|
Smokey Mountain (band)
Smokey Mountain was a Filipino singing group formed by musical director, composer, and National Artist for Music, Ryan Cayabyab,[1][2] and executive producer Judd Berlin. The group was based in Manila, Philippines, and had James Coronel, Geneva Cruz, Jeffrey Hidalgo, and Tony Lambino as its original members. Jayson Angangan, Chedi Vergara, and Zhar Santos joined for the second lineup after Geneva Cruz, Jeffrey Hidalgo, and Tony Lambino left the group. Eventually, James Coronel left to pursue a solo career. Anna Fegi replaced Shar Santos during the 1994 tour in Japan.[3] HistoryThe group was named after the Smokey Mountain garbage dump in Manila. In 1989, the group released its first self-titled pop album. The group's first hit, Kailan ("When"), was number one on national airwaves for eight straight weeks and the album hit gold, platinum, and double-platinum status within months of its release. In late 1990, the group went on the "Better World" tour, performing at the United Nations World Summit for Children in New York and representing the Philippines at the 5th ASEAN Song Festival in Surabaya, Indonesia. Having to choose between formal schooling and a two-year, two-album contract for release in Europe and the U.S., Tony Lambino and Jeffrey Hidalgo left the group, while Geneva Cruz pursued a solo career and released her first solo album "I Like You". Ryan Cayabyab held auditions to find members. The group reformed with the remaining original member James Coronel, and new members Shar Santos, Chedi Vergara, and Jayson Angangan. This second batch had successful hits, such as Da Coconut Nut, Paraiso, and their own version of Kailan. In around 1993, the group released its third and international album Know You Will. James Coronel left the group after completing promotional work for this album. The last batch released the fourth album Death Penalty and disbanded a year later. In 1998, BMG Records (now Sony Music Philippines) released the fifth and final album, Smokiest Hits. Past band members[4]Geneva Cruz moved on to showbiz full-time. Tony Lambino wrote songs, did musical theatre, and anchored an early morning news program on ABS-CBN. He finished his undergraduate studies at the Ateneo De Manila University, cum laude, completed his master's degree at Harvard University as a Fulbright scholar, and earned a PhD from University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication. Tony Lambino also worked at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., and became head of communication at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). He then became an Assistant Secretary of the Philippine Department of Finance.[5] Jeffrey Hidalgo completed his Chemical Engineering degree at the University of the Philippines. In 2009, he studied film making at the New York Film Academy in Abu Dhabi. He has written songs in recent years. He currently runs his own company which produces cleaning products. James Coronel owns call centers in the United States, Philippines, India, and Sri Lanka. Chedi Vergara released her self-titled album Chedi, with some success. She joined Teatro and also has a band, but now she lives in Brisbane, Australia. Jayson Angangan returned to his native land in Ilagan, Isabela. Anna Fegi joined the group in 1994 for the final tour in Japan as she replaced Shar Santos.[3] Anna released 2 solo albums under the Sony BMG label.[6][7] She owns and operates a music school, Brown Academy of Music. ReunionsIn March 2011, all Smokey Mountain members re-united to record a new song for Japan earthquake relief, I FEEL WHAT YOU FEEL.[8] In May 2020, the members reunited virtually for a Bayanihan Musikahan special.[9][10][11][12] They performed a Paraiso/Better World medley as well as Da Coconut Nut.[13] The performance was shown on ABS-CBN, and streamed as a fundraising effort for the coronavirus pandemic. The group held another virtual reunion on June 30 for the World Wildlife Fund.[14][15][16][17][18][19] LineupsOriginal lineup:
Second lineup:
Third lineup:
DiscographySmokey Mountain (1990, Universal Records)
Paraiso (1991, BMG Music Philippines)
Paraiso (Japan Edition) (1992, BMG Japan)
Know You Will (1993, BMG Music Philippines)
Singles (1993, BMG Japan)
Death Penalty (1994, BMG Music Philippines)
Smokiest Hits (1998, BMG Music Philippines)
A Song For Japan (Single) (2011, Ivory Music & Video)
Greatest Hits (Digitally Remastered) (2012, Ivory Music & Video)
A Bayanihan Musikahan Special (COVID-19) (2020, ABS-CBN)
References
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
