A family that sings together

There’s a saying that goes, “The family that prays together, stays together.” For some families — like the Alejandros — you could modify that to read, “The family that makes music together, stays together.”

Family patriarch Hajji Alejandro (the original “Kilabot ng Kolehiyala”), daughter Rachel and Rachel’s cousin Niño (with whom Rachel has been singing duets since they were toddlers) have been in the music industry for years, although there are other family members — like Rachel’s other cousin Eddie and her own brother Ali, both excellent musicians — who also trod the same path.

Rachel remembers what it was like growing up with Hajji, who hit the peak of his popularity during the ’70s.

Rachel wasn’t even two years old when the family started to take notice of her talent. At that age, even before she could do a lot of things on her own, the young Rachel began singing in tune and with a clarity that was impressive for someone her age. “I guess you could say it was a foregone conclusion that I would follow in my father’s footsteps,” says Rachel.

Indeed, growing up with Hajji for a dad, it was an easy conclusion for anyone to make. “Mana sa ama,’ they would say. But now I look back and wonder whether in fact I had inherited my musical ability genetically, from him, or if it was because the same woman raised us — my lola Nena.”

It was Rachel’s lola who taught her to sing and dance and would proudly show off her apo at family gatherings, the same way she did with Hajji when he was younger. Later on, when Rachel joined show business, it was also her lola who faithfully drove her to all her shows, sometimes even to the provinces, staying up until the wee hours of the morning.

In the end, notes Rachel, it was probably a mixture of both her father’s genes and the encouragement and support provided by her lola that helped make her who she is today. “I’d say my love and talent for music was a result of both.”

Rachel, who’s marking 25 years in the business this year, also doesn’t discount the influence of her other relatives, particularly her cousin Niño, who also felt the stirrings of a musical career early. Eventually, like Rachel, he also heard the calling. Actually, for him, it came early.

“From the first time that I saw Elvis shake his hips, to the first time I heard John, Paul, George and Ringo belt a perfect three-part harmony, to the very first time I saw my Tito Hajji make all the girls scream, I was hooked. Music was my destiny and my dream and I knew I was prepared to work extremely hard to make it come true, whatever it took.”

Niño would spend his summer vacations in Manila and it was during those times that their lola would make him and Rachel re-enact scenes from their favorite movies and musicals. As a result, a lifelong partnership and friendship was forged. “It was Rachel who invited me to move to Manila and pursue my passion for music and her success and talent would always inspire me. So, on a leap of faith, I packed up my life in the States and came home. With Rachel and Tito Hajji’s guidance, I began my foray into music and entertainment.”

Now, 25 years after Rachel started her career in the music industry, instead of a solo anniversary concert, she has decided to do a series of shows called In The Blood at the Music Museum on Nov. 15 and 29 combining for first time together, the five performing Alejandros: Her dad, Niño (who is the vocalist of his own band called NATF) and Eddie, her brother Ali and herself.

“I want to go back and reminisce where it all began,” says Rachel. “Those who will come to Music Museum who haven’t seen Niño, Ali or Eddie perform with their respective bands in Manila’s bar circuit are in for a very pleasant surprise. The force is strong and the Alejandro blood runs deep in the veins of these three. More than anything else, my dad and I are excited to showcase their talents.”

(Tickets for In The Blood are available at Music Museum and TicketWorld.com.ph. You may also call 0917-8380319 for Nov. 29 and 0917-8926412 for Nov. 15. Visit www.alejandrointheblood.com for more details.)