TWENTY years ago nabuo ang grupong Hitmakers na sinimulan ng dalawang music icons na sina Rico J. Puno at Hajji Alejandro (which the former founded) at ito’y nadagdagan ng iba pang OPM hitmakers na sina Rey Valera, Nonoy Zuniga at Marco Sison.

When the `Total Performer’ passed on five years ago, the Hitmakers carried on with the legacy na iniwan sa kanila ng yumaong si Rico J. They always remember him in every show (as Hitmakers) tulad ng darating nilang anniversary concert na pinamagatang “Hitmakers: XXceptional (The 20th Anniversary Concert)” na gaganapin sa The Theater at Solaire sa darating na December 1, 2023 (Friday) at 8 p.m. kung saan nila makakasama ang Concert Queen, singer, actress, host at concert producer na si Pops Fernandez. The concert is jointly produced ng DSL Productions ni Pops at ng Dreamwings na pinamumunuan ng successful businesswoman na si Flor Santos.

On their 20th anniversary concert, kakaibang concert experience ang matutunghayan ng kanilang audience totally different sa mga nauna na nilang concerts, kasama na rito ang pagbibigay-pugay nila sa kanilang yumaong kasamahan na si Rico J.

“Ang tindi ng impact sa Hitmakers ang pagkawala ni Rico J.,” pahayag ni Hajji.

“Of course, hindi lang kami nawalan ng kaibigan at kasamahan, kakaiba talaga si Rico. Ramdam mo ang pagkawala niya,” pag-amin namin ni Rey.

“He is irreplaceable!” deklara naman ni Nonoy.

“Marami kaming natutunan sa kanya,” dugtong naman ni Marco.

Kahit mahigit limang taon nang wala si Rico J. sa Hitmakers, kasama pa rin siya sa kanilang `laglagan’ sa bawat show ng grupo lalupa’t kilala ang yumaong OPM icon sa pagde-deliver ng mga `green jokes’ na mukhang naipasa kay Rey.

Although they don’t have scripts kapag sila’y bumabanat ng mga jokes in between their song numbers, most of these ay nagmula mismo kay Hajji.

Hajji used to be known as the original `Kilabot ng mga Kolehiyala’ during his prime. Before he went solo ay naging bahagi siya ng kilalang Circus Band kung saan din nagmula sina Basil Valdez, Tillie Moreno at Pat Castillo who also landed their respective solo careers.

It was the late Willy Cruz who signed him up as a solo artist under Jem Records matapos siyang mapanood sa kauna-unahang Metro Pop Music Festival at the Araneta Coliseum where he interpreted Master Ryan Cayabyab’s own composition, ang “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika” na siyang tinanghal ng grand winner. Hajji delivered a string of hits tulad ng “Panakip Butas,” “Nakapagtataka,” “May Minamahal,” “Tag-araw sa Tag-ulan,” “Ang Lahat ng Ito’y Para Sa `Yo” at marami pang iba.

Nonoy Zuniga (Zeno Obong Zuniga) also came from a band, ang Family

Birth Control who regularly performed in major hotels in Metro Manila. It was also the late Willy Cruz who gave him a break as a solo artist when he was still a medical student at the University of Santo Tomas. Magkasama sila dati ng recording studio ni Hajji, ang Jem Records. Tulad ni Hajji, sunud-sunod din ang mga hits ni Nonoy tulad ng “Never Every Say Goodbye,” “Doon Lang,” “Kumusta Ka,” “Love without Time,” “Araw Gabi,” “Init sa Magdamag,” “Fragments of Forever” at iba pa.

Nonoy almost lost his life nang siya’y masabugan ng bomba sa isang kilalang hotel during the Martial Law days while preparing for a show. He lost his other leg at inisip niyang ito na ang katapusan ng kanyang singing career. But Nonoy moved on hindi lamang sa kanyang singing career kundi tinapos pa niya ang kanyang pag-aaral ng medicine at isa na rin siyang full-fledged doctor.

