80 years of life, 65 years of rock n’ roll

Rain may have drenched the streets outside, but inside the Carlos P. Romulo Theater in Makati City, the air was electric as Ramon “RJ” Jacinto, the country’s undisputed rock n’ roll pioneer, marked his 80th birthday and 65 years in music with a night that proved the beat never fades.

“Little did I know that the pebble I threw into the pond in 1960 when I was 15 years old would become a tidal wave in influencing music in the Philippines for years to come,” RJ told the crowd, a mix of close friends, industry icons and loyal fans.

The show was as much a tribute to his journey as it was a showcase of the country’s top talents. Backed by Mel Villena’s AMP Big Band, RJ opened with his earliest hit, “Weightless,” the instrumental he wrote at 15, followed by “Trip to Manila” in 1964, the first English rock n’ roll song in the Philippines.

Guest stars brought their own flair. Sitti delivered Gloria Estefan’s “Conga.” Jose Mari Chan joined RJ for the ‘60s Italian love song “Legata Ad Un Granello di Sabbia.” Zsa Zsa Padilla powered through Chuck Berry’s “Back in the USA.” Arnel Pineda lifted the roof with “Unchained Melody” before firing up the crowd with “Summer of ‘69.”

Martin Nievera joined RJ for “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling” and Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog,” pushing the audience to their feet. Then came a rock n’ roll medley that swung from Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood” to “Rock Around the Clock,” “Shake Rattle and Roll” and Filipino ‘50s classics “Hahabol-Habol” and Sylvia La Torre’s “Waray Waray” with Zsa Zsa returning for the finale.

In the audience, familiar faces like Helen Yuchengco-Dee, Tessie Sy Coson, Tony Boy Cojuangco, Raul Sunico, Alice Eduardo, Ramon Orlina and many others were spotted shakin’, rockin’ and rolling along to the music.

The night closed with “Rock, Rock, Rock Everybody,” the big band blazing and the crowd by throwing “rock” signs as the theater pulsed with energy. It was a grand thank-you from RJ to those who have been part of his musical journey, a once-in-a-lifetime celebration that turned a stormy July evening into a bright and roaring slice of rock n’ roll history.