Lito Toribio

 

Lito Toribio - Electromaniacs

“MUSICIANS DON'T STOP PLAYING MUSIC BECAUSE THEY ARE OLD, THEY GET OLD BECAUSE THEY STOP PLAYING MUSIC". Thus an old adage goes.
If you happen to watch some old movies in the afternoon with Jose Mari Gonzales singing his heart out with his band, chances are you’ve seen Joselito Toribio on the drum set.
“I was born and raised in Sta. Mesa Manila. My family are all music lovers & plays musical instruments professionally.  I took private piano lessons for 15 months when I was 10 years old.  I was exposed to drums watching my father’s orchestra rehearse at home”, remembers Lito.
“My younger brother Henry (+) was the composer and writer of the group "Dan Henry" of the "20 Minutes Before Take Off" fame & other songs.  I played drums in most of the songs in that album”, says Lito.

He was invited by his eldest brother Resty (+) to play drums with the ‘Varsitarians'  when they guested at the noontime TV Show Student Canteen/Darigold Jamboree when Lito was about 15.  Gene Generoso, singer of the group "Cool Cats" saw Lito & recommended him to Jose Mari Gonzales when he needed a drummer for The Electromaniacs.
“We started playing publicly in 1960. We played parties,  concerts, TV Shows, Town fiestas etc.  We did movies with Sampaguita Pictures like "I Miss You So" & a lot of others.  "Hit Parade" with LVN, "Lets Go" & other movies with Larry Santiago Productions”, says Lito.
Lito’s early drum influence were Joe Morello (Dave Brubeck Band), Ginger Baker (Cream), John Bonham (Led Zepellin) and Ian Paice (Deep Purple).

The Electromaniacs are: Ernie Delgado-1st Lead guitarist & composer of "I Miss You So" & others songs in the "Lovers Guitar" album, Chito Perez- 2nd Lead Guitarist, Emil Caballero- Electric Bass guitarist & Lito Toribio on drums. They also jumped into the Olongapo bandwagon In 1966. They played in El Tropicano in Olongapo, the World & Shamrock in Angeles City in 1968 and SIERRA Club in Olongapo.  They also played in Sampaguita Airmens Club in SUBIC Naval Base in 1969.

Lito left the Electros ( Electromaniacs ) in 1973 & later joined the Sangkatutak Band where he  started his career as a session drummer doing back up for foreign & local shows/concerts, commercials, jingles, movie scores etc.
Lito came to know Ben Yanto (Founder of PCR) thru a Balikbayan musician Nestor Delas Alas (+) who came to their gig in Dungeon Bar (Camelot Hotel QC) & Buma Restaurant (Makati) in early 2002.

Lito nowadays jams with his old buddies and reminisce with them at the same time. Bob Aves and Bob Ramos are close friends of Lito who recently bit the dust. That is why Lito has this parting words to say to would-be musicians, “In my years as a musician, I came to realize that: "I DON'T HAVE to PROVE ANYTHING to ANYBODY, ONLY to MYSELF".