Successful Musical Partnership

by Leah Salterio-Gatdula
PDI
March 11, 1993

Just when others thought that the celebrated singing tandem Regine Velasquez and Janno Gibbs is slowly waning, the duo reinforced their popularity with a hit revival of Magkasuyo Buong Gabi. The song soared to the top of the local music harts and radio playlists, thus making Regine and Janno the singing team to reckon with.

The chemistry was discovered a few years back, when Regine and Janno first shared the limelight in a concept show, Framed, at the now-defunct Rizal Theater. In that back-to-back presentation, the singing upstarts displayed their innate talents. And with their complementing voices and stage rapport, a musical partnership was born.

It was actually the idea of their manager Ronnie Henares (of Primeline, Inc.), to put the two entertainers in one concert which would highlight their respective talents. Surprisingly enough, the Regine-Janno tandem has clicked with the music fans. And since the two artists belong to the same management company, it wasn't hard to push them as a singing duo.

Framed was such a well-received show that in 1991, Regine and Janno teamed up anew in the successful Valentine stage venture Foolish Hearts (at the PICC). That same year, they also shared stellar billing in a musical play, Kenkoy Loves Rosing (based on Tony Velasquez's popular cartoon strip).

Since then, Regine and Janno have become "inseparable." Whenever Regine would hold a concert - be it in an intimate place like the Mandarin's Captain's Bar or in a major venue like the FAT -Janno would gladly oblige to guest and do a song number with her. And vice versa.

While other team-ups rely on constant publicity gimmicks or make-believe romantic flings, Regine and Janno refuse to abide those "rules." In the first place, Janno is married to singer-actress Bing Loyzaga, although Regine has yet to find her "prince charming."

Secondly, "He is not my type and he's the same with me." the Bulakena lass maintains. "That's why they can not link us romantically."

But their professional musical partnership has endured. What gives?

Friendship seems to be the secret of these two artists. "The nice thing about Janno is that we're friends," Regine grants. "we've been friends for such a long time and that helps a lot when we work. We learn a lot from one another. Onstage, we complement each other. Vocally-wise, we're suitable. We're really very comfortable with each other when we perform. I'm not nervous when I'm with him."

She has a perennial complaint though, about her singing partner. "I just hate it when Janno's late," she mutters. "Acutally, he is never early. And he lives here in Manila, he always makes me wait for our commitments and I'd go here all the way from Bulacan. I've slapped him twice already because he's always late, but it's nothing to him. He'll beg for apology, but next time, he'll be late again!"

Happily, Regine and Janno, who are now both contract artist of Cosmic Records, have also trail blazed respective successful careers. for her part, Regine has gained a considerable headway with her successful major concerts in big venues like the Folk Arts and ULTRA. She has also several hit single and record awards to boot.

The two young performer will again prove their mettle onstage in a concert aptly titled Dream Team, on Saturday, March 13 at the Folk Arts Theater. As in their previous shows together, Regine and Janno will once again prove their own kind of musical - and comical partnership.
Directed by Freddie Santos, Dream Team will have Homer Flores as musical director and Christine Blando as choreographer. Also featured in the show are the eight member a capella group, The Tux and the Hotlegs Dancers, with surprise guest appearances of to basketball stars.
The duo assures the audience of highly entertaining show in Dream Team ."You'll be surprised in our opening number," Regine and Janno chorus. "They'll enjoy the repertoire which we prepared especially for this show. We'll be doing some songs with the Tux and a production number with the basketball stars."

Dream Team is a production of Various Artists, in cooperation with Primeline, Inc.