Tillie Moreno
Encyclopedia
Tillie Moreno, also known as "Manila's Queen of Soul", is a Filipino
R&B/soul
/pop
vocalist and entertainer whose career began in the 1970s. She is best known for her songs "Saan Ako Nagkamali", "Umagang Kay Ganda", and "Nothing I Want More". She was a member of the bands Circus Band and Lovelife.
, Philippines
, became interested in music and performing at the young age of eleven. She took piano lessons and she started singing, playing guitar, and arranging music with a pop music
girl group called Take 5. They performed for many school functions and were featured a few times on local television shows including the show, "Nineteeners". Moreno, her brother, and her cousin formed a band shortly after her rendezvous with Take 5, which was called Ultimate Jury and sang to Top 40’s, light rock, and R&B music
. They performed for high school proms, private parties, local concerts, and also appeared on television shows. They eventually made a name for themselves and gained success in the music
scene at that time. Moreno contributed by doing lead and background vocals and also playing keyboard for the band. Shortly after her family band, Moreno joined a girl and boy pop group called Studio A, which lasted a few years. They also performed for private parties and on television shows.
" in front of Atek Jacinto and got the gig. This band would eventually become the #1 band in the Philippines
: Circus Band. They played for schools, television shows, and concerts all around the nation and had 5 albums recorded. They eventually split up because of different interests in music genres. Circus Band eventually became a rock music
group, while the ones that left, including Tillie Moreno, formed they’re own R&B group called Lovelife. They soon signed a contract with Jun Guevara, their manager, to perform in lavish 5-star hotels and in other countries including: Japan
, Singapore
, and Abu Dhabi
. During this time, she was asked by Blackgold Recording Company to sign and record for them as a solo
artist
which produced her hit song “Saan Ako Nagkamali”. She was also approached by WEA
which asked her to sign with them instead and from there Moreno recorded four solo album
s (Steppin’ Out, Disconcerto, Tillie and Looks Like Love). She also teamed up with popular Filipino
singer and friend RayAn Fuentes to record another hit single, “Umagang Kay Ganda” in the early 1980s. Moreno eventually moved from the Philippines
to Los Angeles, California
to continue her career in the United States
. She started singing in small cafes and restaurants eventually making a name for herself while temporarily doing office work. She later joined a cover band
called LA’s Nitelight, which played Top 40’s music
of the time. They performed in restaurants and for private parties which built up Moreno’s network of people and producers that eventually led her to do solo concerts all over the Greater Los Angeles area
as well as other places in the United States
.
4 solo albums with WEA
:
Steppin’ Out – 1978 (produced by Randy Ray at Greenhills Studios)
Disconcerto – (produced by Nonoy Tan for WEA
)
Tillie – 1978 (produced by Nonoy Tan for WEA
)
Looks Like Love – 1982 (produced by Hal Yorgler at Paramount Pictures
, Los Angeles, California
)
Timeless...always and forever - 2007 Greatest Hits CD
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...
R&B/soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
/pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
vocalist and entertainer whose career began in the 1970s. She is best known for her songs "Saan Ako Nagkamali", "Umagang Kay Ganda", and "Nothing I Want More". She was a member of the bands Circus Band and Lovelife.
Early life
Tillie Moreno, who was born in ManilaManila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Philippines
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...
, became interested in music and performing at the young age of eleven. She took piano lessons and she started singing, playing guitar, and arranging music with a pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
girl group called Take 5. They performed for many school functions and were featured a few times on local television shows including the show, "Nineteeners". Moreno, her brother, and her cousin formed a band shortly after her rendezvous with Take 5, which was called Ultimate Jury and sang to Top 40’s, light rock, and R&B music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
. They performed for high school proms, private parties, local concerts, and also appeared on television shows. They eventually made a name for themselves and gained success in the music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
scene at that time. Moreno contributed by doing lead and background vocals and also playing keyboard for the band. Shortly after her family band, Moreno joined a girl and boy pop group called Studio A, which lasted a few years. They also performed for private parties and on television shows.
Career
Moreno’s big break was when she auditioned for a multi-genre band of 9 to 10 members, half vocalists and singers and the other half musicians. She sang the anti-war song "One Tin SoldierOne Tin Soldier
"One Tin Soldier" is a 1960s era anti-war song written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter. The Canadian pop group Original Caste first recorded the song in 1969. The track went to No. 6 on the RPM Magazine charts and hit the No.1 position on Canada's most influential radio chain, CHUM-AM, in Canada...
" in front of Atek Jacinto and got the gig. This band would eventually become the #1 band in the Philippines
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...
