Tillie Moreno
Tillie Moreno | |
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Background information | |
Born | May 22, 1953 |
Origin | Manila, Philippines |
Genres | R&B, soul, jazz, pop |
Years active | 1970–present |
Website | Official Myspace |
Tillie Moreno, also known as "Manila's Queen of Soul", is a Filipino R&B/soul/pop vocalist and entertainer whose career began in the 1970s. She is best known for her songs "Saan Ako Nagkamali", "Umagang Kay Ganda" and "Nothing I Want More". [1]She was a member of the bands Circus Band and Lovelife.[2]
Biography
Early life
Tillie Moreno, who was born in Manila, Philippines, became interested in music and performing at the young age of eleven.[3] She took piano lessons and started singing, playing guitar, and arranging music with a pop music girl group called Take 5. They performed for many school functions and were featured a few times on local television shows including the show Nineteeners. Moreno, her brother, and her cousin formed a band shortly after her rendezvous with Take 5, which was called Ultimate Jury and sang Top 40 music, light rock and R&B. They performed for high school proms, private parties, local concerts, and also appeared on television shows. Moreno contributed by doing lead and background vocals and also playing keyboard for the band. Shortly after her family band, Moreno joined a girl and boy pop group called Studio A, which lasted a few years. They also performed for private parties and on television shows.
Career
Moreno's big break was when she auditioned for a multi-genre band of 9 to 10 members. She sang the anti-war song "One Tin Soldier" in front of Atek Jacinto and got the gig.[3] This band would eventually become Circus Band. They played for schools, television shows and concerts around the country and recorded five albums. They eventually split due to different interests in music genres. Circus Band eventually became a rock music group, while the ones that left, including Tillie Moreno, formed their own R&B group called Lovelife. They soon signed a contract with Jun Guevara, their manager, to perform in 5-star hotels and in other countries including Japan, Singapore and UAE (Abu Dhabi). During this time, she was asked by Blackgold Recording Company to sign and record for them as a solo artist which produced her hit song "Saan Ako Nagkamali". She was also approached by WEA which asked her to sign with them instead and from there Moreno recorded four solo albums (Steppin' Out, Disconcerto, Tillie and Looks Like Love). She also teamed up with popular Filipino singer and friend Ray An Fuentes to record another hit single, "Umagang Kay Ganda" in the early 1980s. Moreno eventually moved from the Philippines to Los Angeles, California to continue her career in the United States. She started singing in small cafes and restaurants eventually making a name for herself while temporarily doing office work. She later joined a cover band called LA's Nitelight, which performed Top 40 music of the time. They performed in restaurants and for private parties which built up Moreno's network of people and producers that eventually led her to do solo concerts all over the Greater Los Angeles area as well as other places in the United States.
Recognitions
- 1973 – Tokyo Music Festival – Grand finalist with Circus Band
- 1976 – Jingle Magazine's Best Female Vocalist
- 1978 – Metro Manila Pop Festival – Hit song duet "Umagang Kay Ganda" with Ray-An Fuentes
- 1979 – Manila's Top Entertainers – Tinig awardee
- 1981 – 6th Metro Manila Pop Festival – Winner as composer for the song "Nothing I Want More"
- 1982 – World Popular Song Contest in Seoul, Korea – Grand prize winner as composer for "Nothing I Want More"
Discography
Albums
- Five albums with Circus Band – 1972–1975
- 4 solo albums with WEA
- Steppin' Out – 1978 (produced by Randy Ray at Greenhills Studios)
- Disconcerto – (produced by Nonoy Tan for WEA)
- Tillie – 1978 (produced by Nonoy Tan for WEA)
- Looks Like Love – 1982 (produced by Hal Yoergler at Paramount Recording Studio, Los Angeles)
- Timeless... Always and Forever – 2007 (Greatest Hits CD)
Singles
- "Saan Ako Nagkamali" – composed by George Canseco, recorded for Blackgold Recording Company
- "Umagang Kay Ganda" – 1976 duet with Ray-An Fuentes
- "Beginnings" – 1979 duet with Ray-An Fuentes (recorded for WEA)
- "Heart Don't Fail Me Now" – 1980 (produced by Randy Ray, arranged by Michel Columbier, composed by Randy Goodrum, for Columbia Records)
Notes
- ↑ "Ray-An Fuentes, Tillie Moreno sing 'UKG' theme". ABS-CBN. February 6, 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ↑ Concepcion, Pocholo (April 21, 2013). "A genie in disguise, full of wonder and surprise' Pop's golden age lives on at the new Merk's Place". Inquirer. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- 1 2 Concepcion, Pocholo. "Tillie Moreno here for jazz fest". Inquirer. Archived from the original on February 20, 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
External links
- Tillie @ Asian Talent Online
- Tillie's New Sound
- Tillie – PI Jazz Fest
- Bworldonline Article
- ManilaBulletinOnline Article
- JazzPhil-USA