JDLC Forefathers of Pinoy Rock

JUAN DELA CRUZ BAND

Like every legend that is borne out of any rich culture, music has its roots, especially for Pinoys! The Pinoy Rock scene evolved in the late 60's to the early 70's of groups that exponentially grew to be legendary in stature.
One band that emerged as pioneer in their own right in the late 60's and morphed into the 70's, was formed; “Juan Dela Cruz Band”. Unknown to many, The Juan Dela Cruz Band which we know today, wasn't the original lineup that was conceived in 1968. Throughout the years, members changed hand and the trio of Wally Gonzalez, Joey 'Pepe' Smith & Mike Hanopol were deemed the most successful and popular.

JOHN OF THE CROSS

The much talked about historical Manila Beatles Concert last July 04, 1966 was a milestone in the Philippine music  scene for ‘The Downbeats’ or for any band for that matter. “The Calvacade International was our promoter at that time. Incidentally, they were the same group who promoted the Beatles show in Manila”, remembers Tonet Fabie, bassist for The Downbeats. Pepe Smith initially played drums and later was asked to relinquish the chore to their Band Manager, so that he can concentrate on the vocals. When The Downbeats toured HongKong, they recorded “You Gotta Tell Me”, which was composed and sang by Pepe Smith. It topped the charts in Hongkong and enjoyed considerable airtime. “When Tony Jalandoni and Charlie Meilieb left the band  in mid of 1967, Wally Gonzalez and Mike Hanopol filled in as two guitar players”, recalls Tonet. But it was short-lived. By early 1968 they left their management and changed their name to ‘Mother Earth’. “The group were still intact; Pepe, Wally, Mike and me, until our split in late 1968 and all the members went their own ways; Wally worked in his brother’s office for a while and shortly thereafter. He eventually formed Jungle Cats and later John Of  The Cross band; Mike went on to jump from one band to another like, Bulwarks, Chetniks, Jives, Glenmores, Zero History (Mike played the keyboards while with Zero History whose members also includes Pepe and Wally); and Pepe went to Japan and formed Speed, Glue and Shinki”, remembers Tonet.
When Wally Gonzalez, Edmund Fortuno with Bing Labrador,  Alex Cruz (father of Ira Cruz) and others, formed a band called ‘JOHN OF THE CROSS’, it was Mike Hanopol  who suggested to Edmund Fortuno to “Tagalized” the band’s name. Thus, the name JUAN DELA CRUZ BAND. One could easily decipher their music, at that time to have been influenced by BIG BROTHER HOLDING COMPANY and DEEP PURPLE. “But personally my main influences are Eric Clapton, Moody Blues and Miles Davis.” adds Wally. Their initial album, titled ‘UP IN ARMS’, may not be a commercial success (there were no official re-issue of the album locally), but the critically accomplished album - musically, that is- is a must for all Pinoy Rock lovers out there. The seminal album runs only a little over 30 minutes. But those 30 minutes will take you someplace else. The wailing guitar of Wally will be recognized nonchalantly. Of the original JDLC and sessionist who were involved in the recording of this seminal album only Sandy Tagarro, Clifford Ho, ,Rene Suqueco and himself are still around.
Mike Hanopol, coming off from a series of successful stints abroad, became part of the band in 1972 when most members ventured into other project band like Edmond Forfuno who founded ‘ANAK BAYAN’. Being a guitarist himself, Mike Hanopol was obliged to play bass guitar and pave way for Wally to tend the electric guitar and Pepe Smith have to pound the skin in the drum kit. That was the setup for some time. Mike Hanopol wrote most of Juan dela Cruz's hypnotic and memorable tunes like, “Beep-Beep”, “Divisoria”, “Titser's Enemy #1”, “Kagatan”, among others. They were considered the forerunners of a new genre -Pinoy Rock. A new hope for all pinoys who love rock n roll with a local flavor. And the “Himig Natin” song, which was penned by Pepe Smith, catapulted their stardom to stratosphere, has been the ‘unofficial official’ Pinoy Rock anthem across the archipelago.

