I started playing the guitar when I was in high school. There was this classmate who would bring his guitar to school almost everyday. They would sing folk and country songs during our vacant periods. In between those “jam” sessions I would try to sing along with them. Mostly Beatles, America, etc… Sometimes they would let me play, having taught me some chords. The first song that I played was “A Horse With No Name” by America because it has only two chords in it. Right there and then I got hooked.
I don’t wanna play the songs that they do. I was already into new wave and punk rock then. I started researching on my own, buying guitar magazines and trying to play by ear. It was all but strumming and a little plucking, no lead solo’s yet and the chords were pretty basic. I kept begging my parents for a guitar but they decided otherwise saying it’s not good for my “studies”. That did not stop me anyway. Everytime I would go to a friend’s house and I would see a guitar hanging by the wall, I would find an excuse to borrow it. Yup, I was literally addicted to music.
Playing like The Edge or Robert Smith seems a pretty cool thing, the problem is with very limited equipment and knowledge (I was and am still self-taught) it can be hard. Then one day a friend introduced me to the music of The Dawn. Hmmm… Nice name for a band huh? It was their first single “Enveloped Ideas” and the intro literally blew me away! Wow! This one’s really different, they sounded foreign but they’re really from this land. I became a fan from that day on. They were pretty tight, just the type of music that I was looking for. The guitar player was particularly one of a kind. He was Teddy Diaz and his presence on stage is so magnetic and fiery. He emanates an aura that draws you in him, the intensity of his playing is so contagious that you wanna be a guitar player after seeing him play. I’ve seen a lot of good guitar players but nothing compares with Teddy. He was the driving force of the band.
Unfortunately he died. He was killed, in front of his girlfriend’s house. Robbed, stabbed and left for dead. It is such a sad story I don’t want to discuss it here. We we’re already playing gigs during the time of his untimely death. I was trying to emulate Teddy, his licks, his moves and his style of music. Then the news that he’s gone…The guy who broke the news to me was my best friend and my bandmate, he was also a very good musician. A very talented artist for that matter. He can play any song by ear, writes and sings like a pro. He was my friend since my kindergarten days, sad to say he died before the turn of the century. I promise I will write something about him soon.
The music didn’t stop there, we still had our band, playing cover tunes, I was even in a heavy metal band for a while, and when I decided not to show up in one of our gigs, the drummer teased me that my music is “pop”. Hehehe, Whatever! As for the Dawn, the music continued, having replaced Teddy with a couple of guitarists until they got Francis Reyes who was a close friend of Ted and a very good musician too. They were here last November 21, wherein they played on a poorly advertised gig, but nevertheless me and my friends showed up and give support. This time I was up close and personal with them, being a member of their mailing list. I’m this big a fan you know, dragged my wife to the airport to meet them and even bought her a lister’s shirt (lister’s : that’s what we are called). Junboy (the drummer) and I would oftentimes exchange emails and all. We would talk about Teddy’s death (healing), music and music…
We are currently cooking something for the “Dinagyang” festival this coming January, and I’m really excited about it because The Dawn will be there!
As for my guitar playing, it sucks! During the “younger” days, I would stay in my room and play the guitar for hours until the neighbors would complain about the noise. Hehehe. Then I lost my electric guitar and effects to a very bad lady named Sharon. Years ago I bought an acoustic guitar, a very nice acoustic guitar. It sounded very good but it needs some maintenance, so it stayed inside its leather case most of the time. The last time I played live was during our office’s Christmas party. I did an acoustic set with a female co worker who sing’s pretty ok. And that’s it.
A few weeks ago I borrowed the guitar of another female friend saying that I’ll be practicing for an upcoming gig. Well, it’s really true that there’s an upcoming gig. Not a really fancy one sort of a party kind of thing, I’m letting my wife sing this time. (she can sing, mind you). I’m currently reviewing some old familiar acoustic songs. I might play some acoustic guitar instrumental if I can finish the piece on time and depending on the behavior of my 10 month old baby daughter who would “head bang” everytime she sees me holding and playing the guitar. That would really make me stop what I’m doing, grab the camera and try to capture that moment.
My eldest who is seven years old can sing too. It’s not boasting or being a stage dad but I yeah, he can sing. The longer the explanation about his singing would reveal the stage father in me. Hehehe. Anyway, he would always want to sing a song with me every night before bedtime. Mostly the Dawn songs, Enveloped Ideas, I Stand With You, Little Paradise are his favorites. I’m planning to let him sing some Sting songs which is also a favorite. There was a time when we were having dinner in a restaurant that plays jazz over their PA speakers when Louis Armstrong’s classic “What A Wonderful World” was played. Other guests were blown away when he and my 5 year old daughter sang along to the tune. That really made dad proud! Instead of reciting the usual nursery rhymes, there they were singing their little lungs out to a tune that was written even before I was born.
