UPON THIS ROCK!

by Sai-Ailand

Anticipating an aura of stardom beating life, the camera was set up, a microphone cum
recorder camouflaged somewhere between the two couches, just-delivered pizza sending
its 'come-and-devour' aroma, while the writer prepared crude note-taking implements and
everyone waited by the receiving area for the iconic rocker. Tens of minutes ticked until
the swish of the glass door from the lanai made everyone turn. Oooh, wow! Talk about a
towering man bended by time yet still commanding attention everytime.

After a few more minutes of breathe in-breathe out halts, he finally shouts, "Hey, I'm
ready!"

Pinoy Rock n' Roll is often equated to Joseph Smith, or simply Pepe Smith. Why not, he
did make people switch preference from foreign artists to home-grown talent. When radio
and TV were just starting their way into people's living rooms, musical inklings were also
dipped into and tried and dropped when it's a no-go.

Pepe Smith is now in a lighter mood. He smiles a lot, occasionally giggly. Decades, seven
to be exact, have made him look at positive things. He likes hearing good stories, stories
which show how negative things were twisted and turned into positive attitudes. He
candidly says his main influence nowadays is the right positioning of the stars in the night
sky. It gives him the right feels - positive vibes which lead to positive thinking. He hates
news these days. Sad, violent and harsh news which he says are unfortunately, realities of
the world.

Rollin' to Rock

In the 50's to the 60's, he seemed to be here, there and everywhere. Back in Angeles,
Pampanga where he grew up, he was always on the go to try some luck all over the place.

As a young 'musikero,' he said he had tried all sorts of genre - blues, jazz, mill punk,
gothic and a lot fusions. It waa the 'in think' back then with the youth, trying out stuff
until you find the best mix. He found his best passionate mix in rock and roll.

Pepe did not finish school. Mind you, he did not fail his subjects every time. His teachers
actually liked him and his music. School people flock to where his husky voice would
echo, even under the mango tree. The absences were the ones taking its toll and
eventually, he had to leave school and continue rolling his melodies. He regrets nothing
though. For him, music had become his A-B-C, 1-2-3, Do-Re-Mi, even geometry and
physics. All the rest of his learnings, life had taught him through the 'Big Guy up there.'

Hendrix, Dylan, Jagger and Smith

According to Pepe, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan were his initial influences, not to their
styles but to rock and roll itself. Another musical basis was Robert Johnson because "he
sings audibly, singing is magic." Early on, Pepe knew he wanted to create distinct Pinoy
rock, one which when played on the radio, people all over would recognize it as, "hey,
that's Pinoy rock!"

When told that if London has Jagger, Pinas had Smith, he gave a long kiddie laugh. He
says, "I am humbled by such thoughts. For me, I know i can make a change through my
music, my group. If people pick it up, that's the best thing. Life is good."

Idiosyncrasies

"Music, like people, have their own idiosyncrasies, their own angst, angas, if you know
what I mean." That is why songs have differences however similar they may be.

Juan dela Cruz Band (JDLC) was one part of his journey which is hard to skip, even
harder to erase. He found the band as a tool, a way to share in writing his songs. Their
individual styles are so diverse, no one would think they belong to the same group. Well,
they blended quite great, even giving birth to "Ang Himig Natin," THE band's signature
anthem.

Much has been said about JDLC and the song in the past yet not too many know that the
song was not immediately a buy. They went and demo-ed to record companies yet only
one believed and made a hit. "Vicor Records gambled on a band of misfits. It wasn't
really a gold record but it landed in the musical map of the Philippines. That's good!"

Pepe Smith Rockfest

Surprisingly, Pepe is like a giggly child who just saw his childhood crush tromp along.
He smiles a lot, excited about so many things.

And excited he is! Come November 18, 2017, Pepe celebrates a milestone. A rock fest
featuring around 40+ bands in the country, playing and paying tribute to the cornerstone
of Pinoy Rock - JOEY PEPE SMITH. "Truly, this is exciting stuff! I mean people coming
to play from sunrise to sundown, having clean fun. It's a rock-til-you-drop kind of party.
It is actually my 'Thank you, Lord' event."

Indeed, a music man weathered by life's storms, flattened by experienced and raised by
the hble belief that music lives on...with and in the Filipinos.

"Rock and Roll!"