JOSE WILLIAM FELICIANO SMITH

Pepe Smith was the entertainer’s entertainer. He hated conflicts and controversies. That is why he never composed or sang any protest song in his time. “I want to entertain people, yun mga protest songs sila na lang kumanta o mag interpret”, says Pepe in an interview before. His family, especially his lola, was all opposed to Pepe’s being involved in music. “My grandma always scolds me and kept on telling my mom ‘Your son Joey is always getting into rock n roll, ayaw mag aral’. That is why lucky are those folks whose family support their passion in music”, says Pepe in an interview in Cavite. His signature song “Rock N Roll Sa Mundo”, whenever he performs, is about him. His stint in Vietnam as a teenage entertainer, has honed his skill in songwriting, playing guitar and pounding the drum set. “The American GIs pushed my limit into perfecting my craft”, remembers Pepe during an interview a few years back.  His lanky figure, has earned him the stereotype ‘rocker’ stature. Rhea Lipio, rock impresario and friend of Pepe Smith remembers when she was still a teenager in Kamuning “Pepe performs regularly in a bar near our place and I would holler ‘ROCK N ROLL’, and Pepe would shout back the same with a devil’s horn sign”. That is why, even though his speech and health deteriorated during the last 2 years of his life, he makes it a point not to disappoint the masses and continues to perform. A vehicular accident that permanently affected his speech was more aggravated when he suffered two strokes two years apart. People would often misinterpret Pepe for his comical and idiosyncratic way. “You have to understand the man before you can draw any conclusion on his persona”, says Spanky  Esquejo – Pepe’s bassist and friend. His nearly 2-year incarceration in Manila City Jail during the 90’s did not help his image either. Charged with drug possession, his friend,  tv actor and businessman Apa Ongpin helped him get out of the rut. But Pepe, did not rant about it carried on with his passion. He came back with a vengeance via commercial endorsement with a popular beer brand locally. He also released a long overdue solo album with the help of guitarist par excellance Jun Lopito and the late multi-instrumentalist Dondi Ledesma entitled IDIOSYNCRASIES last 2005. According to Pepe himself, the 11-track album was hurriedly produced, recorded and released. His vision for the album did not materialized, thus is short of calling it a disappointment on his part. But since it was his one and only solo album, many consider it as a collector’s item.
Along the way, he had sired Queenie, Daisy, Delta, Sanya and Beebop, who also got involved in music. “Papa is too trusting. Ang dali nya magtiwala sa isang tao, kahit kakikilala lang nya. That became a disadvantage for him with that infamous Rockfest last June 02, 2018”, laments Queenie - who is now stationed overseas as a school principal. Beebop Smith lives in Cainta with his mom. Delta Acuña Smith lives in Queensland. Daisy Smith-Owen was just granted her Australian citizenship recently. And Sanya Smith, the famous VJ from MYX Channel also lives in the Philppines.

MICHAEL ABARICO HANOPOL

As a solo artists after a short lull for Juan Dela Cruz, Mike Hanopol ventured into writing and recording his own albums, which catapulted him as one of the country's top recording artist. His “LAKI SA LAYAW” institutionalized the Pinoy street lingo “JEFROX”, which up to now is being referred to as a Hippie Pinoy . Now it can be revealed. At the height of the popularity of ‘Laki Sa Layaw’, he was approached by a group of politicians to convince him to run for a Senate seat. ‘Shoe-in’ was how it was described by the politicians should he ran for office. But Mike has no taste in politics. “Hayaan mo na sila dun”, was his comment. I jokingly referred to him, during one of his  provincial sorties, as ‘Senator Hanopol’.  He just smiled. On top of this, he also conceptualized and created the group “HAGIBIS”, which spurned many hits during that time. But during Pinoy Rock's slumber during the 80's, this former seminarian and former Psychology student, relocated in the U.S. in 1982. Mike further honed his skill in various instruments and music discipline as well when he stayed there. Working as a musician also, in Florida and New York, Mike succeed in spreading his music. Which incidentally is very evident in one of his songs, “Buhay Amerika” - a song about a Pinoy's endeavor living in a foreign land. He struggled to find his place in the land of Milk & Honey, but his Pinoy roots prevailed. Going back home in 1993, Juan Dela Cruz made a reunion concert and an album to boot. This was “KAHIT ANONG MANGYARI” which spurned hits like “Divisoria”, “Titsers Enemi Number One”, “Panahon” and a lot more. It was a landmark album. The album’s diversity was not accidental. In an interview by his nephew Lourd De Veyra (Lourd’s mother and Mike are siblings) Mike revealed that the mixed music sort was the band’s attempt to capture all the genre the populace likes. Mike at his age (he turned 73 year old just last April 10) is considered the patriarch of the Pinoy Rock genre. “When not doing projects, I read a lot”, says Mike Hanopol. “Of course, when there are calls for me to perform, why not, it's my first love. Singing and playing guitar, that is”. After an accumulated 20 plus albums with which he worked with, Mike Hanopol still has his chops, so to speak. Known for his witty mysticism and uncanny euphemisms, and belabors before performing , Mike almost always has something to impart whether on stage or in huddle munching his favorite Clover Chips, “Kung hindi mo alam, na wala kang alam, yan ang indayog ng katangahan”, when asked if he hears negative criticisms on his kind of music. “Everyone will get old, no exception. I don't react negatively to them, I knew already it will come a long time ago. The music nowadays, lack music itself. Only poetic expressions are aired, like Balagtasan, now they call it rap.” “Concert-goers nowadays-the Millennials, as they call it-marami pa din remnants ng colonial mentality, it cannot be avoided, most of these kids are after the physical appearance rather than the music”, adds Mike.