: Circus Band. They played for schools, television shows, and concerts all around the nation and had 5 albums recorded. They eventually split up because of different interests in music genres. Circus Band eventually became a rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group, while the ones that left, including Tillie Moreno, formed they’re own R&B group called Lovelife. They soon signed a contract with Jun Guevara, their manager, to perform in lavish 5-star hotels and in other countries including: Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, and Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
. During this time, she was asked by Blackgold Recording Company to sign and record for them as a solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
which produced her hit song “Saan Ako Nagkamali”. She was also approached by WEA
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
which asked her to sign with them instead and from there Moreno recorded four solo album
Solo album
A solo album, in popular music, is an album headlined by a current or former member of a band. A solo album may feature simply one person performing all instruments, but typically features the work of other collaborators; rather, it may be made with different collaborators than the artist is...
s (Steppin’ Out, Disconcerto, Tillie and Looks Like Love). She also teamed up with popular Filipino
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...
singer and friend RayAn Fuentes to record another hit single, “Umagang Kay Ganda” in the early 1980s. Moreno eventually moved from the Philippines
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...
to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
to continue her career in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She started singing in small cafes and restaurants eventually making a name for herself while temporarily doing office work. She later joined a cover band
Cover band
A cover band , is a band that plays mostly or exclusively cover songs. New or unknown bands often find the cover band format marketable for smaller gigs, and these bands may be known as a wedding band, party band and function band. A band whose covers consist mainly of songs that were chart hits is...
called LA’s Nitelight, which played Top 40’s music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
of the time. They performed in restaurants and for private parties which built up Moreno’s network of people and producers that eventually led her to do solo concerts all over the Greater Los Angeles area
Greater Los Angeles Area
The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is a term used for the Combined Statistical Area sprawled over five counties in the southern part of California, namely Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Ventura County...
as well as other places in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Recognitions
- 1973 - Tokyo Music FestivalTokyo Music FestivalThe Tokyo Music Festival was an international music contest that ran from 1972 to 1991. It was organised by the Tokyo Music Festival Association...
- Grand Finalist With Circus Band - 1976 - Jingle Magazine's Best Female Vocalist
- 1978 - Metro ManilaManilaManila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
Pop Festival - Hit Song Duet "Umagang Kay GandaUmagang Kay GandaUmagang Kay Ganda is a morning show airing on ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN Regional Network Group, and simulcasts on ABS-CBN News Channel. Premiered on June 25, 2007, it airs every weekday mornings from 5:00 to 8:15 AM.-Synopsis:...
" With Ray-An Fuentes - 1979 - Manila's Top Entertainers - Tinig Awardee
- 1981 - 6th Metro ManilaManilaManila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
Pop Festival - Winner As Composer For Single "Nothing I Want More" - 1982 - World Popular Song Contest in Seoul, Korea - Grand Prize Winner As Composer For Single "Nothing I Want More"
Albums
Circus Band – 1972-1975 (5 albums)4 solo albums with WEA
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
:
Steppin’ Out – 1978 (produced by Randy Ray at Greenhills Studios)
Disconcerto – (produced by Nonoy Tan for WEA
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
)
Tillie – 1978 (produced by Nonoy Tan for WEA
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
)
- "Lucky Me"
- "We Had This Time"
- "A Very Special Love"
- "This Time I’ll Be Sweeter"
- "Déjà vu"
- "Woman In Love"
- "I Don’t Want You To Go"
- "We Could Have It All"
- "I’d Rather Leave While I’m In Love"
- "All The Time"
- "Rainbow Connection"
- "Someone That I Used To Love"
Looks Like Love – 1982 (produced by Hal Yorgler at Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
, Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
)
- "Take Me To Your Heaven" ft. Nick Uhrig (Steve & Kelly Wilson)
- "Bottom Line" (Alleen Willis, Patrick Henderson)
- "It Really Isn't Funny Anymore" (Peter McCann)
- "Looks Like Love" (Keith Stegall)
- "Nothing I Want More" ft. Butch Monserrat(Tillie Moreno, Butch Monserrat, Jun Latonio)
- "I'm Yours/Joy To the World" (Gary Chapman/Hoyt Axton)
- "Just One More Night" (Tim Martin, Walt Meskell)
- "One Man's Woman" (Tom Brasfield)
- "Hard Feelings" (Peter McCann)
- "Lovin' You Didn't Come Easy" (Gloria Sklerov, Mark Holden, Peter Threlfall)
- "Last One Singing the Blues" (Peter McCann)
- "Heart Don't Fail Me Now" (Randy Goodrum, Steve Dorf)
Timeless...always and forever - 2007 Greatest Hits CD
- "Take Me To Your Heaven" ft. Nick Uhrig (Steve & Kelly Wilson)
- "Bottom Line" (Alleen Willis, Patrick Henderson)
- "It Really Isn't Funny Anymore" (Peter McCann)
- "Looks Like Love" (Keith Stegall)
- "Nothing I Want More" ft. Butch Monserrat(Tillie Moreno, Butch Monserrat, Jun Latonio)
- "I'm Yours/Joy To the World" (Gary Chapman/Hoyt Axton)
- "One Man's Woman" (Tom Brasfield)
- "Hard Feelings" (Peter McCann)
- "Lovin' You Didn't Come Easy" (Gloria Sklerov, Mark Holden, Peter Threlfall)
- "Last One Singing the Blues" (Peter McCann)
- "Heart Don't Fail Me Now" (Randy Goodrum, Steve Dorf)
- "Just One More Night" (Tim Martin, Walt Meskell)
- "Once We Get Started" (Christopher Gavin)
- "Betcha By Golly Wow" (Tom Bell, Linda Creed)
- "I Feel The Earth Move" (Carole King)
- "Umagang Kay Ganda ft. RayAn Fuentes" (Butch Monserrat)
- "Saan Ako Nagkamali" (George Canseco)
- "We Had This Time" (Melissa Manchester)
- "This Time I'll Be Sweeter" (G. Guthrie, P. Grant)
Singles
- "Saan Ako Nagkamali" - composed by George CansecoGeorge CansecoGeorge Masangkay Canseco was a Filipino song composer.Canseco studied liberal arts at University of the East...
