Honestly, it is confusing to be informed about an iconic singing group as Minstrels as it underwent a series of renaming and configuration.
The clearer thing is that the New Minstrels is still around even with a multigenerational membership and we’re happy about it.
To be more appreciative of the New Minstrels, let us enumerate some of its original members, namely, Louie Reyes, Ryan Fuentes, Eugene Villaluz, Ding Mercado, Rene Puno, Eileen Dolina, among others.
We owe it to them the music that we cherish until now like “Smile,” “Babae Ka,” “Ikaw Ako Magkakapatid,” “I Don’t Love You Anymore” etc.
After Rene guested in Arnell Ignacio’s concert “Timeless…Music and Laughter” at the Century Park Sheraton last Saturday, another round of the New Minstrels regathering will happen on Saturday at the Savoy Hotel.
This time, the 2ndGeneration of the group—from Something Special singers taken in as new members of Minstrels in 1979—will perform.
According to Joseph Olfindo, a Gen 2 member, his batchmate Jessica Casas, who’s flying in from the US, invited him and other available fellows like Ernie Mercado who will be flying in from Australia, Grace Pimental and Arlene Arcilla to perform for the UST Med Tech Batch 1980 which Jessica is part of.
“The band ceased performing in 1984 to focus on their families. Now, some members are retired and are returning to their passion for music. This reunion promises to open up opportunities for more performances by this multi-awarded, best lounge act of the 80s,” said Joseph.
New Minstrels Gen 2 has just recorded rearranged songs of the group dubbed as “The New Minstrels Remix” to be released soon.
Meanwhile, the Rainmakers, a singing group which also rose to fame in the 70s will perform in a special participation for the Golden Jubilee celebration of the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters (Artlets) ’75 at Heritage Hotel on February 21, 2025.
Rainmakers is composed of Joel Macanaya, a 1974 Artlets alumnus, Jojo Grospe and Ramon Villanueva.
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