Fusion Band Biographies

Keyboard/Vocals - Glenn Pagkalinawan

Glenn's passion for music motivated him to learn and develop his musical abilities.  His interest in playing the piano began at the age of 5. He started taking piano lessons in 1st grade. He also attended organ classes and performed in recitals just like everyone else. He joined the choir, several bands, and performed in musical plays just to continue and expand his music skills.

Glenn got his first taste of performing in the bay area with the 'Til Dawn Band. He later joined other bands such as Sound X'treme, Session Company and NuVerz.  He has also made himself available to perform with other groups to fill in as keyboardist and/or sound technician (Unknown Band, Lynx Band, Insight Band, Rendezvous, and Rock Motion).

A musical arranger and composer, Glenn loves to create and explore new styles, grooves and chops. "I love the variety ~ gospel, blues, pop, smooth jazz, hip-hop, rock, R&B and ballads. They say music is an art.... Let's be creative!"

Guitar - Keith Madrid

Keith Madrid ("Kit") was born and raised in the East Bay side of San Francisco (Richmond & EL Sobrante). Inspired by the artistry of many well-known guitarists from Hendrix to Eric Johnson, Andres Secovia to John Williams, Wes Montgomery to George Bensen, Chet Atkins to Jimmy Bryant, Keith started playing the guitar at aged fifteen and absorbed the many styles that made him a reliable professional all-around guitarist.

His formal music studies began at Diablo Valley College transferring to California State University in Hayward where he earned his Bachelors Degree in Music (Classical Guitar).

For over 20 years, Keith has performed at many concerts/shows, club gigs and weddings ceremonies/ receptions in and around the San Francisco Bay Area.

Past Concerts/shows performances:

Bands:
Rare Form, D’Groove, Flashback, Harold Day, Keith Johnson AM Radio Band Diablo Valley College Jazz Band, Diablo Valley College Philharmonic Orchestra Cal State Hayward Orchestra

Jazz Artist:
John Clayton Jr. and Toshiko Akiyoshi

Hawaiian Artist:
Patrick Landeza, Herb Ota Jr., Dennis and David Kamakahi, Faith Ako, Cyril Pahinui, Jon Yamasato and Jennifer Perri.

Filipino Artist:
Jessa Zaragoza and Dingdong Avanzado, Ara Mina, Marissa Sanchez, Nina, Nyoy Volante, Kyla, Luke Mejares, Fe de los Reyes, Sway (Drop n Harmony), Haranistas de Manila, Joey Albert and the Superstar Nora Aunor.

Discography:
Patrick Landeza Pu'unaue – 1998, Christmas to Me – 2001, Ma Ka Home – 2006, Ku`u Honua Mele – 2010 Ver5e Wonderful Tonight 1999 – Various artist Serenade V2. Classified Records Drop n Harmony Because I Love You, Ladies, He don’t know sh..” 2000. DnH – Classified Records Kalifornia Noize Terrorists Seasons N Demons 2000 - KNT. 2020 Records a division of Classified Records Pinay What would you do, Kool with you 2002– Planet Hype Records

His guitar teachers:
George Cole - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Cole_(musician)
Steve Sage - http://www.theguitarsage.com/
Great Jazz guitarist - Warren Nunes - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25RGIv4I9yM
Ron Galen - http://www.youtube.com/user/RonGalen
The Late Jim Bertram (California State University in Hayward)

Keith’s gear:
Guitars: 1993 Fender Strat Plus, 2007 Fender VG Strat, 2009 Goldtop Tradition Pro Gibson Les Paul, Amp: DC 3 Mesa Boogie, JC120 Roland, Line 6 Spider Valve HD100, Grid1 amp.

Bass - Michelle C. Mangampo

Age: Old enough to know better...

Inspiration:

Flea(Red Hot Chili Peppers), Billy Sheehan(Mr. Big), Marcus Miller, Les Claypool(Primus) are amongst the bass players I admire.

Work Experience:

1987-1989 Performed in 5 Star Hotels in the middle east.
- Seeb Novotel Muscat Sultanate of Oman
- Sheraton Hotel,Manama, State of Bahrain
- Al Bustan Palace Hotel,Sultanate of Oman
- Khalidia Palace Hotel, Abudhabi U.A.E.

1990-1993 Became the leader of the band, travelled back to the middle eastand performed at Intercontinental Hotels in the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain

1997-2002 Performed in Asian countries like Macau, Shanghai, Thailand and Phnom Phen, Cambodia

2002-2003 Performed at Emirates Towers and President Hotel in Dubai, U.A.E.

2003-2009 Managed my own band, travelled to Korea and performed at the Ramada Hotel (RED LUPIN CLUB).