, recorded for Blackgold Recording Company - "Umagang Kay Ganda" - 1976 duet with Ray-An Fuentes
- "Beginnings" – 1979 duet with Ray-An Fuentes (recorded for WEAWarner Music GroupWarner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
) - "Heart Don’t Fail Me Now" – 1980 (produced by Randy Ray, arranged by Michel Columbier, composed by Randy GoodrumRandy GoodrumRandy Goodrum is an American songwriter. Goodrum has written numerous popular songs, including Anne Murray's #1 hit "You Needed Me" and "Broken Hearted Me" , Michael Johnson's "Bluer Than Blue" , England Dan & John Ford Coley's "It's Sad to Belong" , Steve Perry's "Oh Sherrie" , DeBarge's "Who's...
, for Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
)
Performances with Circus Band
- Wells Fargo - 1972
- Rino’s – 1973
- Eduardo’s – 1973-1974
- The Flames – 1974
- Lost Horizon Disco (Philippine Plaza Hotel "now Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel") – 1977-1978
- El Camarote ( Holiday Inn) with Ray-an Fuentes – 1979-1980
College campus tours
- University of the Philippines
- Ateneo University
- San Beda College
- University of Santo Tomas
- St. Paul, Assumption
- Maryknoll College
- College of the Holy Spirit
- De La Salle College, etc…
Solo performances
- Los Angeles, California: Hyatt Hotel (Commerce) - 1985
- Ramada Hotel – 1986
- Bayanihan Restaurant – 1987
- Imperial Gardens – 1987
- Chew Chew Junction – 1987
- Star Gazer – 1987
- The Aristocrat Restaurant – 1987
- Hyatt Hotel (Manila) – 1991
- Music Hall (Manila) – 1992
- Manila, Philippines – 1991-1993
- Hyatt Regency Hotel (Roxas Blvd)
- Husic Hall - Greenhills
- Chicago, Illinois – 1996-1999
- The Living Room - Schaumburg, Lombard
- Dover Straits – Mundeline, Hoffman Estates
- Nikos Restaurant – Bridgeview
- Manila, Philippines Music Museum (Tribute to the 70’s) “70’s 2-day” - September 2002
- Cultural Center of the Philippines (70’s 2-day) March 2003
- Chicago Show with Apo Hiking Society - June 2003
- Washington DC with Geneva Cruz - July 2003
- New York with Apo Hiking Society - July 2003
- Temecula, Fairfield, Vallejo (California) with Anthony Castelo July–August 2004
- Glendale, California (Aldeguer Sisters in Motion) with Anthony Castelo, Louie Reyes, Joey Albert - November 2004
- Washington DC - December 2004
- Los Angeles, California - February 4, 2005
- New York , New Jersey - February 11, 12, 13th 2005
- Staten Island, New York - April 16, 2005
- Los Angeles, California - May 17, 2005
- San Francisco, California, Taping for “Ryan Ryan World Musikahan” (Released for TFC Channel) September 14, 2005
- San Francisco, California – “Funny Valentine Show” - February 16, 2007
- Omaha, Nebraska Holiday Inn Convention Center - November 3, 2007
- Chicago, IL - December 1, 2007
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - December 14, 2007
- Makati, Philippines @ Bonifacio High Street "Divas Night" - March 8, 2008
- Manila, Philippines @ Sofitel Plaza w/ Lee RitenourLee RitenourLee Mack Ritenour is an American jazz guitarist who has recorded over 42 albums, appeared on over 3000 sessions, and has charted over 30 instrumental and vocal contemporary jazz hits since 1976. One of his most popular songs was the smash hit, “Is It You” in 1981. Ritenour is considered to be a...
& band - March 10, 2008 - Manila, Philippines @ Sofitel Plaza w/ Toti Fuentes - March 15, 2008
- Makati, Philippines @ Strumm's Makati - March 17, 2008
- Rosemont, Illinois @ Wyndham Hotel-Chicago O'Hare Airport - July 26, 2008
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada @ Ontario Place (Filipinos Making Waves Festival) - August 15, 2008
Upcoming performances
- San Francisco, California
- Los Angeles, California
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- San Antonio, Texas
- Phoenix, Arizona