Richard Reynoso recalls how side b songs changed his career

MANILA, Philippines, September 17 ------ After 40 years in the industry, Richard Reynoso has not only made his mark in the Original Pilipino Music (OPM) scene but also broadened his horizons by dabbling in acting and hosting.

The veteran artist is looking back on his music and entertainment career at the concert titled “RR40: Timeless Memories” on Sept. 26, 7 p.m. at Teatrino in Greenhills with fans and the music-loving public. It is a production of Mhae Sarena’s Echo Jam.

This paper asked Richard about his career-defining moments or milestones, encompassing key starting points and detours that showed his artistry and versatility, in a recent brief interview. “One would probably be the first time I entered show business. My appearance in my first TV show, ‘Chico-Chica,’ in PTV4,” said he.” Available online information describes “Chico-Chica” as similar to the youth variety show, “That’s Entertainment.” “The other one would be when I sang the winning song for the first KBP Music Festival, Isang Dugo, Isang Lahi, Isang Musika with Dodgie Simon (the composer), because that defined me kung ano talaga ako sa industry, (which was) as a singer,” added he.

Also on his list is the song Hindi Ko Kaya. “The first time that a song from my first album became a hit, Hindi Ko Kaya. My first single was upbeat, Hintay-hintay. Hindi Ko Kaya is on the Side B or the flipside,” shared he.

Before the emergence of audio streaming platforms and CDs, people listened to the tracks of their favorite singers through Walkman and cassette players (with built-in radio receivers). They played the cassette tape in it, which has Side A, with tunes including the carrier single, and Side B with the secondary songs. All possible hits are put on Side A. “Then, one would be (the song) Paminsan-minsan from the second album,” shared he. “Siyempre, the problem (and challenge an artist deal with) is yung mapagsabihan ka (to be called as) one-hit-wonder. You need a follow-up (hit single). And fortunately, I had Paminsan-minsan do that. Paminsan-minsan is also on Side B. Puro Side B yan, eh. Kaya sabi ko, puro tsamba yun sa akin.”

The singing competition show “A Song of Praise Music Festival” (ASOP) was also an important part of his career. “That was the longest TV show that I personally hosted. I was a frontliner. It lasted for eight years, (and I worked) with Toni Rose (Gayda as co-host. She is a TV personality and actress).” Prior to it, Richard also hosted other TV programs.

He also cited the cultural and classical music program “Aawitan Kita” because there, he had the privilege to work with producer-actress-and-singer Armida Siguion-Reyna and learned a lot from her, including the proper way of singing Tagalog songs.

Richard also shared that when he entered the entertainment business, a lot of doors had opened to him because of his manager then. As part of Viva, he was offered a recording and film contract. “Ang gaganda ng mga projects na napunta sa akin (I had very nice film projects), movie-wise, such as, ‘Imortal,’ (starring) Vilma (Santos) and Boyet (Christopher de Leon), ‘Abot Hanggang Sukdulan’ and ‘Bakit Ikaw Pa Rin,’ the comeback movie of Gabby (Concepcion) and Sharon (Cuneta),” said he, who also sang movie theme songs. “(Doing) theme songs are parang radyo rin yun (it can be likened to playing your songs on the radio). After the movie was shown, that was the time when your song got played and listened to (to by the public),” added he.

From there, he went to Alpha Records, where he did the hits of Hindi Ko Kaya and Paminsan- minsan. It was a new chapter in his singing and recording career. When Hindi Ko Kaya was released, his song was competing against what Richard described as “high-end” English tunes with “Top 40 quality,” instrumentation-wise. The song was “very jukebox” in terms of sounds. A jukebox is a music machine that plays one’s choice of song by pressing buttons and putting in coins.

With the preference to the former sonically, his team decided to bring the song to the provinces, and it became a hit. So, when the Metro Manila-based radio stations asked their sister radio stations in the provinces about the current hit, they were surprised to know that it was Hindi Ko Kaya. Eventually, the song got played in the metro or cities. That’s why his first major concert was held in Santiago, Isabela, the place where his song became a hit, said he.

That interesting part of Richard’s career as a recording artist may be further talked about in the forthcoming showcase, encompassing a career of four decades and counting. “So, it’s like putting everything in one show. Iba yun. Iba siya (the show is different). It’s exciting,” said he of “RR40: Timeless Memories.” “And I have also some friends who will be appearing and who will be showing up in the concert,” added he. “It’s not the typical concert… but it’s purely OPM, Original Pilipino Music.”

Source: philstar.com