"PATTI PAGE" LIVE IN MANILA

Patti Page (b.1927), dubbed “The Singing Rage,” just held a show at the Grand Ballroom of the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City, September 4, and at the Araneta Coliseum, September 6. Now in her 80s, she still looked as glamorous and sounded almost like the way she did during her prime. Patti Page popularized the hits "Tennessee Waltz ", "How Much Is That Doggie In The Window" and "Cape Cod."

Did you know that Patti Page had a series of shows here in Manila in 1961 (see above poster) with Jimmie 'Honeycomb' Rodgers? It was held at the Araneta Coliseum with ticket prices then ranging from 80 cents to 5 pesos.

Page's signature song, "Tennessee Waltz," recorded in 1950, was one of the biggest-selling singles of the twentieth century, and is also one of the two official state songs of Tennessee. "Tennessee Waltz" spent 13 weeks atop the Billboard magazine's Best-Sellers List in 1950. Page had three additional #1 hit singles between 1950 and 1953, with "All My Love (Bolero)", "I Went to Your Wedding," and "(How Much Is That) Doggie in the Window."

AN EVENING WITH BASIL VALDEZ AND MS. JOEY ALBERT, AUGUST 15

70s Premiere Baladeer Basil Valdez and 80s Pop Sweetheart Ms. Joey Albert, two of my favorite singers, will have a concert, titled "Incomparable" on August 15 (2009) at Skydome, SM North Edsa. Ticket prices are: Gold- P2,250 and Silver- P1750.

Let's back track 32 years ago--- In 1977, two hottest singing sensations, Basil Valdez and Leah Navarro held a series of concerts at Gonzalo's Theater and Restaurant. Ticket price- P60 inclusive of steak. WoW!!!

"BANG SHANG-A-LANG" (1968): A FUN MOVIE

It's a surprise seeing this wonderful 1968 black-and-white movie “Bang Shang-a-Lang,” at cable TV- Cinema One the other day. At the prime of her career, the young Helen Gamboa (only 19 or 20) sings and dances with all her heart to the latest songs and introduces the latest dance craze that time called ‘Bang Shang-a-Lang.’ Now, I know why she was called “Dancing Queen of the 60s.” It’s definitely a ‘classic’ for it chronicles the mood and times of that period when lots of dance crazes were coming and popping out. Produced by an independent movie outfit, Barangay Productions, it also starred a very young Ronaldo Valdez (he looks like his son Janno Gibbs) and upcoming teen star Tirso Cruz III (he rendered one song number in this movie). I would say, the movie is terrific, a wholesome fun movie, never mind the thin storyline, which is only secondary to many song and dance numbers you will love to see and hear.

"Bang Shang-a-lang"(1968)
---Screencaps---

the lead stars, Helen Gamboa and Ronaldo Valdez

Helen Gamboa (left) doing the 'Bang Shang-a-lang'
and Tirso Cruz III (right) in a song number.

HELEN GAMBOA: THE "DANCING QUEEN" OF THE 60s

Helen Gamboa, one of the popular stars of the 60s, is best remembered for her singing and dancing prowess. Besides being a great singer , she is probably the “Dancing Queen” of the 60s where she starred in most of the musical movies featuring the latest dance crazes of that period. Movies like Boogaloo (1967), Mash K Pops (1967), Shing-a-Ling-a-Loo (1967), Bang Shang-a-Lang (1968), Grind-Grind (1969), among others, showed Helen’s versatility as a singer and dance performer.

Helen was first runner-up to 1961 Miss Press Photography Cynthia Ugalde. She was introduced in Gorio and his Jeepney with Chiquito in 1962. This was followed a month later with Hugo the Sidewalk Vendor with Berting Labra, Sakay and Moy and Walang Pagkalupig with FPJ and Joseph Estrada.

She starred opposite almost all of the top stars during her time: Fernando Poe Jr. --- Kumander Fidela (1964), Hanggang May Buhay (1966), Baril sa Aking Kamay (1966) and Dugo sa Buhangin (1967); Joseph Estrada - Bantay Salakay (1966); Tony Ferrer- Target:The A-Go-Go-Generation (1967); Zaldy Zshornack- Pamilyang Walang Sindak (1964); Romeo Vasquez- Doble Trece (1967); Jess Lapid- Guillermo Bravado (1965); Eddie Fernandez- Habang Ako’y Nabubuhay (1966); Romano Castellvi –Yesterday (1967).

Her movie career was cut short when she eloped with band member Tito Sotto. They have four children--- Romina, Diorella, Gian and Ciara and two grandsons, Romino and Victorio.