August 2010 Recepient of a LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD at the Gold Coast Hotel, LAS VEGAS by the PCR (Pinoy Classic Rock) Association now FCOPA(Filipino Community of Performing Artists)

Lead Female Vocals – Cece Casanada

"Singing has always been and will remain my number one passion in life".  She was a member of "Tambuli" choir of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at 12 years old. Through this group she reached out to other young performers, including World Youth day held annual. Throughout High School, she was in the school chorus where she performed solos which included Broadway musicals such as Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Fiddler on the roof, and George Gershwin compositions.  These solos were performed at various public functions in the Peninsula. During sophomore year, she helped form an accapella group called KARIZMA, which was comprised of 4 members, each delivering their own style of background.

Karizma performed with other groups at other high schools and several community events.  In 2000, she hosted Casa Manila's karaoke nights, which helped her a great deal in overcoming the little stage fright she had left.  She partook in the "EB Talents International" Best of the Bay concert, featuring some of the local talents in the Bay Area.  She has performed under "Synchronicity Productions", based in the South Bay , whose main objective was to get the young people out of the streets and chasing their dreams. She hosted AND performed during their first show held in Cupertino High School in 2001.  In 2007, she joined her first band, After Midnite Band, consisting mostly of SFPD.  They performed at various venues in the North Bay including political events in San Francisco. 

Lead Female Vocals – Myra Simmons

For nearly 13 years, she has thrilled audiences across the bay with her tremendous energy and proven ability to entertain audiences of all ages. Melding the essence of her music influences, she combines the very best of modern Hip-Hop, R&B and Pop while entertaining and captivating audiences with sincerity and power. Joined multiple bands such as Diversity, 'Tildawn and Nuverz before settling down with Fusion in mid 2009.

Born and raised in the Philippines, Myra held the microphone at the age of 6, joined glee club in her junior year and represented her school in various singing competitions. She's never had any voice lessons except karaoke which has always been a part of her Filipino up-bringing. Myra auditioned for American Idol in 2005, never made it to Hollywood but considered it as an experience of a lifetime. She has always aspired to make her own record that will give her a chance to grow as a singer and an artist as a whole.

Drums/Vocals – Jay-R Covita

Jay-R has been playing drums till he was 5 years old. He grew up listening to his father play the drums, watched him play while covering his ears because it was too loud, but was fascinated on how he played. Jay-R played with various band throughout the years. The highlights band, Dejavu, The New Concept, C'est La Vie, LP, Nuverz, Keith Johnson Allstars,Opening Night band, Mirage band, and now with the "FUSION band". Jay-R also has other talents as well, he plays the bass and in his free time he loves to compose and play piano and sings. He plays all types of music and loves what he does.

Lead Male Vocals – Virgil Casanada

His penchant for music was manifested at the early age of 2. Although he could not sing the exact words to a song, he was able to hum the musical notes beautifully and with gusto. At the age of 5 he had his first concert at a cultural show in his hometown of Batangas City singing an original composition "Kabataan, Saan Ka Patungo?" written by his mom. He joined the Glee Club during his grade school years in St. Bridget’s College and competed in various school competitions where he was a consistent winner. Not content with winning laurels in his school and his hometown, he also joined TV programs in Manila and won TV Channel 13's talent show hosted by Ike Lozada and Ariel Ureta and Channel 7's Student Canteen with Eddie Ilarde. Whenever his schedule permits, he also performed at road shows and other places in the region since his dad was the producer of most of these shows. These opportunities allowed him to harness his musical skills and gain confidence in his trade.

While in middle school, he studied keyboards at the Yamaha School of Music before going to the St. Francis of Assisi Seminary in Lipa City to study. There he became the soloist of the seminary choir where he also competed and won awards in the inter-city seminary contests.

It was a short-lived stay in the seminary since he decided to go back to St. Bridget's to finish high school. Right after graduation, he and his school friends formed the "Huggers Band", the youngest band ever to play in the circles of night clubs in Batangas City.

He had barely started to pursue his Architecture studies in Manila when he left the Philippines to go abroad and live in the US permanently.

When he arrived in the US in 1987, he found his musical niche by joining a singing competition at the War Memorial Building in Daly City and won the top prize. This contest was hosted by KSOL and sponsored by the city of Daly City Parks and Recreation Department. This was the first contest of its kind in the city at that time. Shortly after he joined the San Francisco City Chorus.

A few months later, he and his other Batangueno friends, formed the "Live Version Band" and became its soloist/keyboard player. The band had their biggest break when they were asked to perform regularly on weekends at the Sheraton Hotel in Burlingame. This was later followed by a string of gigs at some of the local hot spots like Solita's Restaurant, Tito Rey of the Islands, Carnival Restaurant and Josephine’s on Broadway, San Francisco. They got rave reviews performance-after- performance and drew a huge crowd of followers wherever they went , be it corporate, organization or hotel gigs. The Live Version Band was active until 2007.

Virgil provided opening acts to some of the big name entertainment figures such as Gabby Concepcion, Nora Aunor, Aiko Melendez, Aga Muhlach, Buffy and Jocelyn Enriquez in concerts held at Fort Mason, Nob Hill and the Cow Palace.