DURING the 40th wedding anniversary reception of Mike and Marie Gaviola at the Renaissance Hotel in Makati, Manila, I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic by the music being played by the band. I know the band called itself Route 70 but I had no information about the group. I was very tired that night because it was my third week in Manila with very little sleep but when I heard Route 70 played “Annie Batungbakal,” “I Love the Nightlife,” “Souvenirs,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” and “Sumayaw, Sumunod,” the dancefloor proved irresistible. The next thing I knew, I was dancing to my heart’s delight. The music brought back memories of the 70’s. When I sat down, I had to scramble for a pen and paper to scribble some notes about the group.

I agree with Tinnie P. Esguerra who said, “Despite the advancements in music technology these days, today’s breed of songwriters seems to pale in comparison to those of generations past.” I believe there’s just something in yesteryear’s music that lures even the younger generations. “It’s a tried and tested formula for longevity, even among today’s local singers.” Istambay yata ako ng Intercon’s Le Boulevardier in the 70’s when Danny Cruz’s 747 and Family Birth Control lorded the live music scene. They dished out hits that are still today’s classic favorites. It is very true that “like wine, music gets better with age, and an ample dose could leave one drunk with nostalgia.”

What happens when the best of each group decides to form a new group? Bongga! Magnifico! Tinnie P. Esguerra of The Philippine Star wrote of the band: “It’s that same exhilarating ‘high’ that inspired a group of veteran band players to relive their glory days and play the same songs they grew up with. Now carving their own niche in the retro-dominated music scene, Route 70 vows to steer nostalgia buffs towards another road less traveled.”

As Best New Artist in the 2003 Aliw Awards, Route 70 is a collage of seasoned musicians from groups popular in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. they include the Family Birth Control, Music and Magic, Manila Band, Law of Gravity, Rubberband, Power Play, Soulid and Pido with Take One. They decided to get together for the love of music and with a specific goal: to lead us back to the music of the 70’s.

Members of Route 70 are vocalists Toots Almazan, Dingdong Eduque, and Trisha Fernandez; keyboard player Joy Cruz; bassist Bobby Taylo; drummer Benjie Ijiran; trombone player Oscar Fernandez; trumpet player Raymond Agtarap; and lead guitarist Butch Elizalde. When I looked through the bio-data of the group, it did not come to me as a surprise that I knew some of them. Mga kapanahunan ko sila although some are younger than I am. I met Toots Almazan at my favorite istambayan, the Intercon’s Le Boulevardier. He was the former male vocalist of one of the popular bands during the 70’s, The Family Birth Control. Toots migrated to the United States but his love for music led him back to Pinas where he eventually joined Rubberband. He co-founded Route 70.

Bobby Taylo and Butch Elizalde are familiar names because they were formerly of Music and Magic, the group that launched Kuh Ledesma to stardom. Bobby does musical directing, musical arranging and bass playing for artists such as Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Pops Fernandez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Sharon Cuneta, Kuh Ledesma, Lani Misalucha and other concert performers. Butch is a guitar player for GMA 7’s Sunday musical variety show SOP. He’s a session musician for other well known artists, played for one of the most famous bands of the 80’s, and has worked with composer Bodgie Dasig and Law of Gravity, Insession and Rubberband. The only female in the group, Vocalist Trisha Fernandez, the lone woman in the group, performed in most hotel lounges in Manila and other Asian capitals either as a solo performer or lead vocalist of bands such as Etcetera, John y Cash, and Jukebox.

Entertainment writers describe Route 70 as a “formidable ensemble that can dish out anything from heartfelt ballads to funk-flavored Motown grooves.” In an interview, Dingdong Eduque was quoted as saying, “We’re not very rock, neither are we too deep in 60’s music. We’re definitely not into the Beatles thing.” Although Route 70 does 70’s dance music, Eduque admits, “We can’t do the Bee Gees! We obviously have too much hormones for that kind of thing.”

As I left the party of Mike Gaviola, memories of the 70’s were vivid in my mind. I took the right way, the Route 70, which led me to the music of yesteryears – a very romantic period.

If you are interested in booking Route 70 for concerts or private parties, email me at drprotacio@comcast.net. I will make sure they get your message.