Music industry mourns James Dy and Boyfriends’ Artie Ilacad
James Go Dy, an esteemed pillar of the music industry, passed away last July 29 from complications of old age at the age of 92.
Known for his extensive charity work, he was at the time of his death chairman and president of the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association, the Chinese General Hospital Medical Center, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and governor and national treasurer of the Philippine Red Cross.
His was certainly a life well-lived. Unknown to many though, it was music that got Dy started on the road to becoming a successful businessman and philanthropist.
Dy was born in China on Dec. 9, 1931. He came to the Philippines with his parents when he was three years old. He grew up in Binondo and later joined his parents at work in their grocery store in Divisoria.
The family was poor but hardworking and soon rose up in stature among their peers. It was armed with this work ethic that Dy ventured forth on his own when he was 26. He formed a recording company, Dyna Records.
The reason frequently cited for this decision was that Dy genuinely loved music and in fact, played the harmonica and saxophone. Maybe it was simply a business decision. He saw a big future for the music industry in the country.
It was also a brave one as he was the first independent to take on the well-entrenched Mabuhay Records Corporation (MARECO), which included the legendary Villar Records label.
From there, Dyna took a tortuous but successful route over the years housing various labels, foreign, A&M, RSO, Island, Polygram and others, also local, Cosmic, WEA, Universal Polyeast and others to become the Polyeast music publisher and recording company that we know today.
It was also home or is still home to many big music stars. Jose Mari Chan, AfterImage, Christian Bautista, Introvoys, Efren Montes, Randy Madrid, Retrospect, Pauline Sevilla, Chikoy Pura, Carmen Soriano, Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Claire de la Fuente, Parokya ni Edgar and many others.
With Dyna as his starting point, Dy established over the years the following corporations, Pan Pacific Travel, Pan Euro International, James and Sons Corporation, Pacific Place Multi-Development Corporation, Subic International Hotel, Eagle Electric, Sonic International Incorporated and JGD Realty and Development Corporation.
By the way, his parents’ grocery store in Divisoria, where Dy first worked as an errand boy, is still there but is now known as the Dyna Drug Pharmacy selling medical supplies.
James Go Dy is survived by his wife, Julieta Dy and children Jameson, Howard, Jennifer Dy-Co, Kathleen Dy-Go and Sharon Dy-Law. His oldest daughter Bella Dy-Tan, passed away in 2005.
His was no talked about and then decided upon future. But after big brother Orly Ilacad became a success as president of Vicor Music Corporation, it was presumed that all of the other five Ilacads, Sunny, Chito, Gig, Ricky and Artie would also join the music business. They all did, although Artie took a different route.
The year was 1978. Orly’s newly formed entertainment company had just put together an all-male group named Boyfriends to cash in on the hot Bee Gees sound. Joey Abando, lead singer, Gary Arriola, guitarist and Bob Guzman, bassist, were already in place. But they still needed a drummer. And then, somebody suggested, why not Artie?
And that was it. Artie, the youngest of the Ilacad boys was raised in a musical household. He could certainly wield those drumsticks. Besides, he had the clean cut, preppy looks favored during that time.
And so, Artie became a Boyfriend and began turning out hit songs like Dahil Mahal Kita, Sumayaw Sumunod, Nais Kong Malaman Mo, Sa Tuwing Ako’y Nag-iisa, Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal and others.
Artie did get to work with OctoArts later on and he also ventured into other types of business, like cars and real estate. But he will always be loved and remembered as a Boyfriend.
Artie del Rosario Ilacad succumbed to complications after heart surgery last July 30. He was 65 years old. He left behind his wife, Enna and children, Bernice and Thirdie, Paolo and Monica, Bianca and Bea.
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