WALTER R. GONZALEZ

When Wally Gonzalez conceptualized Juan Dela  Cruz Band, monetary remuneration was not in his mind nor popularity. “We just want to play and record”, quips Wally. In fact, the 1973 album “Himig Natin” was independently produced and funded by the band itself. Since studio recordings charge exorbitant fees, they have to finish the 9-track album in two days. This album produced classic songs like “Himig Natin”, “Mamasyal Sa Pilipinas” and “Rock N Roll Sa Ulan”. They even did payola (which was pretty legal back then) to DZRJ and have to buy ‘block time’ for an hour for two months. On those unholy hours of 10pm to 11pm every Wednesday on DZRJ they play only Juan Dela Cruz music. The gambit paid off and they were eventually noticed by Vicor Music Corp. Their next album was “Maskara” which spurned hits like “Beep Beep” and “Balong Malalim”. “Super Session” is another album of the group, sort of like a live compilation and some unreleased songs to boot. This album produced songs like “Langit”, “Sarap Ng Buhay” to name a few.
After the unofficial breakup of the group sometime in early the 80’s, he busied himself for the next ten years in his shipping business. Wally Gonzalez - often referred to as ‘The Quiet One’, mainly because of his none manifestation of the flamboyant lifestyles other rockstar evidently shows -  released two solo album, one of which is “ON THE ROAD” which included the Blues anthem and heavy favorite “WALLY’S BLUES”. In 1995 he founded “Wally & Friends” which features top gun sessionists Dondi Ledesma, Wowie Posadas, Joonie Centeno, and Armand Quimpo. He also created the “Wally  Gonzalez Bandwagon” which continues his love for the Blues genre. His most constant band peer, Wowie Posadas - keyboard extraordinaire who has worked with countless albums and gigs, Bea Lao – drummer of General Luna, an all female Rock band and Louie Talan of Razorbback. Together, they complement and profess their admiration to the Blues genre. Wally was under the weather a year ago, and have to undergo surgery for this. “Ok na ako now, I have to be very careful with what I eat and avoid stress at the same time”, the soft-spoken Wally claims. When Pepe Smith succumbed to a heart attack last January 28, 2019, the Philippine Rock populace and the Pop community mourned altogether. It does not even matter from what walk of life you are from, it’s everybody’s losses. But the legendary Pepe Smith lives on in our hearts. Wally refer to Pyaps as ‘kuya', was at his wake everyday until Pepe’s internment. “Masarap kasama si Pyaps, either sa gig o kahit hangout lang, there is never a dull moment with him, hindi pa din ako makapaniwala na wala na siya”, attested Wally. “Parang andyan lang sya, one night nagparamdam si Pyaps…” muses Wally. “…bigla ba naman tumunog yun handle ng guitar case ko, eh ako lang naman mag isa sa bahay, sabi ko ‘Pyaps! Ano hinahanap mo?’ “, muses Wally. He describes Pepe as a person with a good heart. It was Wally, with some friends, whom Pepe spend the last night prior to latter’s heart attack on that fateful morning.

When the trio recorded the “Himig Natin” album, the first Pinoy Rock music was born. “We did not expect anything, well siguro mga bata pa kami that time, basta we just wanted to record, bahala kung magustuhan or hindi, ganun lang, but you know nakakatuwa, a lot of musicians and composers came out with their own version of Pinoy Rock music”, asserts Wally. It was two years ago, when they played the last time together as  Juan Dela Cruz. “May usapan na kami ni Mike at Pepe, gagawa kami ng farewell album at farewell concert…ehh nauna na bumyahe si Pyaps”, says Wally. Asked, how it might have sounded, “same din ng ‘Himig Natin' album. Ang strength ng Juan dela Cruz ay hindi kami nagsasapawan, walang pa-star. We adjust to equalize our strength as musicians. For example; ako gitarista, si Mike gitara din ang hawak, nag adjust si Mike sa bass. Si Pepe nag drums nung umalis at bumuo si Edmond Fortuno ng AnakBayan, walang papalo eh. So ganun kami”, finishes Wally.

Almost all of the bands from the 80’s until the new millennia, have rooted Juan Dela Cruz as an influence directly or indirectly. A declaration as National  Artists for Juan Dela Cruz is fitting, and hopefully afoot. Salute to the forefathers!