Jose Maria Gonzales (Jose Mari) was a legend Phillipine 50s actor. He participated in numerous films in his country from 1958.And he was the m,anager of The Electromaniacs.
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| HANDSOME (1959) Sampaguita Pictures, Inc. Carlos Vander Tolosa, director (Susan Roces, Jose Mari, Etang Discher, Patria Plata, Eddie Gutierrez) |
The original Electromaniacs consisted primarily of Lito Toribio on
drums, Joey Gordon on bass, Gene Generoso on rhythm guitar, and Ernie
Delgado on lead guitar. Later on, Joey Gordon left the band and Ernie
invited his neighbor Emile Caballero to become the new bass player.
After a year, Chito Perez replaced Gene Generoso. Most of the band members were inspired by orchestra music. Lito was
steeped in classical music because, aside from playing the piano, his
father led an orchestra. His other influences included the geniuses Rony
Williams, Joe Morello and Steve Gadd, among others. Ernie, who had
early orchestra influences, considers Barney Kessel, Mickey “Guitar”
Baker and Chester Burton “Chet” Atkins as his inspirations. Emile was a
sessionista in several jamming sessions. The Electromaniacs’ early
gigs were mostly for tipar, a Filipino wordplay for private parties in
the 1960s. Soon, the band dominated the local airwaves and was cast on
the radio program “Ang Tindahan ni Aling Pepang.” They also appeared in
TV shows such as “Dance-O-Rama” which was once hosted by Boots Anson and
Pete Roa. They were also the first band to be highlighted in a film
where their hit song “I Miss You So” was the movie title. The
Electromaniacs was the first band to play at the Rizal Theater in Makati
and the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, performing with Neil Sedaka
and front-acting Paul Anka.The Electromaniacs’ single, Gene
Generoso’s “Broken Guitar” became no. 1 on the Philippine Top 10 for
three months. In 1963, they compiled their other singles into the
long-playing “Lover’s Guitar”, the only LP that came out of the many
bands of that time.
In 1968, they changed manager, recruited new
members, renamed the group Electros and played in Sierra Club in
Olongapo. Ernie left for the United States, followed by Lito in 1973.
Emile left the band to study sounds in Europe from 1978 to 1982. What distinguished The Electromaniacs from other bands was what Lito
calls “the sweet sound” they produced. It was the sound of the songs
Ernie Delgado wrote that identified the group and the period, as in “I
Miss You So” and “Tahitian Drums,” both were in the LP “Lover’s Guitar.”
The song “I Miss You So” established Ernie as a talented composer so
much so that even when it is played today, those familiar with it easily
fall under its nostalgic spell. As the LPs liner notes put it, “the
song is tuneful, pleading to be sung.” The Electromaniacs’ sound is
said to be evident throughout another original by Ernie “Tahitian
Drums,” that showcased Lito’s drums. It is his playing in pieces like
this that accounted for Lito’s turning into possibly the most iconic
drummer of his time. Although Ernie and Lito went their separate ways years later, they remained involved in music-making. Ernie joined harmony groups that performed folk music (think Crosby,
Still and Nash) and standard songs (The Carpenters, Abba, etc.). He also
studied Music Theory and Harmony under National Artist for Music Lucio
San Pedro. Aside from becoming a session/studio drummer, Lito
performed in Asia and the Middle East with Sangkatutak, the Carding Cruz
Jr. Band, and Royal Flush. In 1974, the two met again in Manila.
Lito especially felt happy for Ernie because they now spoke the same
language as it was only Lito among the Electros then who had formal
training in music. In the mid 1980s, they started playing together
professionally or for fun, and would later on collaborate on musical
projects. At this time though, the music they were familiar with gave
way to Karaokes, taking the place of orchestras. There was a
proliferation of bands but the demand for them declined. Ernie is the original lead guitar player of the Electromaniacs. He was the first member to be tapped by the band’s original manager, Jose Marie Gonzales, in 1960 to form a group that will inspire musical originality and was called Jose Mari Gonzales and the Electromaniacs. Ernie is credited for much of the band’s original songs. Their most celebrated hit, I Miss You So, is an adaptation of Ernie from Perry Como’s hit song “Wanted.” He narrates that while he was riding the jeep on his way home one night, he heard Como’s song on the radio and was greatly inspired by its chord progressions and melodic patterns. When he arrived home, he got his guitar and played his own version of the chords and placed it to rest hoping to come up with a song. When he woke up the next day, the melody still haunted him and he finished composing a brand new song. Thus the song I Miss You So came to be. Ernie’s music influences include American Jazz guitarist Barney Kessel, rhythm and blues and rock and roll legend Mickey Baker, and guitarist Jett Atkins. In addition to that, Ernie was also under the tutelage of Maestro Lucio San Pedro where he learned theory and harmony in 1970. All of these added to Ernie’s musicality which became an asset of the band as they garnered success.With the new Electromaniacs, Ernie’s songs prove that music doesn’t change through the course of time. He remains an icon together with his band.
Lito Toribio is the lead drummer of the 60s legend, the Electromaniacs. It was his rendition of the Tahitian Drums that made Lito Toribio an iconic drummer of his time. He joined the Electromaniacs in 1960 and became one of its pioneer members. Lito came from a family of musicians. His father and mother were both part of the orchestra. At an early age, Lito was exposed into the keyboards and he joined his parents in performing for the orchestra. His Western influences include Tony Williams, Jom Morillo and Steve Gadd. His love for music grew as he stayed with the Electromaniacs. When he left the goup in 1973, he continued doing music by joining different bands and worked as a composer for movies, commercials and jingles. He also performed outside the country such as Bangkok, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Singapore. He returned to the Electromaniacs last year and continued the legacy that the band did in defining the 60s era with their music. Lito, an icon and a musician, continues to play and believe in music.
Emile Caballero was a sessionista, playing for different bands until he was discovered by the Electromaniacs.
Emile’s story with the band follows a funny tone. He, together with fellow guitar player and band member Ernie Delgado, were neighbors in Sampaloc Manila. According to Emile, the band was driving around the streets of Sampaloc looking for a bass player (after Joey Gordon left) when they spotted him throwing garbage along the side of the street. They asked him if he plays the guitar not knowing that this invitation would catapult him together with the band to a more memorable journey of fame. This became a running joke amongst the band members, and Emile continued playing for them up until he left in 1982 to pursue a career in music in Europe. Although he left the group, the urge of playing with them again was still with him.
His reunion with his fellow band members brings back a nostalgic feel of memory and success. Their return to the stage is a message to all that the Electromaniacs are still rocking. In the Electromaniacs now, Emile stands as the band’s bass player, sound consultant, technical adviser, rhythm guitarist and percussionist.
