Ruben Tagalog & other ‘Hari ng Kundiman’

In the ’50s and ’60s, four singers were billed Hari ng Kundiman in the long-play albums they recorded: Ruben Tagalog, Ric Manrique, Armando Ramos and Cenon Lagman.

Ruben was noted for his soulful baritone voice, credited as the first to wax Bayan Ko and Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit for Villar Recording Company.

Ric, Armando and Cenon were Tawag ng Tanghalan champions, singing mostly kundiman which was perfect for their romantic and melodious voices.

Ruben was actually an Ilonggo, encouraged by Atang de la Rama to try his luck in Manila when she heard him with a group of teenagers singing at the pier in Iloilo in the late ’30s.

In Manila, Ruben sang on radio and stage, hosting his own radio program called Harana ni Ruben Tagalog. He also sang in fiestas throughout the country.

He sang with such popular names as Conching Rosal, Sylvia La Torre, Carmen Camacho and Cely Bautista.

Due to failing health, Ruben left for the US in 1970 to recuperate. He died in San Diego, California in 1985.

In 1983, two years before his death, the first Cecil Awards gave Ruben the Gintong Gawad for his contributions to the music industry.

Ric popularized the theme songs of such movies as Maruja, Sapagkat Kami’y Tao Lamang, Ang Daigdig Ko’y Ikaw and Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak. With his recordings, Ric revived classics composed by Nicanor Abelardo, Francisco Santiago and Bonifacio Abdon. He was a member of the long-running Mabuhay Singers.

Armando was the co-host of Ike Lozada in a popular radio show, Big Ike’s Happening, which played such kundiman as Panambitan, Pahimakas, Ikaw Rin, Kuwintas Mo Mutya, all recorded by ‘malambing,’ as Ike referred to the sweet-voiced singer.

Cenon sang at stage and provincial shows where he was invariably asked to sing his greatest hits like Bakas ng Lumipas, Wagas na Pag-ibig, Sa Liwanag ng Buwan and Kung Ikaw’y Kapiling. — RKC