Pepe Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pepe Smith |
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Smith in 2008
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph William Feliciano Smith |
| Also known as | Joey Smith Pepe Smith |
| Born | December 25, 1947 Angeles, Pampanga, Philippines |
| Died | January 28, 2019 (aged 71) Cainta, Rizal, Philippines |
| Genres | Pinoy rock |
| Occupations | Musician, songwriter, guitarist |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, drums |
| Years active | 1958–2019 |
Joseph William Feliciano Smith (born December 25, 1947 – died January 28, 2019), known as Joey Smith or Pepe Smith, was a famous Filipino-American singer, songwriter, drummer, and guitarist. He became well-known as the drummer and lead singer for Speed, Glue & Shinki from Japan. He was also the drummer and co-lead singer for the Juan de la Cruz Band in the Philippines. This band helped create "Pinoy rock", which is original Filipino rock music.
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Early Life of Pepe Smith
Pepe Smith was born on December 25, 1947. His father, Edgar William Smith, was a U.S. serviceman. His mother, Conchita Feliciano, was from Angeles, Pampanga, where a U.S. air base was located.
When he was eight years old, his parents separated. Sadly, his mother passed away from hepatitis. Pepe and his younger brother, Raymond, then went to live with their grandmother in Quezon City.
Pepe Smith's Music Journey
Pepe Smith started playing the drums around age nine. By age 11, in 1959, he formed his first rock band with friends. They called themselves the Blue Jazzers, then the Villains, and later the Surfers. As the Surfers, they even played in Vietnam for six months in the early 1960s.
The Downbeats and the Beatles
A few years later, Smith became a rock star in Manila. He was the drummer and lead singer for the band D’Downbeats. People called him the "Mick Jagger of the Philippines" because he copied Mick Jagger's style from the Rolling Stones.
The Downbeats were very popular. They even opened for the Beatles concert in Manila on July 4, 1966. They played the song "Get Off Of My Cloud" at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. The Downbeats were one of the highest-paid international bands in Hong Kong during their time.
Forming Juan de la Cruz Band
After D'Downbeats, Smith played drums and sang for a Japanese rock band called Speed, Glue & Shinki. Before that, in 1968, he helped start the important Pinoy rock group, Juan de la Cruz Band, in the Philippines.
The main members of Juan de la Cruz Band were Smith, Wally Gonzales (guitar), and Mike Hanopol (bass). The name "Juan dela Cruz" is a Filipino way of saying "everyman," like "John Doe" in English. This band is known for creating the Pinoy rock style. They focused on writing original songs in Tagalog, instead of just covering foreign songs.
"Himig Natin" and Its Impact
One of Juan de la Cruz's most famous songs is "Himig Natin" (meaning "Our Music"). Pepe Smith wrote this song backstage in 1972, while waiting to perform at a concert in Manila.
"Himig Natin" and many other Juan de la Cruz songs became very popular rock anthems in the Philippines. However, the band members didn't earn much money from the recordings. The rights to their songs were sold to a music company early on. The band members received monthly payments and fees for their live shows and recordings.
Pepe Smith and Edmond "Bosyo" Fortuno, another drummer who joined the band later, were very close friends. Fortuno even taught Smith how to play the drums.
Later Career and Projects
In 2005, Pepe Smith released his first solo album called Idiosyncrasies. It took him three years to make this album. Around the same time, he also appeared in a TV show on ABS-CBN called The Smiths. It was a fun reality show about his family, and he starred in it with three of his five children.
Journalist Howie Severino made a documentary about Smith's life called Pepe's Myth. It showed interviews with Smith, his friends, and family. It also included a special concert he played at the Quezon City Jail, years after he had been there.
Pepe Smith also acted in the 2014 movie Above the Clouds. He played one of the main characters, and some of his songs were used in the film.
Reunion Concert
In 1998, the Juan de la Cruz Band had a reunion concert. The band members came onto the stage one by one, adding their instruments. This created a dramatic and exciting moment for the audience, with fog and light effects.
Awards
| Year | Award Giving Body | Category | Nominated Work | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | NU Rock Awards | Rock Legend Award | N/A | Won |
Pepe Smith's Family Life
Pepe Smith had five children. His eldest daughter is Queenie, born in 1976. His other children are Sanya Smith (born 1985), Beebop (born 1989), Desiderata (Daisy) (born 1991), and Delta (born 1992). The last three children were born from his wife, Rosuela Cruz.
Death of a Rock Legend
Pepe Smith had a stroke in 2017, which affected his speech. On January 28, 2019, he passed away at age 71. He was rushed to the hospital after feeling chest pain while playing his guitar. He died from a cardiac arrest. Pepe Smith was buried at the Loyola Memorial Park in Parañaque.
Discography
Speed, Glue & Shinki
- 1971: Eve
- 1972: Speed, Glue & Shinki
Juan de la Cruz Band albums with Joey "Pepe" Smith
- 1973: Himig Natin (translation: "Our Music")
- 1974: Maskara (trans.: "Mask")
- 1975: Super Session
- 1981: Kahit Anong Mangyari (trans.: "Whatever Happens")
Solo Album
- 2005: Idiosyncrasies
See also
In Spanish: Pepe Smith para niños
