Meet Manny Bade: ‘Tom Jones of Toronto’

Meet Manny Bade: ‘Tom Jones of Toronto’

MANNY Bade has been around the local Filipino entertainment circuit for a while. His voice has earned him the moniker “Tom Jones of Toronto”. Here’s an interview with Manny Bade:

Q: Manny, what’s new and exciting with your singing career right now?

A: I am now performing exclusively with the CrO2 Band, one of the few versatile bands you can find in Toronto that can play Ballads, Rock ‘n Roll, Latin, Ballroom, Filipino songs (Aegis), and other genre. Our members are: Lucy Bardoquin, female vocalist, Hermi Manalang, bass guitarist, Danny de Guzman, keyboard player, Gerard Gonsalves, lead guitarist, and our drummer, Arlene Lumbo. The winner of the Xerox Canada Singing Idol, and runner-up of the Pickering Idol, Lesley Pauze, has also joined us.

Q: Are you under some kind of management?

A: Yes, last month, I signed with Element Entertainment as my management team to better showcase my talent, and in fact they had already lined up some events for me, starting with this New Year’s Countdown Party at the Star Walk Buffet in Toronto, where I’d be performing with the CrO2 Band. Lesley Pauze will be my co-host in this event.

Q: I heard you have had concerts in the past?

A: Yes, my first was about seven years ago with Jun Zerrudo, Tom Flores, and Wharly Espiritu. I had one in October of 2002 with the Contra Band, and on April 10 this year with Lucy Bardoquin and the CrO2 Band at Mayette’s Restaurant on Danforth Ave.

Q: Have you done some private parties as well?

A: Yes, I have performed many times at the Earl Bales Park, and at over 100 different private and community association events. Just last August I performed with Lucy and the CrO2 band at the Mabuhay Philippines Festival at the CNE.

Q: Did you perform exclusively at Filipino parties?

A: No, I had branched out to different ethnic communities as well. I performed at Burmese Lantern Festival, at Bar Mitzvahs, and Jewish private parties. I did one at Milliken Park for the Chinese Association of Ontario, and at Italian and Spanish parties. I do sing and speak Italian and Spanish. I also found out that people from different ethnic backgrounds are big fans of Tom Jones’s music.

Q: What about song writing?

A: I have composed a dozen songs and Element Entertainment is now looking for a studio which can create a CD for me. One particular song was about the Reodica family’s tragedy and Willie and Flora are encouraging us to produce the CD so the proceeds can help in their fund-raising for Justice for Jeffrey.

Q: Tell us about this New Year’s Countdown Party at the Star Walk Buffet?

A: Well, all this started eight months ago, when my friend Epy Bucao twice hired me and Lucy to perform at the graduation ceremonies of their school for caregivers and PSWs held at the Star Walk Buffet. Tony Wu, the owner of Star Walk approached me and asked if I could do a couple of performances at his restaurant. So, after I signed up with Element Entertainment, my management team immediately arranged for a meeting with Tony and the idea of holding a New Year’s Countdown Party at Star Walk was arrived at. Initial reaction to our ticket price at $50.00 per person is so positive that we believe we have no problem selling out the 500 tickets. With dinner, dancing, live entertainment, champagne, and of course yours truly, we believe this will be a hit. So, I am inviting my kababayans to come and enjoy themselves at our party. There will be non-stop music for dancing and generally having a good time for a New Year’s Eve celebration. For more information, our event web site is always accessible at http://www.mediaks.com/starwalk, or at http://starwalkbuffet.com and go to the Events Page.

Q: Sounds like fun Manny, if any of our readers are planning to spend the New Year’s Eve out, I’m sure they’ll know where to be and enjoy themselves. Thank you, Manny for your time.

A: Thank you.