For journalists like me, what could be a better way to soothe one’s nerves after the day’s back-breaking, and oftentimes, tension-filled news gathering and writing work than to listen to music?  You hang out by yourself or with your pals at your favorite watering hole or night club, to be entertained by live bands or solo singers belting out romantic and sentimental ballads and other hit songs of yesteryears.

Everyday, on  my way home aboard a jeepney or taxi, it has become a habit to tune in to FM or AM radio stations and with an earphone attached to  my Sony walkman, listen to all kinds of compositions, old or new, pop or classical,  that suit my taste.  It was through this routine that I came to know about a gifted and versatile Filipina chanteuse, who may not enjoy the fame of her colleagues in the entertainment world but whose singing prowess and feats in her profession have elicited superlatives of praise and admiration from music lovers who were lucky enough to discover her.

Sometime last year, I was listening to the all-music program of Larry Damien over dwWW when he played the pensive song “It Hurts To Say Goodbye” which, as the title suggests, tells the story about two lovers who parted ways. The song was popularized in the 1960s by Gloria Selga, a singing sensation at that time who was a frequent star attraction at the stage-vaudeville shows of Clover and Gala theaters.  Damien identified the interpreter of the song as Susan Cuevas.  I must admit I was instantly captivated by her version of the melody, and hearing the soulful tune and lyrics again after some 40 years, brought back a feeling of nostalgia, of memories of my own lovelife in my youth.

Not long after, while inside the record bar of SM Centerpoint in Sta. Mesa, I came across, by accident, a cassette record of Susan, where she was billed as “Philippines’ Revival Queen.” On the cassette tape jacket is her lovely face, which is a cross between actresses Melissa Mendez and the late Nida Blanca.  Produced by Aquarius Records, the cassette recording features 23 songs, including “Why Can’t I Remember to Forget You” (another signature song by Selga), “If Ever You’re Lonely,” “Domino,” “A Tear Fell,” “I Went to Your Wedding,” and “God Knows.” I became even more interested when I read on the same jacket that it was Volume no. 12 of a series of her song recordings.

Months later, I found a compact disc of the same Volume 12 recording of songs by Susan at another SM mall. In Volume 5, she is described by another eye-catching title, “Asia’s Super Songbird.”    All I could say is she deserves the flattering moniker after listening in awe to her rendition of these familiar songs, singing flawlessly and passionately with her distinct, personal touch, as if they were originally composed for her.

I also got hold of her other recordings —in Volume 10, Susan is presented as “Asia’s Queen of Waltz” although it has only three waltz songs—“The Golden Years,” “Beautiful Love,” and “Anniversary Song.”  But in my humble opinion, this album has three songs where the songstress was at her best with her interpretation that may, without any shade of exaggeration, be described as equal to or even more enthralling than the way they were originally popularized by celebrated American and British vocalists. I challenge the song buffs among our readers who are familiar with Susan’s brand of music to dispute my view and say whether this is just a bluff.

Aside from her many album of English songs of the 1950s and 1960s, I also found out that Susan had five or so albums of Tagalog songs  and three albums of Ilocano ditties in video disc format.  I was surprised to find out that while her VCDs of English songs are being sold in the market at P100 per piece, her Tagalog songs have a higher price tag of P150. Curious to know about the difference in prices, I asked a saleslady in a record bar and she told me that her Tagalog songs are very much in demand among balikbayan Filipinos, which implies that she has a lot of fans among our overseas workers. Many of the Tagalog songs in her albums are original compositions.

What I find very strange is why an accomplished and very prolific singer like Susan has not been accorded the recognition and honor that she deserves. Victor Wood is widely acknowledged as the country’s “King of Revivals.”   Susan may very well be his female equivalent.   In fact, when you listen to her recordings of signature songs of Connie Francis, you would have difficulty distinguishing which is the original and which is the imitation.

There is very scant information about Susan.  Her name is available at the Internet but it only mentions some of her recorded songs. Nothing was mentioned about her personal background. I tried to get more data about her by calling up the sales department of Aquarius.  The only things I came to know were that she is living in Metro Manila and she is one of the top-selling artists of the recording firm.

Despite Susan’s track record as a singer, it seems that Aquarius and other companies which produced her musical recordings have not bothered to give her any publicity.  She has not appeared in any television interview or newspaper/magazine article. And because of this, we do not know when she recorded these songs. We don’t even have any idea whether she is now in her 40s or 50s. Since Susan has sung many Ilocano songs, it can be safely guessed that she came from the Ilocos Region or at least of Ilocano descent.

I happened to ask fellow journalist Percy Lapid, himself a singer, and radio commentator Chito Balmori-Villegas about the “obscure” songstress.  They told me that they know Susan very well since she used to sing in the row of night clubs along Roxas Boulevard in the 1970s and 1980s. Percy says Susan was at that time in the same league with Imelda Papin,   Claire de la Fuente, Eva Eugenio and the late Didith Reyes.  In fact, Chito says Susan was always given the same star billings as these popular divas at Eduardo’s.  He should know because he was the resident master of ceremonies of concerts and special shows featuring these songbirds at the five-star nightspot.

Chito, by the way, will be emceeing a concert on the immortal songs of Frank Sinatra, featuring vocalist Marc Andanar, on Wednesday evening (Jan. 21) at the Hacienda Calienda Grill and Restaurant, on Maria Orosa Street near the corner of Padre Faura Street in Ermita, Manila.  The program will be ushered in by piano playing by Greg Amaguin.  Celebrity personalities, government officials and other VIPs will grace the show, according to the veteran broadcaster.

f_maragay@yahoo.com