Chad is another Y101 jock who is an avid supporter of our local music. This week Chad remembers the Cebuano music compilation album Mango Jam.
During the late 80s, a young Chad the Stud fell in love with the radio. Specifically, his heart was locked into Y101. Having only been on the air for a decade, Y101 was (and still is) the trendiest radio station in Cebu at the time. Back then it was managed by the legendary Johnny Kawa.
Chad remembers how during the late 80’s/early 90s, he would sit at home and listen to Y101 all day, listening to the radio shows by Mr. Steel, Professor Noodles, and Dr. Love among others. While he was reminiscing the past, Chad remembered how during the period Y101 co-produced a compilation album full of songs created by respected Cebuano musicians of the late 80’s. The album was called Mango Jam.
Johnny Kawa apparently rounded up some of the best local artists of the time and co-produced the first Best of Cebu Music album. The album featured highly respected Cebuano artists like the band 40, ETU, BTU (Beyond the Unknown) and The Ire, among others. The album mainly consists of songs inspired from American 80’s pop and rock power ballads.
One song from the album is called We are Cebu which is credited in the album as being interpreted by Cebu Entertainer and Bands United. Chad told me that the song was a benefit single for the victims of Typhoon Ruping, the deadliest typhoon of the 1990 typhoon season. The track has also a PSA version on the same album. The public service announcement mix was used throughout 1990 during Y101’s broadcasts.
Another track on the album called Jennifer, interpreted by Erwin Randolph, was a classic sounding pop tune that sounds straight out of the Manila Sound era. The song was composed by Jimmy Borja, who was teaching at the University of San Carlos at the time, and I heard that the song was supposed to be about Jimmy’s crush. Jimmy Borja, of course, is a successful Cebuano artist who made it big in Manila composing songs for Lani Misalucha and even writing one of the best Filipino Christmas songs, Sana Ngayong Pasko.
Most of the songs were recorded at Mutya Recording Studio, a very popular recording studio back then. Looking back, Chad assumes that the recording would have been really expensive that time, making Mango Jam the first and most expensive collaborative musical project Cebu had to make.
One could even say that Mango Jam soundtracked Chad’s life, helping him mold his interest in music. Y101 is the first radio station in Cebu to support our local artistry. Chad the Stud remembers,
“Back in the 90s Mango Jam was a big thing. Y101 started it. Before other stations started playing local music, Y101 started it first. Y101 has always been a big supporter of our music”
That’s why Chad the Stud wants to encourage all local artists to submit their songs. Back then two aspiring rappers DiCE and K9 came to the station and submitted their little song Itsumo. Everyone loved it and Y101 gave it a lot of airplay which helped put Itsumo out to a wider market.
Chad the Stud hopes that someday, Y101 would compile another album full of songs by this generation’s artists. It would be a great archive of how Cebuano music has changed in 25 years. Just like Jiggy Jr, Chad the Stud doesn’t believe in local music, he believes in “music”, great music. And just like every other jock, Chad supports in homegrown music.
Catch Chad the Stud every Mondays to Fridays during the Midday Vibe, 10am to 2pm. Only here at the rhythm of the city, Y101, Always First.
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