Si Rey Valera ay maituturing na accidental ang pagiging isang sikat na mang-aawit na nagsimula lamang nang siya’y mag-sumite ng komposisyon sa Vicor noon ng kanyang kantang “Ako si Superman” which he submitted for Rico J. Puno na sikat na sikat na noon as recording star ng Vicor Music Corporation. Ang younger brother ni Boss Orly Ilacad na si Chito Ilacad ang head ng A&R (Artist & Repertoire) Division ng kumpanya.

When Chito presented the song to Rico J. (who was preparing then for a new album), the latter declined the song. Since nagandahan si Chito sa sariling komposisyon ni Rey na “Ako si Superman,” he asked Rey to record the song instead. And the song signalled as Rey’s entry to the entertainment business hindi lamang bilang isang OPM hitmaker kundi bilang writer-composer and musician at nagkasama pa sila ni Rico J. sa bakuran ng Vicor Music Corporation.

Some of the classic hits sang and recorded by Rey include “Maging Sino Ka Man,” “Tayong Dalawa,” “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko,” “Ako si Superman,” “Naaalala Ka,“ “Malayo Pa Ang Umanga,” “Simasamba Kita,” “Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo,” “Kumusta Ka,” “Pangako” at marami pang iba. It was also Rey who composed megastar Sharon Cuneta’s first hit song, ang “Mr. DJ” na nasundan pa ng marami pang ibang compositions for her na lahat naging hit.

Si Marco Sison ang youngest among the members of Hitmakers. Siya ang kontesero ng grupo since he was a young boy and most of the time ay siya ang nananalo which led him na sumali sa singing competition portion ng dating noontime show, ang “Student Canteen” by the late Eddie Ilarde, Bobby Ledesma and Pepe Pimentel.

Nang manalo si Marco sa “Student Canteen” ay ginawa na rin siyang mainstay ng programa until he was signed up for a recording contract at ang kanyang unang hit single ay “Make Believe” na sinundan pa ng iba pa niyang hits tulad ng “My Love Will See You Through,” ““Always,” “I’ll Face Tomorrow,” “Si Aida, si Lorna o si Fe,” “Isusumbong Kita Sa Diyos,” “Mahal,” “Ibigay Mo Sa Akin ang Bukas” at iba pa.

Sina Hajji, Nonoy, Rey at Marco and the late Rico J. ay umabot sa era ng `70s na siyang maituturing na `glory days’ ng music and entertainment business.

Catch Hajji, Nonoy, Rey and Marco together with Concert Queen, singer, actress, host and concert producer Pops Fernandez at the 20th anniversary ng Hitmakers na pinamagatang “XXceptional” at The Theater at Solaire come December 1, 2023 at 8 p.m. with Gerry Matias as musical director.

Samantala, panoorin n`yo rin po ang Hitmakers with Pops sa aking online talk show on my YouTube channel, ang “TicTALK with Aster Amoyo” on December 1 (Friday) at 12:00 noon.

Marites nagbigay ng kanyang prediksyon para sa 2024

HUMARAP ang tinaguriang “Feng Shui Queen” na si Marites Allen sa entertainment media para sa launch ng kanyang forecast para sa 2024 Wood Dragon Year which will bring harmony, renewal and unity. Ito’y ginanap sa Manila House Private Members Club in BGC the other day.

Bukod sa pagtu-tour sa ibang-ibang lugar ng Pilipinas maging sa ibang bansa for her various feng shui sessions and conferences, Marites will have her feng shui conference on January 14, 2024, Chinese New Year Bazaar from Febuary 7 to 9, 2024 and countdown to the Year of the Dragon on February 9, 2024.

A celebrity in her own right, Marites is close to a lot of Filipino popular celebrities and top businessmen including King of Talk Boy Abunda.

SUBSCRIBE, like, SHARE and hit the bell icon of “TicTALK with Aster Amoyo” and “INSIDE SHOWBIZ with Aster Amoyo” on my YouTube channel. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook@asteramoyo and X (Twitter)@aster_amoyo.