BUGOY DRILON & DARYL ONG are given the chance to topbill their own concert series in the USA, “Bad Boys of R&B”.
This will start on Friday, October 13th in Las Vegas at the Jefebet Center of Silver Nuggets Casino.
Bugoy was a teenager working as a janitor in a school canteen when he joined the audition for “Pinoy Dream Academy”.
For the first time, he took a bus and came to Manila and won as first runner up in 2008. How has his life changed since then?
“Naku, malaki po ang ipinagbago, hindi lang ng buhay ko kundi pati buong pamilya ko,” he says at the presscon of his USA concert.
“I was just 18 then, 33 na ako ngayon. Natulungan ko yung family ko, napag-aral ko yung kapatid ko and she is now working in Dubai.
"I got to have my own hit songs like ‘Paano na Kaya’ and ‘Kung Pwede Lang Sana’.
"I’ve had a solo concert sa KIA Theatre at nakapag-abroad na ako doing shows with other artists. And now, kami ni Darryl, we’ll have our own concert na kami mismo ang frontliners.”
Has he gotten married? “No. I dated a lot, but I realized hindi pa time for me to have my own family. Marami pa akong gustong gawin. I want to record a new album with my own compositions.”
Daryl Ong started as animator for ABS-CBN.
He joined some singing contests but it was in “The Voice Philippines 2014” that he gained fame as a talent of his coach, Apl de Ap.
He didn’t win but he was made to join ASAP and sang a lot of theme songs for hit Kapamilya drama shows, like “Ang Probinsyano”, “Till I Met You” and “On the Wings of Love”.
“I feel so blessed kasi kahit hindi ako nanalo, narito pa rin ako,” he says.
“Malayo na sa times na nagwe-wedding singer ako sa probinsya tapos P1,500 lang ang TF ko, tinatakbuhan pa. But ok lang kasi I love naman yung ginagawa ko.
"Binalak ko na noong mag-hosto sa Japan, buti na lang at dumating ang ‘The Voice’, natanggap ako and it gave me new opportunities.”
He now also does cover versions of hit songs shown on his own youtube channel.
“My latest project is I produced ten nursery rhymes done na nilagyan ko ng R&B twist. Isinama ko anak ko sa video. This is for today’s new generation of millennial and Gen Z audiences.”
How is it being paired with Bugoy?
“Actually, fan na ako ni Bugoy noong nasa PDA pa lang siya at wala pa ako noon sa showbiz. He grew up in the province, but nagulat ako kasi ang lawak ng range at songs niya.
"Iba-iba ang genres niya, kaya napakadali niyang katrabaho. Even sa harmony and blending, no effort. Madali kaming nagkasundo and we’re very collaborative.”
They are both excited with their “Bad Boys of R&B” concert series. “First big show namin ito sa US. Kasi before guests lang kami sa shows ng ibang stars like Angeline Quinto and some comedians. But now, kami ni Bugoy ang banner.”
“Ang maganda, they give us the chance to focus on RnB at mas may freedom kami to choose our own songs ,” says Bugoy.
“We’ve prepared a very nice repertoire and we’re excited to show our R&B side. Magpapalitan din kami ni Daryl ng mga kanta. Si Daryl kasi, matalas ang tenga niya at kapag hindi ko kayang i-hit yung ibang high notes, sinasalo niya ako.
"I really enjoy performing with him kasi kabisado na namin ang chemistry and nuances ng isa’t isa.”
The special guests in their concert are Jaya and Garth Garcia, plus some local talents in California.
After the October 13 concert in Las Vegas, they will stage it at the Historic Bal Theate in San Leandro, California; at the Oxnard Performing Art Center on Oxnard City on November 3 and at the Celebrity Centre in Hollywood on November 4.
All Pinoys in the USA who love good music, see you in these venues soon!
