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Freestyle (Filipino band)

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Freestyle
OriginDavao City, Davao del Sur, Philippines
GenresPop, R&B, soul
Years active1996–present
LabelsViva Records, independent, Press Pause Media Productions, Inc. (present)
MembersTop Suzara
IJ Garcia
Ian Tan
Francis Manalo
Lerod Cailao
Past membersJinky Vidal
Joshua Desiderio
Mike Luis
Tat Suzara
Gerald Banzon
Ava Santos
Rommel dela Cruz
Bobby Velasco
Joel Guarin
Gino Aguas
Nikki Cabardo
Carlo Tapia
Obet Luzon
Tzuki Garcia
Jun Masamayor

Freestyle is a pop/R&B band formed in Davao City, Philippines in 1996 currently fronted by Top Suzara since 2022, who returned seventeen years after he initially left in 2005. The band was formed in 1996 and hit the mainstream in 1998, and is popular for the songs "Before I Let You Go", "So Slow", "This Time", "Till I Found You", "Para Sa 'Yo", "Once in a Lifetime", and their rendition of "Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang?" with Pops Fernandez.

The band was originally founded by former guitarist Tat Suzara in Davao City. Notable members of the classic lineup include vocalists Jinky Vidal and Top Suzara, the band's primary songwriter, who left the band in 2011 and 2005 respectively and went on to have solo careers. Post-Freestyle, Vidal and Top Suzara had a reunion concert together in 2013. Other notable members were vocalists Joshua Desiderio, Mike Luis, Ava Santos, and drummer Gerald Banzon who were with the band until Top Suzara returned and took over in 2022.

In mid-2022, after the pre-"Top Suzara-comeback" lineup disbanded, Top Suzara took over and continued the "Freestyle" brand accompanied by his own session musicians. Suzara had his first comeback performance as Freestyle at 19 East in October 2022 in a sold-out gig. Suzara also trademarked "Freestyle" in the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) solely under his name. The IPO ruled that "Freestyle" is synonymous with the name Top Suzara and is deemed the rightful owner.[1]

Members

Current members

  • Christopher "Top" Suzara – vocals/guitar (1997–2005; 2022–present)
  • IJ Garcia – keyboards/vocals/musical director (2022–present)
  • Ian Tan – bass/vocals (2022–present)
  • Francis Manalo – guitar/vocals (2022–present)
  • Lerod Cailao – drums/vocals (2022–present)

Former members

  • Jinky Vidal – vocals (1996–2011)
  • Joshua Desiderio – vocals/keyboards/guitars (2005–2021)
  • Mike Luis – vocals/keyboards (2005–2022)
  • Tat Suzara – lead guitar/backing vocals (1996–2019)
  • Gerald Banzon – drums/percussion (1997–2021)
  • Ava Santos – vocals (2012–2022)
  • Rommel dela Cruz – bass guitar (2005–2019)
  • Bobby Velasco – keyboards/arranger (2018–2022)
  • Joel Guarin – bass guitar (2019–2022)
  • Gino Aguas – lead guitar (2019–2022)
  • Nikki Cabardo – keyboards (2000–2009)
  • Carlo Tapia – bass guitar (1996–2005)
  • Obet Luzon – keyboards (1996–2000)
  • Tzuki Garcia – drums/percussion (1996–1997)
  • Jun Masamayor – keyboards (1996–1997)
  • David Greenbaum – vocals (1996)
Additional footnotes:
  • Vocalist Top Suzara is the cousin of lead founding member Tat Suzara.[2]
  • Former Viva Hot Babe Sheree, relative of Jinky Vidal, was once a touring vocalist.[2]
  • Philippine Idol finalist Gail Blanco also guested as a touring vocalist.[3]
  • Filipina Dutch singer Aliya Parcs also once guested as a backing vocalist in some selected shows.[3]
  • Lead founding member Tat Suzara happens to be the ex-husband of another former vocalist, Jinky Vidal. Vidal and Tat got separated and eventually annulled in 2013. Vidal is now in a common-law partnership and has a child with singer/songwriter X Factor finalist Jeric Medina who is 16 years her junior.[2]
  • Session musician Bogs Bautista toured with the band as drummer/percussionist from 2021–2022.
  • Filipino-American singer/performer/educator, Hawaii Stars 1995 finalist, David Greenbaum from San Francisco, CA., performed with Freestyle when the band was based in Davao in 1996.[4]

