OFTEN confused with Boy Mondragon (“Rain gently falls…”), Efren Montes was a child star in the Seventies who, according to one of many trivia listings that are forwarded via email, remade the song “Kiss Me, Kiss Me.” As a child actor, Efren was a regular in Channel 9’s family sitcom Padre de Pamilya, whose cast was headed by then Tisoy lead, now radio commentator, Jimmy Morato. Efren is also listed in the IMDB website as a cast member of the 1977 Lupita Aquino Kashiwahara movie, Alkitrang Dugo.

Later, Efren would attend a training school for music and in 1981, join his first band, The Amicables. His singing career brought him around the Philippines and gigs in Guam, Bahrain, Saipan, Thailand, Japan and Hong Kong. He joined touring bands like A-Live in 1993 and Chorus Gold in 1996. He also produced videokes.

Back in Manila after the end of his contract, Efren was invited to join the JB Band, a 13-man soul music showband formed last year. Its members include legendary percussionist Ding Dong Boogie and composer-vocalist Snaffu Rigor.

Though he looked faintly bored and his performance seemed mechanical in the beginning, Efren stuck with the band, thanks to friends and supporters who vouched for his abilities as a singer capable of more than just phoning it in.

Over time, Efren got his groove back and now functions as the “spark plug” of the group, delivering each soulful interpretation with passionate energy. In addition, his natural charm allows him to build terrific rapport with his audience. Stockier but still the smooth operator, Efren shows th at the lessons of teen idolhood still serve him well.

Listen to more of Efren on the JB Band’s first CD, which includes reworked versions of Cinderella’s “Bato sa Buhangin” and Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.”

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