Atsushi (musician)

Teodoro de Villa Diaz, more popularly known as Teddy Diaz (April 1, 1963 - August 21, 1988), was the founding guitarist songwriter of the Filipino rock band The Dawn, writing their perennial hit, SALAMAT, launching The Dawn out of obscurity and into a mainstream cult following. The song SALAMAT soon became an anthem in the hearts of the Filipino culture and looks to be such to span the generations. A testament to Teddy's song writing genius. Had he lived longer he more than likely would have added to his brilliant song catalogue, touching the minds and hearts of many. At the height of his career and at the peak of The Dawn's popularity in the late 1980s, he was stabbed to death in front of his girlfriend's house by two bystanders allegedly under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Francis Florentino Saludo Reyes (born June 20, 1967 in Lipa City, Batangas, Philippines) is a Filipino musician. He was the chief radio announcer and musical director for the rock station NU107.5 FM who uses the on-air stage name Francis Brew. Reyes met The Dawn during his tenure with Afterimage, although he had already known Jett Pangan in university during interpretative reading contests which Pangan regularly won. He became friendly with the group's guitarist/founder Teddy Diaz and they even spoke of forming a thrash metal side project with drummer JB Leonor's brother Dennis. Unfortunately, Teddy was murdered mere days after their talk. Reyes was then asked to be one of the three guitarists who were to play Teddy's parts in the tribute concert "Salamat Teddy" at the Folk Arts Theater in September 1988. Reyes returned to Afterimage during Atsushi Matsuura's tenure with The Dawn and also became one of band's roadies. In November 1989, he was asked to replace Matsuura. Reyes recorded three albums and played with The Dawn until January 1995 when the band decided to go on hiatus. Between then and until the band reformed, he became a session guitarist for Lou Bonnevie, Kulay, POT, and Joey Ayala. He credits his experience with The Dawn and their eclectic music for being able to play in different genres comfortably. The Dawn reformed with Atsushi Matsuura in 2000, thus expanding the line-up to a five-piece. Matsuura and the band parted ways in 2003 and Reyes remains the sole guitarist to the present. Last April 16, 2009, that Francis Reyes left the band for some personal reasons. In spite of his early demise, his influence is still felt among many guitarists in the Philippines today and he has become a legend among many Filipino musicians. The Dawn, and the Filipino music industry also consider Diaz to be the band's driving force until today. In memory of Diaz, The Dawn has recorded a song that pays tribute to him: I Stand With You. The Dawn is a Filipino rock band which first achieved commercial success during the late 1980s in the Philippines. The band broke up in 1995 with lead vocalist Jett Pangan forming another band, the Jett Pangan Group. The Dawn reunited in late 1999. The Dawn is considered the "longest-lived and most prolific rock band in the Philippines".

• published: 23 Oct 2011
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