The radio icon goes to rock n’ roll heave
By Rome Jorge, Lifestyle Editor
The Manila Times
Dante David, aka Howlin’ Dave—music pioneer and radio deejay who first exposed Filipino radio listeners to Pinoy rock music in the early 1970s and again first broadcasted punk and new wave songs in the early 1980s—passed away yesterday morning.
On evening of May 25, David was brought to the Intensive Care Unit of the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City. The 51-year-old had been reported early this year to be suffering from a brain tumor, diabetes hypertension, arthritis, pneumonia and rheumatism—admittedly paying the dues of his rock n’ roll lifestyle.
This is not a rock n’ roll hoax; Both Noli Aurillo, legendary blues guitarist of Coco Jam recently featured in the Mga Gitarista compilation album, and Glen Sibal, production manager of FM radio station NU107 where David until recently hosted his own show, confirmed his passing.
Howlin’ Dave’s contribution to Filipino popular culture and rock music in particular is incalculable. It was on David’s weekend radio program for RJAM, owned by Ramon Jacinto, himself a rocker, entitled Pinoy Rock and Rhythm that many Filipino music aficionados first heard the likes The Juan dela Cruz Band, Asin, Sampaguita and many more. Later, he was the first to introduce listeners to punk music. He gave airplay to the likes of The Wuds, Betrayed, Urban Bandits, The Jerks and other local punk and new wave bands.
His radio program was the seminal rock experience for many of today’s most influential and acclaimed musicians. With Pinoy Rock and Rhythm giving local artists exposure and recognition, the music developed into distinctly Pinoy artistic form. The man supported Filipino rock music in all its forms: from blues-rock to punk to post-modern. Noli Aurillo, legendary blues guitarist of Coco Jam recently featured in the Mga Gitarista compilation album, notes, “He once told me that he only played music na may K.”
In 2001, David received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the NU107 Rock Awards. Recently this year, he began hosting a radio show of Pinoy classic rock for NU107 entitled Tapsi Rock.
The legendary Joey Pepe Smith, drummer of the Juan dela Cruz Band, attests, “He was the one who gave Juan dela Cruz to the multitudes of Filipinos. He’s the rock n’ roll deejay of the century.”
Markus Adoro, lead guitarist of the phenomenal Eraserheads and vocalist of Markus Highway, testifies, “He was a pillar of Pinoy rock music. I was listening to him play punk music on RJAM long before. I heard him again on RJFM 105.9 and I wanted to surprise him, though he didn’t know me personally, to give him my album as a tribute. It’s sad now that I never will. He’s a legend.”
Aurillo recalls, “When I was a student in UP, I listened to him all the time. He was the one who gave my work ‘Saling Pusa’ airplay. I thanked him for letting cat out.” He adds that David’s last message to him was, “The Lord’s words were a great help to me.”
A fundraising concert will be held at on the evening of May 28, at My Brother’s Mustache, 46 Scout Tuazon Street corner Scout Madrinan Street, Diliman, Quezon City. NU107 will be hosting the last episode of Tapsi Rock his Sunday 5 p.m. as a tribute to David. For its part, the new Underground Radio RJFM 105.9 continues to Pinoy classic rock, which Dante David, aka Howlin’ Dave, made famous.
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