Rodel Naval facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rodel Naval
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| Background information | |
| Born | February 16, 1953 Manila, Philippines |
| Died | June 11, 1995 (aged 42) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1975–1995 |
| Labels | Independent; ex-distributors: Ivory, Alpha |
Rodel Belvis Naval (born February 16, 1953 – died June 11, 1995) was a talented Filipino actor, singer, and songwriter. Many people remember him for his popular songs like "Lumayo Ka Man" and "Muli."
Contents
Early Life and Musical Journey
Rodel, also known as Ody to his friends and family, was born in Manila, Philippines, on February 16, 1953. He was the fifth of seven children in his family. The Naval siblings were very close and enjoyed spending time together. They often went on family trips to places like the beaches in Bataan, which was their father's hometown.
Music was a big part of the Naval family's life. Their home was often filled with the sounds of piano or guitar music. Rodel started piano lessons when he was seven years old. Even though he loved music, he sometimes found the strict rules of learning piano a bit boring. He preferred to learn songs by ear, which means he could play them just by listening. In 1980, Rodel moved to Canada, being the last of his siblings to do so.
Performing in North America
In Canada, Rodel performed at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), also known as The Ex, which is a big annual event. After a year in Canada, he moved to Los Angeles, California. There, he performed at famous places like the Wilshire Ebell Theatre and the Ambassador Hotel. He also sang in Las Vegas at the Imperial Palace.
In 1989, Rodel returned to the Philippines and released an album called Finally I Found Love. Later that year, his mother passed away, and he flew back to Canada. After a month, he went to Japan to perform. While in Japan, he heard a song called "Single Again" and loved it. He felt inspired to write new lyrics for the song. Because he was feeling sad after his mother's death, he wrote the lyrics for what would become "Lumayo Ka Man" in just 15 minutes.
Rise to Fame
Rodel came back to the Philippines in 1990, ready to create his most important album. The song "Lumayo Ka Man" (which means "Even If You Go Away" in English) was released by Ivory Records. It was a Tagalog version of the Japanese song "Single Again" by Mariya Takeuchi. "Lumayo Ka Man" quickly became a huge hit, selling triple platinum within two months. In late 1992, he released another album called Once Again, which included songs in both English and Tagalog.
In 1993, Rodel became unwell and went back to Canada for medical care. While there, he joined the musical Miss Saigon and played the role of assistant commissar. Even though he was getting sicker, he continued to perform. He gave two concerts in April 1994, one in Toronto and another in Los Angeles.
Passing and Lasting Impact
Rodel Naval passed away in Toronto, Canada, on June 11, 1995, at the age of 42. Before he died, he shared his thoughts in an interview, saying, "Maybe there is a purpose to all of this, and if I can help others because of what happened to me, let it be so."
He was buried at Pine Hills Cemetery in Scarborough, Toronto. In 1997, two of Rodel's sisters, Delia and Rosalie, started the Rodel Naval Care Outreach (RoNaCo). This organization helps people in need in Manila, especially those affected by illness.
Popular Songs
- "Lumayo Ka Man" (This is a cover of the Japanese song "Single Again" by Mariya Takeuchi. Other artists like Bugoy Drilon and Liezl Garcia have also covered it.)
- "Muli" (This song has been covered by many artists, including Bugoy Drilon, Janno Gibbs, and Angeline Quinto.)
