music business, this is a two-disc collection of RJ singing duets with foreign and Filipino artists. I like best his live medley of the instrumental hits Bulldog and Yellow Jacket with seminal rock band The Ventures. Just think, he first played these tunes in 1962. 

Among the cuts included are Nights Are Forever with John Ford Coley; Dreamin’ 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, his fellow Atenean and another business tycoon who has had great success as a music artist.

The RJ stint is but one of several that will surely make Eclipse a sizzling spot with the coolest sounds this month of May. Check out this schedule: Mondays are Latin Night featuring the samba tunes of Caliente and Savor Latino; Tuesdays, Ballroom Night and patrons can dance to the music of Guarana and Highway 54; Wednesdays, Ladies Night where the girls can take the lead with the Voices of Five; Thursdays, Throwback Time with oldies dished out by Spellbound and Retrospect; Fridays bring on the Weekend Madness with In Heat, Jinky Vidal and Sheng Belmonte; Saturdays, Party Time with Paolo Santos, Highway 54 and the Voices of Five; and Sundays, Rock & Roll night with the rocking bands Climax and Chopstix.

And those are not all. There are still more treats in store for Solaire patrons with the line-up of special shows for this month alone. The Vamp Vernie Varga gets things off to a sexy start tonight. Soulful Siren Nina will perform on May 14. It’s a night with Kuh Ledesma on May 21; and to close, the eternally irrepressible Rico J. Puno will take centerstage on May 28.

Raymond launches latest album

Still on great live music scheduled for this month.  Bagets icon Raymond Lauchengco is launching his latest album, The Promise, at Greenbelt in Makati on May 17. It will be followed by another show at the Ayala Mall in Cebu the next day, May 18.  Raymond is set to perform his big hits like Farewell and So It’s You plus songs from the new album. 

The Promise is made up of happy, romantic songs that pledge undying love. These are I’ll Never Break Your Heart, Can’t Help Falling In Love, Can’t Smile Without You, Till There Was You, Langit Na Naman, Magmula Ngayon, The Promise, I Swear, If Ever I Would Leave You and the single release, Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You.