Freestyle (Filipino band)

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Freestyle
Origin Davao City, Davao del Sur, Philippines
Genres Pop, R&B, soul
Years active1996–present
Labels Viva Records, independent, Press Pause Media Productions, Inc. (present)
MembersTop Suzara
IJ Garcia
Ian Tan
Bouy Manalo
Gibson Viduya
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
Lerod Cailao
Website https://freestylephilippines.com/

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.

Contents

Background

The band was originally founded by former guitarist Richard Felix "Tat" Suzara in Davao City. Two of the most 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 band 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 all-male 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

Former members

Additional band personnel history 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 member and 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 when long-time drummer Gerald Banzon left in 2021.
  • 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

ArtistAlbumTracksYearRecords
FreestyleFreestyleGoodluv
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
FreestyleThis TimeDown 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
FreestyleI Wanna Get CloseMr. 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
FreestyleOnce in a LifetimeSa 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
FreestyleBack at the YardTameme
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
FreestylePlaylistI 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
FreestyleMga Kwentong KinantaTrue Love
Paputol Putol
Kulang Ang Mga Sandali
Isang Halik
Bangon
Kahapon
Kung Di Rin Lang Ikaw
Paano Nga Kaya
Pasensya
Mahal		2014Freestyle Music Philippines

Compilation albums

ArtistAlbumTracksYearRecords
FreestyleGreatest HitsBefore 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
FreestyleSilver SeriesSo 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
Freestyle18 Greatest HitsBakit 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

(Viva Records & Vicor Music, 2010)

(Viva Records 2001)

Live albums

DVDs

Singles

Original

Covers

Awards and nominations

YearAward Giving BodyCategoryNominated WorkResults
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. 1 2 3 Why Top Suzara left Freestyle –PhilStar.
  3. 1 2 Freestyle Interview
  4. ↑ "David Greenbaum - Resume". Archived from the original on February 5, 2015.
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