Discography

Studio albums

Artist Album Tracks Year Records
Freestyle Freestyle Goodluv
Not That Easy
Wanna Be The One
Lover
Before I Let You Go
Let's Get It On
I'm Gonna Love You
So Slow
Treat You So Right
Get With Me
Bakit Iniwan Na? 		1999 Viva Records
Freestyle This Time Down And Funky
Take A Little Time
'Til I Found You
This Time
Love Is Here
Missing You
Para Sa 'Yo
You
Love Is Here
Don't Go
My Way, Your Way
Make Love
You Wanna Be With Me 		2000 Viva Records
Freestyle I Wanna Get Close Mr. What I Wanna Be
You've Taken Over Me
Lying To Myself
To Love Me
I Like The Way
All That I Want
Nakilala
It's Got To Be Love
Paano
I Wanna Get Close (feat. Kyla)
I Like The Way (Dance Remix) 		2002 Viva Records
Freestyle Once in a Lifetime Sa Ayaw Mo't Sa Gusto
Right By Your Side
Hindi Na Ba Pwede
Mananatili
Sa 'Yo
I'll Wait For You
Once In A Lifetime
Forever Loving You
When Hello Means Goodbye
Hanap Ka 		2004 Viva Records
Freestyle Back at the Yard Tameme
Naglalambing
Muling Ibalik
Mapipigil Mo Ba?
Dati
I Will Still Love You
Paper Rain
Is It Over?
Wonder
Rainbow Coloured Sky
Bawat Tao
Wrapped Around Your Fingers
Maybe
Sugar
Bakit Kaya?
Nananabik 		2007 Viva Records
Freestyle Playlist I Will Survive
There's No Easy Way
Got To Be There
Suddenly
I Live For Your Love
Take Me I'll Follow
Don't Let Me Be Lonely
Sara
Love's Holiday
'Till I Loved You
Sweet Baby
Easy
I Can't Find The Words To Say Goodbye
Truly 		2009 Viva Records
Freestyle Mga Kwentong Kinanta True Love
Paputol Putol
Kulang Ang Mga Sandali
Isang Halik
Bangon
Kahapon
Kung Di Rin Lang Ikaw
Paano Nga Kaya
Pasensya
Mahal 		2014 Freestyle Music Philippines

Compilation albums

Artist Album Tracks Year Records
Freestyle Greatest Hits Before I Let You Go
Bakit Iniwan Na?
This Time
I Wanna Get Close
Missing You
'Till I Found You
Mananatili
Good Luv
So Slow
Para Sa 'Yo
Paano?
Treat You So Right
Once In A Lifetime
Down And Funky
Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang? (feat. Pops Fernandez)
Love Medley (Weak, Incomplete, 6-8-12, I'd Still Say Yes) 		2005 Viva Records
Freestyle Silver Series So Slow
Mananatili
Let's Get It On
Before I Let You Go
Nakilala
This Time
Get With Me
Missing You
I Like The Way
Bakit Iniwan Na?
Incomplete (feat. Zsa Zsa Padilla)
OPM Medley (When I Met You, Bakit Ba Ganyan, I Think I'm In Love) 		2006 Viva Records
Freestyle 18 Greatest Hits Bakit Iniwan Na?
Before I Let You Go
Half Crazy
Mananatili
So Slow
Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang?
One Hello
Still
Maybe
Down And Funky
I Wanna Get Close
Paano?
I Just Can't Stop Loving You
Ebony And Ivory
Good Luv
Treat You So Right
Once In A Lifetime
I Don't Want To Lose You 		2009 Viva Records

Collaboration albums

  • Closer to Home (Viva Records, 1999)
  • Closer to Home 2 (Viva Records, 2000)
  • Servant of All Jubilaeum A.D. 2000 (Viva Records, 2000)
  • Tunog Acoustic 1 (Warner Music Philippines, 2003)
  • Acoustic Lokal (Viva Records, 2003)
  • Senti: 18 Pinoy Love Hits (Viva Records & Vicor Music, 2008)
  • Senti Dos (Viva Records & Vicor Music, 2008)
  • Hit Covers (Viva Records & Vicor Music, 2009)
  • Senti 3 (Viva Records & Vicor Music, 2009)
  • Simly Fied (More Than Acoustic) (Viva Records & Vicor Music, 2009)
  • Senti Four: It's Complicated (Viva Records & Vicor Music, 2010)

Live albums

  • Freestyle Live (2000)
  • The Love Concert: The Album (2001)
  • All Hits Live at the Araneta (2003)
  • Live @ 19 East (2006)

DVDs

  • Freestyle Live (2000)
  • The Love Concert: The Album (2001)
  • All Hits Live at the Araneta (2003)
  • Live @ 19 East (2006)

Awards and nominations

Year Award Giving Body Category Nominated Work Results
2008 Awit Awards Best R&B Recording "Rainbow Coloured Sky" Nominated

References

  1. ^ Jusay, Annalyn S. (October 20, 2022). "All-male Freestyle makes a comeback with frontman Top Suzara". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Why Top Suzara left Freestyle – PhilStar.
  3. ^ a b Freestyle Interview
  4. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20150205024945/http://davidgreenbaummusic.com/wst_page6.html
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