Singer Eugene Villaluz, best known for his stint with the popular ’70s showband The New Minstrels and OPM hits like “Gulong ng Palad” and “Nothing I Want More” passed away Saturday at around 4:30PM. He was 70.
Villaluz’s nephew, Moy Ortiz of The Company, posted about his uncle’s demise on Facebook at around 6PM. Ortiz later confirmed to ABS-CBN News that Villaluz was diagnosed with prostate cancer last April.
Musician and advertising executive Dennis Garcia, founding member of the band Hotdog and a longtime friend of Villaluz, posted that he invited the latter to his ongoing art exhibit “Songs on Canvas” but sent a private message that said, “Hi Dennis! I really would love to go to your exhibit but I have been sick these past 2 weeks. Been in and out of 2 hospitals, Mkti Med and St Lukes BGC. Baby Gil knows this. Nevertheless, I am sure it’s going to be one big successful event! Congratulations in advance! Godspeed, Eugene!”
A Philosophy and Business Administration major at San Beda College who initially worked in a bank, Villaluz began his illustrious career in entertainment with the New Minstrels, which aside from being a sought-after live attraction also became a successful recording act. After his stint with the group, he pursued a solo career and scored a huge hit in 1977 with his recording of the theme song from the then immensely popular soap opera, “Gulong ng Palad.”
He later scored another huge hit with the love ballad “Nothing I Want More” which he recorded as a duet with fellow New Minstrels alum Louie Reyes. An entry in the 5th Metro Manila Popular Music Festival, the song later won the grand prize in the Seoul Song Festival in 1982.
As a performer, Villaluz also appeared in several stage musicals including “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Rama Hari,” “Rama at Sita,” “Judah Ben Hur” and “The Forbidden City.”
Villaluz also became a noted music producer who worked with the likes of Sharon Cuneta, Donna Cruz, Janet Basco and Ayen Munji, among many others. In the 1990s, he worked as a record executive for Warner Music Philippines and later, Viva Records.
At Warner, Villaluz was instrumental in signing artists like Side A, Zsa Zsa Padilla and two hitmaking rock bands in Alamid and Teeth while at Viva, he produced hit albums by Sarah Geronimo and Rachelle Ann Go, among others.
He also became an educator who co-headed the Music Business Management Program at Meridian International College or MINT College.
Prior to his demise, Villaluz remained active as a live performer, headlining a series of reunion concerts with The New Minstrels and the Circus Band. One of his most recent concerts was “Happy Together,” a Valentine show this year that the New Minstrels co-headlined with The Company.
