WALLY GONZALEZ — HOW COLLEAGUES SEE HIM
Daily Tribune asked six Filipino musicians to recall the first time they heard Gonzalez play. Most of them got to perform with the esteemed guitarist - in the eyes of his colleagues
Wally Gonzalez, who died in his sleep on 23 July, was a larger-than-life presence among fans of his band, the Juan dela Cruz.
But he was also a huge influence and inspiration to some of the country’s best musicians.
Daily Tribune asked six of them to recall the first time they heard Gonzalez play. Almost all of them got to perform with the esteemed guitarist, either as band co-member — Joey Puyat (with the Blue Rats), Wowee Posadas (Wally and Friends, Manila Blues Experience, Bandwagon), and also during spontaneous jams with Janno Queyquep and Kowboy Santos.
NOLI AURILLO
I first heard the Himig Natin album was when I was in first year high school in Tacloban City. Wally's amazing guitar work, specially on the title track, shone so bright and warm that I was like a moth helplessly drawn to that musical flame. It got me hooked right away to his fantastic playing that I swore to myself, I would look him up in Manila one day.
To me, his “guitartistry” was such that, whether running on the fretboard or soaring high in the clouds, it seemed he was always aware of a firm and steady touchdown. I think that was his focus as a musician: To be firmly grounded, no matter what.
JOEY PUYAT
I first heard Wally Gonzalez when I was a wide-eyed high school freshman. My elder sister took me to one of the concerts that featured the best local bands in town.
What really turned my head was when I heard him play on the Juan de la Cruz Band songs “Mamasyal sa Pilipinas,” “Balong Malalim” and “Beep Beep.”
There were other local guitar greats who were more flashy, but no one else played as tasty and as tone-rich as Wally.
What was even more impactful was when I finally had a chance to get to get to know him better when I was already a gigging musician.
He turned out to be quite reserved, always composed and looking noble. But as soon as I rattled off what I remembered of his old Gibson SG, and the Fender Bandmaster of Mrs. Vitan that he loved and other gear trivia, he really opened up and we hit it off well.
I’ve finally come full circle — from the kid intently studying his fingers as he played, to the working musician who gets to know his idol, and now to one who is in grief over his passing.
I started out as a fan, and will continue to be one for as long as my heart remembers
KOWBOY SANTOS
I first heard Tito
Wally playing guitar when I was pretty young, maybe seven or eight years old, on my mom’s song “Sa Lumang Simbahan,” which was a unique take on a traditional Filipino folk song.
But it wasn’t until I came back from the United States as a teenager, discovering Razorback playing B-side cuts from Juan de la Cruz such as “Nadapa sa Arina” and “Kagatan,” that I really immersed myself on Pinoy Rock.
Tito Wally’s playing spoke to my heart right — the mean sound of Clapton’s Cream years type of riffs.
His guitar-playing skills were phenomenal. He made blues licks work within a Pinoy vibe. He was the pioneer of the original Pinoy Rock sound. What brought him to the stratosphere of musicianship was his personality. He had such a good heart, always gathering other artists together, making the band scene happen again with classic rock. He wasn’t the boastful, boisterous type of performer. He was subdued and humble. It was really just about the music. He made me believe in myself with his words of encouragement every time we would meet and jam. He was the cornerstone of my playing style and technique. and it had been a huge honor for me to have shared the stage with one of my heroes.
The fact that he was in my dad’s band, the Jungle Cats, was mindblowing.
RESTY FABUNAN
Nariring ko na ang pangalan ni Wally noong tumutugtog ako sa Gapo.
Pero narinig ko lang siyang tumugtog nang maglabas na ang Juan dela Cruz
ng mga kanta at album.
Humanga ako dahil original ang mga piyesa nila tulad ng “Himig Natin,” Beep Beep” at iba pa. Magaling si Wally at maraming kabataan ang na-inspire sa kaniyang pag-gigitara.
Ako rin na-inspire na makilahok sa Pinoy Rock nung marinig ko siya.
JANNO QUEYQUEP
I first heard Wally Gonzalez when I was 11 and the song was “Himig Natin.”
My neighbor Otchot Cortez (also my guitar teacher) was playing along to the song.
Immediately I was drawn to Wally’s guitar playing style. I wanted to play and jam with him someday. And eventually I did. I am lucky and grateful to have played with him onstage.
He was a “killer” guitar player with an extraordinary musical taste, but he was a humble human being, too.
WOWEE POSADAS
I came across Wally Gonzalez's music in the early 1980s when I heard, on the radio, his instrumental piece “Wally's Blues.” I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was local, since the musical style and quality of the recording sounded like it was performed and produced abroad by a foreign artist.
When I started playing professionally, the scene was dominated by cover bands doing mostly foreign hits. But Wally and his band, the Juan dela Cruz, proved that Pinoys can also have huge success releasing unique, original music.
It inspired me to be unafraid of being unconventional in writing and arranging songs.
Regardless of the brand of electric guitar and amplifier he used, his tone was unmistakable. His sound was so distinct that when you heard a song, you knew it was him playing.
Wally was a good and kind man. But what I admired most was his humility. He was a great artist, yet so humble.