Kuh Ledesma and Dr. Frieda Brookshire aka Frieda Fonda.
debut CD in the US, ‘’Coming True,” at the Catalina Jazz Club on October 4. David has shared the stage with jazz luminaries such as David Benoit, Diane Schuur, Eric Marienthal, Tots Tolentino, Michael Paulo and Bobby Enriquez. David was once hailed by music critic Don Heckman of International Review as “the Filipino singer who is that rarity; a male jazz vocal artist with a style of his own…a remarkable voice able to leap octaves in a single bound with a world class scat singing style.’’ The talented Lani Misalucha performs regularly with musician Earl Turner in the “Voices” show at the Las Vegas Hilton.They have been doing the show for several months now. She is also doing another CD for the Philippines and is working on another tour early next year with Arnel Pineda of Journey. Former new generation members of the New Minstrels, Mark and Valerie De Leon, are in San Francisco. They are the owners of Intramuros Restaurant. Pendong of Asin and his wife, singer Chat, are in the Bay Area. Pendong revived his own group, Ang Grupong Pendong, in San Francisco. Sugar Hiccup front woman Melody del Mundo formed a band called Stella’s Notch in the LA area. The band plays at venues in Long Beach, Sunset strip and Hollywood and showcases songs written by Melody from their album, Beyond Wonderland. To this day, fans have not forgotten the accomplished singer/songwriter’s ethereal vocals with the popular mid-90s dream pop group, Sugar Hiccup, which recorded two albums under BMG Philippines. Melody won accolades from Philippine music award-giving bodies such as The Awit Awards, Katha Awards and the NU 107 Rock Awards.
Tenor Leodigario “Gary” del Rosario, lives in Seattle while tenor Sal Malaki, formerly with the Philippine Madrigal Singers, is in LA and doing very well as a member of the acclaimed Los Angeles Master Chorale. Former child prodigy Cecile Licad, a successful concert pianist, is based in the East Coast. Coloratura soprano Cristina “Kit” ViguillaNavarro, formerly of the UP Madrigal Singers, is another City of Angels resident. She took graduate studies and concertized in Switzerland. Others based in SoCal are Paco Arespacochaga, Tootsie Guevara, Marilen Martinez, Antoinette Taus, Ed and Annie Nepomuceno, Claire de la Fuente, Jessica Casas Cabasal, Miguel Vera, Ella Saison, Carina Afable, Norma Ledesma, Jojit Paredes, Imelda Papin, Anthony Castelo, Annette Belen Montilla, Jun Politico, Joselito Pascual, Binky Lampano, Perf de Castro, Wolf Gemora (of Wolfgang) and Dave Aguirre (of Razorback). Those who are living in Northern California include Dingdong Avanzado, Jessa Zaragoza, Lerma de la Cruz Cailles, JoAnne Lorenzana, Miriam Pantig and Ella del Rosario. Singers Jonathan Potenciano, Dessa and Jo Awayan are in Las Vegas while Paul Enriquez and Jennifer Ramos are in Texas. Florence Aguilar is in Tennessee while Carol Banawa, who is married to a military man, is in Arizona. Tillie Moreno is in Florida while Rhodora Silva, who is married to a US Navy officer, is in Maryland. Geneva Cruz Miller splits her time between Seattle and Manila. We all know what happened to former Olongapo and Manila rocker Arnel Pineda… August 2009 | balikbayan 61