NAVI Manila No.2 Format...Rs

Lolita Carbon
Folk Singer
If one were to name icons of Filipino
music, Lolita Carbon's name will
undeniably be in the shortlist.
Together with the other members of
her former group Asin (Filipino for
salt), they wrote and sang songs
that resonated with socially relevant
messages very much ahead
of the times. For instance,
the message of the song
Masdan Mo Ang Kapaligiran,
which she co-wrote and
shared in the lead vocals, was
as relevant then as it is now.
She also wrote and sang Cebuano
songs which have remained equally
relevant in these times of national
disunity.
Concert at Merk's on June 28, 2008
マカティ市グリーンベルトⅢ内のライブハウス
「Merk's」で歌うロリータさん (2008年6月28日)
ロリータ・カルボンさん (フォーク歌手)
マニラ市マラテ生まれの生粋のマニラっ子。父親
の友人にミュージシャンが多かったせいか、子供の
ころから音楽と楽器の中で育った。そのうちの一人
が生活に困って、大切な楽器をかたに父からお金を
借りた。そのとき手に触れたギターが音楽との出会
いとなった。10歳の時、ラジオの歌番組の歌謡コン
テストに入賞した。3年後にはステージに立ちシャ
ーリー・バッシーを歌っていた。ライブハウスでの活
動をベースにし、1977年にフォークグループ「アシ
ン(塩)」の結成に参加。アシンは環境や貧困をテー
マにした曲を発表して注目され、フォークソングの
隆盛とともに一躍、フィリピンを代表するフォーク
トリオにのし上がった。78年には「ベストフォーク
ソング」大賞を受賞する。このころ、日本のレコー
ド会社から国民的フォーク歌手フレディ・アギラのヒ
ット曲『anak・息子』を収録した訳詞付きのレコー
ドをリースし「フィリピンFolkのアシン」は日本で
も注目を集めた。アシンは90年、たくさんのファン
に惜しまれながら解散する。
70年代後半から80年代にかけてフィリピンで大き
な人気を誇ったアシン。現在でも「伝説」のバンド
として懐かしむファンが多い。ロリータさんはじめ
他のメンバーはその後も精力的にソロ活動を行って
いる。ロリータさんのライブには、甘くてハスキー
な彼女の歌声を聞いて「胸がキュンとなる」世代が
かけつける。マニラ首都圏マリキナ市に在住。
Lolita grew up in Malate, Manila. Her
first stint as a professional singer was
at Kola House sometime in 1976. Later
in the year, she received an invitation
from Mike "Nonoy" Pillora, Jr. and Cesar
"Saro" Banares, Jr. to form the group Salt
of the Earth. The group changed its
name to Asin after signing up with
Vicor Music Corporation in 1977. Her
song Pagbabalik, included in their first
solo album Masdan Mo Ang
Kapaligiran, was awarded the Best Folk
Song of the Year in the 1978 Aliw
Awards.
The group disbanded after a few
years during which time Lolita
collaborated with other artists.
The former members of Asin soon
found their way back together
releasing an album titled Himig
ng Lahi. The reunion earned for
the group the Best Album of the
Year distinction from Awit
Awards and Jingle Magazine in
1984. Asin decided unfortunately
to disband in 1990.
The demise of Asin did not
however dent Lolita Carbon's
award-winning skills. Her song
Paraisong Liku-liko, this time with
the band Nene which she also led,
earned Best Rock Recording
honours in the 1991 Awit Awards.
After the death of Saro Banares in
1993, Lolita collaborated once
again with another Asin alumnus,
Pendong Aban, Jr. releasing in
2000 an album called Pag-ibig,
Pagbabago, Pagpapatuloy. The
first cut, Dalawang Dekada ng
Asin (Overture) won Best Musical
Arrangement in the 2002 Awit
Awards.
Asin, represented by Lolita and
Pendong, recently won the 2004
Environmental Champions Award,
conferred to them by the DENR
(Department of Environment and
Natural Resources)-World Bank
publication Environmental Monitor
2004. Lolita and Pendong were the only
Filipino artists to receive such
distinction.
For bookings and other inquiries please
contact: Lolita Carbon
E-mail: info.lolitacarbon@yahoo.com
Website: www.lolitacarbon.com
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