Let's Go (1964)- Stars Eddie Mesa, Jose Mari, Helen Gamboa, Vilma Valera, Reycard Duet, Elizabeth Ramsey, Chiqui Somes and Jerry Pons/ Directed by Pablo Santiago

Top Tunes (1964)- Stars Eddie Mesa, Jose Mari, Diomedes Maturan, Yolanda Guevarra, Jerry Pons and Helen Gamboa/ Directed by Larry Santiago

Boogaloo (1967)- Stars Helen Gamboa, Chichay, Vivian Lorrain, Vilma Valera, Bobby Gonzales, Roger Calvin, Dante Rivero and Ike Lozada/ Directed by Jose 'Pepe' Wenceslao

Shing-A-Ling-A-Loo, Pretty Girl (1967)- Stars Helen Gamboa, Chichay, Vivian Lorrain, Roger Calvin, Dante Rivero, Caridad Sanchez, Lito Legaspi and Ike Lozada/ Directed by Jose 'Pepe' Wenceslao

Mash K' Pops (1967)- Stars Helen Gamboa, Chichay, Vivian Lorrain, Caridad Sanchez, Roger Calvin, Eddie Mercado, Georgie Quizon and Jerry Pons/ Directed by Jose 'Pepe' Wenceslao

Operation Discotheque (1967)- Stars Eddie Mesa, Jose Mari,Helen Gamboa, Maggie de la Riva, Tita Munoz Jerry Pons/ Directed by Pablo Santiago

Hey Boy! Hey Girl! (1967)- Stars Eddie Gutierrez, Helen Gamboa, Ronaldo Valdez, Margie Tanquitic, Chichay, Patsy, Georgie Quizon, Teroy de Guzman, Babalu, Babalina and Dolphy Jr./ Directed by Romy Villaflor

Bang-Shang-A-Lang (1968)- Stars Helen Gamboa, Ronaldo Valdez, Rodolfo 'Boy' Garcia, Jerry Pons, Joe Garcia, Mary Walter, Bebong Osorio/ Directed by Consuelo P. Osorio

Otra Vez, Senorita (1968)- Stars Romeo Vasquez, Helen Gamboa, Chichay, Roger Calvin, Caridad Sanchez, Dante Rivero, Eddie Mercado and Ike Lozada/ Directed by Jose 'Pepe' Wenceslao

Grind-Grind (1969)- Stars Helen Gamboa, Ricky Belmonte, Dulce LukbanJerry Pons, Chichay, Vic Pacia, Doro de los Ojos and Rodolfo 'Boy' Garcia/ Directed by Jose 'Pepe' Wenceslao

Wet & Wild (1969)- Stars Helen Gamboa, Romano Castellvi, Jerry Pons, Joe de Castro, Rodolfo 'Boy' Garcia/ Directed by Tommy C. David

I'm a Tiger (1969)- Stars Helen Gamboa, Rico Roman, Carina Afable, Jerry Pons, Vic Pacia, Ponga and Rodolfo 'Boy' Garcia/ Directed by F.H. Constantino

THE TWIST: THE DANCE CRAZE OF THE 60s

"COME ON, BABY,

LET'S DO THE TWIST"

Jam Session (1962)- Stars Nida Blanca, Nestor De Villa, Bernard Bonnin and Lourdes Medel

The Twist is a twelve bar blues song that gave birth to the Twist Dance craze. The song was written and originally released in 1959 by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters as a B-side but was a minor hit. The song and the dance the Twist, were popularized in 1960 when the song was covered by Chubby Checker. His single became a smash hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 19 in 1960 (one week), and then setting a record by being the only single to reach number one in two different chart runs when it resurfaced and topped the chart again on January 13, 1962 (two weeks).

see Pinoy classic rock 1960s
see Dance Crazes of the Sixties

THE TWIST
by Chubby Checker

Come on baby let's do the twist
Come on baby let's do the twist
Take me by my little hand and go like this
Ee-oh twist baby baby twist
Oooh-yeah just like this
Come on little miss and do the twist

My daddy is sleepin' and mama ain't around
Yeah daddy is sleepin' and mama ain't around
We're gonna twisty twisty twisty
'Til we turn the house down
Come on and twist yeah baby twist
Oooh-yeah just like this
Come on little miss and do the twist

Yeah you should see my little Sis
You should see my my little Sis
She really knows how to rock
She knows how to twist
Come on and twist yeah baby twist
Oooh-yeah just like this
Come on little miss and do the twist
Yeah rock on now
Yeah twist on now
Twist.

It's 1960 and the new dance craze is The Twist...

Remember the popular live show Dance-O-Rama televised Monday to Friday, 6 to 7pm at DZTM-TV-Channel 5 and hosted by Pete Roa and Baby O’Brien.

How about DJ Dance Time aired at DZRH-TV-Channel 11 and The Nite Owl Dance Party also aired over Channel 11 and hosted by Lito Gorospe.

I used to watch these TV shows with my parents, titos and titas. Those were the good old days!

Dance-O-Rama (1963) - Stars Susan Roces, Jose Mari, Rosemarie,
Juvy Cachola, Dindo Fernando and Bert Leroy, Jr.


Yeba (1963) - Stars Nida Blanca, Nestor De Villa,
Lita Guitierrez and Diomedes Maturan

DJ Dance Time (1964) - Stars Daisy Romualdez, Cynthia Ugalde,
Alona Alegre and Helen Gamboa


The Nite Owl Dance Party (1964) - Stars Eddie Mesa, Jose Mari,
Helen Gamboa and Maggie De La Riva



Everybody Dance (1964) - Stars Nida Blanca, Nestor De Villa
and The Reycards Duet