Howlin' Dave
Encyclopedia
Dante David was a Filipino
radio disc jockey
. Better known by his stage name Howlin' Dave, he is credited with introducing Filipino radio listeners to Pinoy (Filipino) rock music
in the early 1970s, and to new wave and punk rock
in the 1980s.
Howlin' Dave grew up in Pasay City
and dropped out of high school. While enrolled in a Fine Arts course at the Philippine Women's University
, he was hired as a radio announcer on DZRJ-AM
in 1974. He adopted the name "Howlin' Dave" after the American blues singer Howlin' Wolf
. He soon became the host of Pinoy Rock and Rhythm, a weekend thirty-minute radio program that featured the then-nascent Pinoy rock
music. The program was credited with popularizing such Filipino rock acts as the Juan Dela Cruz Band, Asin
and the singer Sampaguita
. Howlin' Dave himself became known for his trademark mangled grammar and syntax, his atypical on-air use of the Tagalog language
, and for his passionate and excitable delivery in his big booming voice. The drummer Pepe Smith
called him "the best rock DJ the Philippines ever had.”
Howlin' Dave was also credited with introducing Filipino radio listeners to punk rock and new wave music beginning in the late 1970s, through his program New Wave Nights. His choice to promote punk music was controversial among his fellow deejays and with his station, but his program developed a following, with spikey-haired teens soon showing up at the radio station, drinking gin and breaking bottles. Between 1980 to 1985, Howlin' Dave hosted the annual 'Brave New World' punk concert, which he closed with his take on Sid Vicious
's version of "My Way
".
In the late 1980s, Howlin' Dave was diagnosed with a brain tumor
, as well as several other health problems that left him house-bound for several years. In his later years, he hosted radio programs with DZRJ, ROCK 990
, and NU 107
. In 2001, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the NU Rock Awards
. He died in May 2008, two days after collapsing at home following a stroke
.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
radio disc jockey
Radio personality
A radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
. Better known by his stage name Howlin' Dave, he is credited with introducing Filipino radio listeners to Pinoy (Filipino) rock music
Pinoy rock
Pinoy rock, or Filipino rock, is the brand of rock music produced in the Philippines or by Filipinos. It has become as diverse as the rock music genre itself, and bands adopting this style are now further classified under more specific genres or combinations of genres like alternative rock,...
in the early 1970s, and to new wave and punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
in the 1980s.
Howlin' Dave grew up in Pasay City
Pasay City
The City of Pasay is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by the country's capital, Manila, to the northeast by Makati City, to the east by Taguig City, and Parañaque City to the south.Pasay City was one of the original four...
and dropped out of high school. While enrolled in a Fine Arts course at the Philippine Women's University
Philippine Women's University
The Philippine Women's University is a non-sectarian academic institution for men and women in the Philippines, founded in 1919 as the Philippine Women's College by Filipino women who envisioned a school that would prepare young women for leadership and service...
, he was hired as a radio announcer on DZRJ-AM
DZRJ-AM
DZRJ-AM , also known by its tagline The Voice of the Philippines, is an AM radio station of the Rajah Broadcasting Network, Inc. in the Philippines. The station was located on the roofdeck and tower of the J&T Building along Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard...
in 1974. He adopted the name "Howlin' Dave" after the American blues singer Howlin' Wolf
Howlin' Wolf
Chester Arthur Burnett , known as Howlin' Wolf, was an influential American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player....
. He soon became the host of Pinoy Rock and Rhythm, a weekend thirty-minute radio program that featured the then-nascent Pinoy rock
Pinoy rock
Pinoy rock, or Filipino rock, is the brand of rock music produced in the Philippines or by Filipinos. It has become as diverse as the rock music genre itself, and bands adopting this style are now further classified under more specific genres or combinations of genres like alternative rock,...
music. The program was credited with popularizing such Filipino rock acts as the Juan Dela Cruz Band, Asin
Asin (band)
Asin is a Pinoy folk and folk rock band from the Philippines. They started as a trio in the late 1970s, and was originally known as the Salt of the Earth]...
and the singer Sampaguita
Sampaguita (singer)
Tessy Alfonso, better known by her stage name Sampaguita, is a Pinoy rock singer from the Philippines during the 1970s and 1980s.-Origins:...
. Howlin' Dave himself became known for his trademark mangled grammar and syntax, his atypical on-air use of the Tagalog language
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
, and for his passionate and excitable delivery in his big booming voice. The drummer Pepe Smith
Pepe Smith
Joseph William Feliciano Smith is a Filipino singer-songwriter, drummer, and guitarist. More commonly known alternately as Joey Smith and Pepe Smith, he is an icon of original Filipino rock music or "Pinoy Rock"....
called him "the best rock DJ the Philippines ever had.”
Howlin' Dave was also credited with introducing Filipino radio listeners to punk rock and new wave music beginning in the late 1970s, through his program New Wave Nights. His choice to promote punk music was controversial among his fellow deejays and with his station, but his program developed a following, with spikey-haired teens soon showing up at the radio station, drinking gin and breaking bottles. Between 1980 to 1985, Howlin' Dave hosted the annual 'Brave New World' punk concert, which he closed with his take on Sid Vicious
Sid Vicious
Sid Vicious was an English musician best known as the bassist of the influential punk rock group Sex Pistols...
's version of "My Way
My Way (song)
"My Way" is a song popularized by Frank Sinatra. Its lyrics were written by Paul Anka and set to music based on the French song "Comme d'habitude" composed in 1967 by Claude François and Jacques Revaux, with lyrics by Claude François and Gilles Thibault. Anka's English lyrics are unrelated to the...
".
In the late 1980s, Howlin' Dave was diagnosed with a brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
, as well as several other health problems that left him house-bound for several years. In his later years, he hosted radio programs with DZRJ, ROCK 990
DWRT-AM
DZIQ , formally named as DZIQ Radyo Inquirer 990 AM, is an flagship AM radio station owned by Trans-Radio Broadcasting Corp., Inc. and operated by Philippine Daily Inquirer, in the Philippines. Its studios are located at Media Resources Building, Mola cor. Pasong Tirad sts., Brgy. La Paz, Makati...
, and NU 107
NU 107
NU107 was the flagship radio station of Progressive Broadcasting Corporation in the Philippines. The station's last studio was located at the ground floor, AIC Gold Tower, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City....
. In 2001, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the NU Rock Awards
NU Rock Awards
The NU Rock Awards was an annual recognition program sponsored from 1994 to 2010 by the defunct Metro Manila based radio station NU 107.1. 1994 saw the birth of what is to become the biggest annual gathering of the finest rock musicians in the country—the NU 107 Rock Awards! The very first NU 107...
. He died in May 2008, two days after collapsing at home following a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
.