June 17 ------ The Original Prince of Pinoy Pop, Dingdong Avanzado, will perform on stage at The Theatre at Solaire on July 19, 2024, to delight music lovers anew.
After 12 years, Dingdong Avanzado is geared to make a highly awaited comeback to the concert stage. This comeback guarantees a remarkable experience, showcasing a blend of cherished classics and exhilarating new music. His last major concert was staged at the Music Museum in 2012. "But in 2018, I did it with Jessa, the last major show we did together in Manila," said Dingdong during an interview in Quezon City recently. Be clear: Dingdong has always been a part of the music scene, performing small shows with Jessa both locally and internationally. However, this year's concert at Solaire will mark his first major solo performance in 12 years.
Dingdong's family leads the lineup - his wife Jessa Zaragoza and daughter Jayda, his friend Randy Santiago, and, in a very special appearance - singer-songwriter Pablo of SB19, whom Dingdong has expressed a deep admiration for. Also among the guests are Idol Philippines Season 2 winner Khimo, Tawag ng Tanghalan Grand Duets champions Marielle Montellano and JM dela Cerna, and singer and award-winning actor LA Santos. Dingdong chose each guest, and the singer-songwriter specially selected the songs they would sing with him. "Talking with my guests about the numbers we'll be doing and then discussing the details with my musical director, Elmer Blancaflor, and concert director, Jay Klio Bermudez, excited us all! We can't wait to perform these for the audience on July 19," Dingdong enthused.
A successful singer-composer, Dingdong, 55, with a rich catalog of popular Filipino hits, recalled how he started in show business 37 years ago. "My first television appearance was for Penthouse Live! with Martin (Nievera) and Pops (Fernandez). Parang I sang 'Leave A Tender Moment Alone' or 'Trapped in A Stairway.' Yun ang mga influences ko noon. Parang, I was wearing a cardigan. Uso yun noon di ba? That was in 1987." "Mga 1986 umaaligid na ako sa industry. I was supposed to be launched with the New Minstrels. Apat kami noon. I watched Jo-Anne Lorenzana's concert in a bar in Greenhills. Roxanne Lapus saw me there. Sabi ko, 'Hi Roxanne!' Sabi niya, 'There you are! I've been looking for you!' Sabi ko, 'Really?' 'Sabi niya, 'Are you interested in becoming a solo artist?' Sabi ko, 'Yeah! Sure!' So sabi niya, 'Lets meet!' One weekend, we met. Her first question to me when we sat was, 'Do you think you're good-looking?' "I paused. Sabi ko, 'What a question.' Sabi ko, 'Yes.' Sabi niya, 'Good! Because in this industry, it's 70 percent looks and 30 percent talent. I remember Roxanne," he said. Dingdong mentioned that he misses Roxanne, who passed away before the pandemic. He said Roxanne helped him a lot when starting in showbiz.
What's in a name?
But did you know that Dingdong was not the first screen name they thought of for him? The singer gladly recalled how they settled on Dingdong. "My real name is Fernando, and I am named after my grandfather. But my two grandfathers had Dings in their nicknames. My lolo Fernando, ang nickname nya is Nanding. And then my lolo on the father's side, his nickname was Ding, whose name is Fidel. "But my grandfather, kaibigan nila dati si late Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee, nicknamed Dingdong. He was called Dingdong Teehankee. Noong time na yun, parang na fascinate sila at parang ang ganda raw ng pangalan na Dingdong. So ginawa nilang Dingdong," he said.
For a time, Dingdong asked his mom about the origin of his name. His mom answered: "Pasalamat ka Dingdong ang pangalan mo. Ang dali-daling i-recall." "Sabi ko naman, sometimes it takes effort to take me seriously if your name is Dingdong. Lalo na sa States, I made fun of myself when I performed. They laughed about my name, but I told them that in the Philippines, Dingdong means cute. "But when Roxanne Lapus discovered me, they changed my name. They tried to change my name. My name was supposed to be Easy Avanzado. Sabi ko, 'Why?' People have known me as Dingdong all my life. But thanks to Eat Bulaga. Dingdong remained. "They put it on a poster already. I was introduced in a show as Easy Avanzado. Roxanne said I was easy on the eyes. That's why it was Easy Avanzado. I was 19 at that time. Before, I auditioned for The New Minstrels. "Andoon pa nga si Boy Abunda noon. They like changing names. Noon kasi uso yung Keno, mga one word names. Si Ogie (Alcasid) nga Rock pa ang name sa kanya. Kasi noon bato-bato si Ogie nag-gi-gym kaya Rock ang name niya. "Buti na lang noong nasa Eat Bulaga ako, wala si Roxanne noon. So they asked me, 'Ano ba talaga yung name na ilalagay namin?' I had to make a choice. So sabi ko Dingdong. And the rest is history," Dingdong said.
However, the renowned musician declared that plans to change his name did not end there. "In the 10th year, they considered changing my name again because I was at a crossroads. "So sinabi ako ano ba ang pangalan na gusto ninyo? Ilabas n''yo? Wala talagang nag-stick. So ganito na lang, 'Umabot ako ng sampung taon and I think I would live and die as Dingdong Avanzado. Tinangkilik na ako. So they agreed and put out the album. Nag-platinum, ibig sabihin gusto ka ng tao," he said.
Source: mb.com.ph
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