Finding a new George Canseco

I do not know when the shift from plain singer to singer-songwriter took place. It happened gradually. One moment singers were constantly in search of songwriters for materials to record. Then the next thing you know is that singers were writing their own songs.

At present, every song in the hit charts is composed by the artists themselves. Multo by Cup of Joe, Lifetime by Ben&Ben, Isa Lang by Arthur Nery, Kalapastangan by fitterkarma, Panaginip by Nicole, Libo-libong Buwan by Kyle Raphael, and others.

Well, this is all very good if an artist happens to be also a singer or has a band that can put his original works into recordings. Think Rey Valera or Ogie Alcasid. Ely Buendia and Eraserheads. Jay Durias and South Border, Bamboo, Rico Blanco and Rivermaya.

This situation puts artists who only sing and do not write their songs at a disadvantage. In fact, it puts them in danger of spending their days in search of that special song, which can give them that fabled career boost. Maybe by a special composer. A Ryan Cayabyab, Vehnee Saturno, Louie Ocampo.  Hopefully, maybe another George Canseco.

How important a Canseco is to a singer is best told in the story of Basil Valdez. Vic del Rosario Jr., then president of Vicor Music, was fuming mad over Hajji Alejandro’s decision to join the new Jem label formed by Willy Cruz. Alejandro was a popular member of the Circus Band and Del Rosario had high hopes for him to go solo. He did go solo but left Vicor.

Del Rosario summoned Canseco to his office and told him to look for Valdez, another vocalist with the Circus Band. Valdez was a former teacher at Xavier School who also did gigs in folk houses. He got his major breakthrough when he joined Circus. When the group disbanded, he went back to doing solo stints. 

Canseco found Valdez singing sets at the Siete Pecados of the Philippine Plaza Hotel. Impressed with his expressive baritone, Canseco offered him not only a recording contract but also the opportunity to record a Canseco original. The song was Ngayon at Kailanman. It was a massive success and made Valdez a huge star.

Their collaboration continued for many years and many hits. Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan, Paano Bang Mangarap, Minsan Pa Nating Hagkan ang Nakaraan, Kastilyong Buhangin, Muling Buksan ang Puso, Salamin ng Buhay, Hanggang sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan, Kung Ako’y Iiwan Mo, Ngayon and others.  To this day, I hear of singers wishing they had or will one day have somebody like Canseco for a songwriter.

Valdez was not the only artist who experienced Canseco’s life-changing genius. Sharon Cuneta did with Dear Heart; Kuh Ledesma with Dito Ba; Pilita Corrales with Kapantay ay Langit; Tillie Moreno and Saan Ako Nagkamali; Raymond Lauchengco with Saan Darating ang Umaga; Dulce and Ako ang Nagwagi; Hiram for Zsa Zsa Padilla, plus many others.

We now have a lot of talented singer-songwriters around. But when you see music output as stunning as Canseco’s and realize how those songs created enduring stars, one cannot help but long for that sadly now bygone time when composers moved careers and propelled the music industry to greatness.

By the way, Basil, Kuh, Dulce, Leah Navarro along with Jona, Mark Bautista and Rita Daniela will pay tribute to Canseco in the concert “Ngayon at Kailanman, The Music of George Canseco.” Directed by Frank Mamaril with Louie Ocampo as musical director, it will be held on June 13 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.