Cheyenne Suarez

Nonong Pedero (center) is the latest member of the Groovy Beats. Photo by Icon de Jesus

Article (news)

Why the dancing crowd is flocking to Lenny de Jesus’ band at RJ Bistro

Pocholo Concepcion

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1737422196529groovy 1.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Groovy Beats founder Lenny de Jesus plays the flute, aside from rhythm guitar and bass. Photo by Icon de Jesus"/>Groovy Beats founder Lenny de Jesus plays the flute, aside from rhythm guitar and bass. Photo by Icon de Jesus </div><div> </div>MANILA -- In pre-pandemic times, the retro band Groovy Beats started out with the usual classic rock repertoire — mostly Beatles and Rolling Stones classics from the 1960s, and Chicago, James Taylor, and other ‘70s staples. Back then, the band’s core lineup consisted of founder Lenny de Jesus (former government official of the Cory Aquino, FIdel Ramos and Joseph Estrada administrations) on rhythm guitar, flute, and bass in select numbers; Benjie Santos, drums; Nap Apolinario, bass; Roy Marinduque, guitar; and musical director Carlo Gaa, keyboards.In 2024, the set list expanded when Pinoy hippie poster boy of &quot;Jesus Christ Superstar&quot; fame Boy Camara — who had been teaching De Jesus his tai chi practice — was persuaded to sing again, for fun, and become a regular member of Groovy Beats.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1737422156331Groovy 2.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Boy Camara is singing again, this time as a member of the Groovy Beats. Photo by Icon de Jesus"/>Boy Camara is singing again, this time as a member of the Groovy Beats. Photo by Icon de Jesus </div>With another new member, Kat Tiquia-de Jesus, on vocals, Camara warmed up to the idea of singing duet with her on such Tin Pan Alley standards as 1934’s “The Very Thought of You,” and 1954’s “Fly Me to the Moon.”Much as those tunes seemed out of place for a pop-rock group, they served as a counterbalance to Mendez’s stage-stomping renditions of the Beatles’ “Got to Get You into My Life,” Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman,” and Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s “Taking Care of Business,” and Mick Jagger impressions on “Honky Tonk Women” and “Under My Thumb.” Camara’s solo spot numbers would usually start with his signature Elton John cover of “Love,” before calling in Kat De Jesus, who’s incidentally Lenny’s daughter-in-law.Sometimes Kat would go onstage first with Patsy Cline’s 1961 hit “Crazy” and Burt Bacharach’s “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” and then Camara would join her on “Unforgettable” a la Nat and Natalie Cole.   As the night wore on, Lenny would call jazz luminary Richard Merk from the crowd to jam on two Beatles originals, “Blackbird” and “Get Back.”One time, Lenny’s friend, composer Nonong Pedero, was obliged to sing with Camara another Beatles hit, “All My Loving.” But on another occasion, Pedero declined, saying something like he doesn’t really sing, but does commercial jingles.  <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1737422100991Groovy-Beats.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=" Nonong Pedero (center) is the latest member of the Groovy Beats. Photo by Icon de Jesus"/>Nonong Pedero (center) is the latest member of the Groovy Beats. Photo by Icon de Jesus </div>Now Pedero has likewise become a new member of Groovy Beats. Would it be too much if the band adds his original composition, “Bawat Sandali,” to its set list?The band, by the way, has found a new home to play on a regular basis — at RJ Bistro in the basement of Dusit Thani in Makati. “Camara will sing songs you’ve never heard him do before,” Lenny told me when I asked what’s worth looking forward to at Groovy Beats’ RJ Bistro gig on January 22.“We also have new dance songs which I enjoy playing on flute, like [Van McCoy’s] “The Hustle,” and other tunes on which I play bass,” she continued. “I particularly like the bass parts in Chicago songs as they seem to be playing harmony with the lead guitar or the melody lines.”Oh, so that’s why everyone in the crowd at the band’s previous show was dancing, as a video Santos uploaded on Facebook showed.“The band likes RJ Bistro a lot. RJ has significantly improved the place. It has a fantastic sound system with a very good technician who is so responsive to the needs of the band. The staff are also kind and service-oriented. The place is big enough to accommodate people who wish to dance,” Lenny said. So now I’m thinking of coming over to also “do ‘The Hustle’”!

The retro band Groovy Beats started out with the usual classic rock repertoire — mostly Beatles and Rolling Stones classics from the 1960s, and Chicago, James Taylor, and other ‘70s staples.

The retro band Groovy Beats started out with the usual classic rock repertoire — mostly Beatles and Rolling Stones classics from the 1960s, and Chicago, James Taylor, and other ‘70s staples.

Why the dancing crowd is flocking to Lenny de Jesus’ band Groovy Beats at RJ Bistro

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Music

Why the dancing crowd is flocking to Lenny de Jesus’ band Groovy Beats at RJ Bistro

Pocholo Concepcion

Published Jan 21, 2025 10:00 AM PHT

Read More:

Groovy Beats

RJ Bistro

Lenny de Jesus

Nonong Pedero

Boy Camara

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.