THE soul of a great music never dies…but merely fades to oblivion, takes a brief respite after a top-chart supremacy, and resurfaces anew with a recharged dominant influence geared up to invade (once again) the airwaves only to relive the not-so-distant-past with that unchanged pulsating sentiment.
After more than two decades, Archie D’s original hit song, “Mahal Na Mahal,” young balladeer and Big Division Grand Winner of Little Big Star Season I Sam Concepcion breathed life into the 1991 chart topper after also being revived by Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez in 2004. Just weeks ago, another one of his 1990 recorded upbeat pieces, “Kasayaw,” was re-introduced by an all-male dance group in a top-rating noontime show. If these were merely coincidental or just correlated events then maybe those occurrences are unambiguous indications that singer-composer-record producer Archie D should give his quiescent singing career a timely comeback.
But who is actually Archie D? What has he done and contributed to deserve a distinct spot in the local recording industry?
The youngest among the three children of Arcadio and Lilly Dairocas, Archie (Archimedes in real life) first saw the light of day on the 3rd day of June in Pagadian City. It won’t be surprising if young Archie could play the piano like a schooled one since his mom was the only piano teacher in town who entertained Japanese and American officials stationed in Labo, Ozamis City.
A self-taught musician with an ear and keen auditory perception for music, it was uncomplicated for Archie to become skilled at what his mom scrupulously taught her advanced students. Ironically, he detested what he had achieved for fear he would be relegated to accompanying his chorale group.
It wasn’t until he was 10 when his mom persuaded him to join an amateur singing contest in Bohol. Behind his timidity was a driven dexterity to win and he did via Boy Mondragon’s “Rain.”
That inevitable victory ushered in another feather to his cap when he played a classical piano piece during a Boy Scouts Fest the same year.
If there’s but one song Archie loved to perform during his formative years that would be Peter Cetera’s (of Chicago) “Hard To Say I’m Sorry,” a David Foster 1982 hit. Inspired by the song’s keyboard-driven sound, variation in the track, a uniquely formulated composition, and verses that left a lot to the imagination, Archie’s earnest compulsion to write and compose was given an urgent push.
Sadly, it took him long before he finished his maiden composition for lack of inspiration. He was already in Manila when he finally found the perfect lines and appropriate notes to end the song he aptly titled “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang?”
Aptly armed with concrete determination to succeed it earned the nod of Vicor Music Corporation and had it recorded (but re-titled: “Kaya Lang”) by Ramoncito Gutierrez for inclusion in the “Bagets” album. Expectedly Archie felt he had finally arrived that duly motivated him to write and compose again.
While in Manila he was employed in LRT’s Finance Department for a year then moved to PAL (Philippine Airlines) as a Ticket Representative at the Domestic Airport.
“Actually, I was enticed by the huge benefits that went with the job,” he recalled with fondness. “Imagine, after a year of employment I enjoyed six free regional, two international, and unlimited domestic flights!”
With his savings he was able to sustain his passion in writing and composing songs that started to build his name more so when his works were recorded by Zsa-Zsa Padilla, Timmy Cruz, Louie Heredia, and Randy Santiago.
Not a few critics noticed Archie’s electrifying personality perfect for showbusiness whenever he guested on TV and road shows during promotions. From there he executed a step higher when he decided to sing and perform his own compositions.
Noticeably, Archie D possesses that vocal attractiveness with sexual dimorphism. His intoxicating vocal power exudes a pitch range equipped with perfect glottal and pharyngeal techniques that captivate his listeners. He doesn’t just sing…he deliriously performs in a euphoric state of physical agility and intellectual acuity persuading his audience to be enthralled and voluntarily succumb to his music.
In 1991, Vicor released his first album with 8 original tracks wherein three cuts reached the Top Charts: “Pakita Mo,” “Kasayaw,” and “Sadya Bang Ganyan.” His music was easy-to-the-ear with catchy up-beat tempo that easily earned for him the moniker “Rick Astley” of the Philippines.
Success was almost on his palm but suddenly slipped away when he failed to be nominated to the 1991 Awit Awards due to Vicor’s inability to register as a PARI (Philippine Association of Record Industry) member that year.
Although disheartened and jilted Archie’s obsession wasn’t affected at all but encouraged him to be driven even more. He transferred to Octo Arts, through Gina Tabuena Godinez’s support, where he waxed his second album, “Into The Groove,” with “Huwag” as its carrier single. “Huwag” missed to land on the top but another cut from the album, “Mahal Na Mahal,” unpredictably created a blast and became the prime MRS (Most Requested Song) on the airwaves.
But fame wasn’t tailor-made for him. It was one elusive dream that was almost on hand but was he was US-bound. “It was an opportunity I didn’t want to miss… migrating to the US was my priority that time. And I never thought my singing career would pick up when I was all set to leave.”
But in the US, music was constantly on his mind and in his system. He would relentlessly squeeze in playing with bands, singing and performing in gigs in between odd job schedules. He still found time to enroll at the Berkeley College of Music in Boston and studied Music Production, Audio Engineering and synthesis to broaden his musical knowlegeability…that enabled him to review entertainment shows and local albums and ultimately admitted him to the Grammy’s.
In 2001 he built a recording studio, Cool Music Productions, where on his own accord tutored, assisted, collaborated, and helped struggling artists in composing and recording.
Truly, Archie couldn’t free himself from the bondage of recording. In 2001 he released his first sold out album in the US, “Archimedes Principle,” that rightfully regained his (almost lost) self-confidence. A second album followed in 2009, “Built To Sound Good,” that finally carved his name and established his identity in the east coast.
Archie D has productively created a name and eventually instituted a reputable status in the field where he accurately excels. “With the revival of “Mahal Na Mahal” I have to give credit to former NeoColors lead vocalist Ito Rapadas of Universal Records for bringing it back to the scene and choosing no less than heartthrob Sam Concepcion as its interpreter.”
And speaking of “Mahal Na Mahal” Archie’s heart skipped a beat upon learning that he was booked by a couple for an all expenses paid (with honorarium) to Las Vegas to personally perform the said song) in their wedding on November 26, 2016.
“Imagine, “Mahal Na Mahal” was their theme song back in college and now I’ve a serendipitous rendezvous with them through my song. Actually, we haven’t met yet…and that made it even so surreal… and it’s actually happening!” Archie could only proudly gush in excitement.
After all these are developing, what could an esteemed singer-composer-record producer like him fervently wish for?
“At this point, I guess I need another hit song…something that could surpass the success of “Mahal Na Mahal” and “Kasayaw. I feel I still have a chance to hit it back…and I am definitely working on it doubly hard!”
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