Rhoderick Ramos Santos (born October 10, 1982) is a Filipino singer. He rose to prominence after winning the reality talent competition Star in a Million in 2003.[1] He has been referred to as the “King of Pinoy Teleserye Theme Songs.”[2][3][4][5] His debut album, This Is the Moment, was released in 2004 and went 3× Platinum.[6]
His passion for music started during his childhood years. He participated in various singing competitions.[7]
His best-selling albums, sold-out concerts and a demand for corporate shows, accolades from Awit Awards, Star Awards and Aliw Awards, endorsements for a bank (Bank of the Philippine Island's Express Remit), theme songs for radio stations, and even movies earned him an unusual popularity.[8][9]
His first single, "Pagbigyang Muli", remained number one on WRR's hit chart for more than 20 weeks together with his other songs filling up the chart simultaneously.[10]
Early and personal life
Rhoderick Ramos Santos was born on October 10, 1982, in Malabon, Metro Manila, Philippines to Renato Aquino Santos (born November 12, 1952) and Angelita Ramos Santos. Both battled lung cancer and passed on November 25, 2022 and August 11, 2023, respectively.[11] When he was four, his passion for singing started. He participated in numerous small-town singing competitions.[7]
He graduated in high school at Immaculate Conception Parochial School – Malabon.
He studied at the Centro Escolar University and took up dentistry, but later shifted to Psychology. As soon as he won the singing competition Star in a Million in 2003, he temporarily stopped studying, because of his busy schedule. Eventually, he came back to school and finished college. He graduated in March 2010.[13]
In 2003, Santos joined Star in a Million singing contest, and became part of the wildcard entry to the Final 10 of the show.[16] He had a good start in the competition, but got eliminated during the third week of the show, when it was still a part of the Sunday noontime variety show ASAP. Nevertheless, his second chance came, and his rendition of R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly",[16] won him the tenth and final slot for the semi-finals round. Eventually he became one of the three grand finalists along with Sheryn Regis (first runner up) and Marinel Santos (2nd runner up) in the showdown for the title of Star in a Million. "This is the Moment", a song from the musical Jekyll & Hyde, popularized by Martin Nievera, won him the title.[17]
He is a cousin of Former Kapamilya, Former Kapatid, and now Kapuso actor Wendell Ramos. He is also the brother of newbie Star Magic actress Hadiyah Santos.
Career
In 2004, Santos released his debut album This is the Moment, and it went platinum after three months of its release.[6] After his debut, he released an extended play, quickly followed by his second album, Loving You Now.[18] The album was released with the hit single "Bakit Ba Iniibig Ka", composed by Ogie Alcasid, and sung as a duet with Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez.[19] In December 2005, he held his first major solo concert at the Marikina Riverbanks. On October 19, 2007, he staged another major concert at the Araneta Coliseum, entitled Erik Santos ... Solo at the Coliseum, with Sam Milby, The Company, Nyoy Volante, Danita Paner, and Ai-Ai de las Alas as guests.[20] On September 22, 2018, he held his 15th anniversary concert titled Er1k 5antos: My Greatest Moments at the Mall of Asia Arena.[21]
