By Antonette V. Pua
Former The CompanY member, Reuben Laurente, confessed in a recent interview that while with the group, he was a “reluctant” tenor. Everyone who knows about The CompanY and the songs they made famous, definitely knows Reuben since he spent 14 fruitful years with the country’s premier vocal group.
Except for the fullness and high range of Reuben’s voice though, there’s nothing much that the public really knows about him since he barely spoke during interviews. He was then perceived to be a shy fellow.
So when news of Reuben’s exit from The CompanY circulated in mid 2005, a number raised eyebrows but those who’ve trailed his journey with his former group cheered because, finally, he could let his star shine.
Fame though, was not one of the things Reuben considered while contemplating on leaving. He simply wanted to try something new.
It was just unfortunate that some people were quick to pass judgment on Reuben for leaving The CompanY, which, they presumed was his passport to his musical career.
“I didn’t leave the group just like that. I informed them five months before the expected date of my departure. I even helped them look for my replacement,” says Reuben, adding that the girls of The CompanY remain to be good friends of his.
In spite of his exemplary talent and perseverance to back it up, Reuben knew going solo after years of being in a vocal group is like getting blood out of a stone. Yet, his attitude towards work helped him reap success in less than a year of being a solo artist.
Last year, he has released two Gospel albums entitled “Reason For This” and “Langit,” which, was nominated in the best religious album category of the Catholic Mass Media Awards in November last year. Before 2006 closed, Reuben came out with his double CD “Pop Virtuosity” under D’Concorde Recording Corporation. It was an album, which celebrated Reuben’s passion for diversity in music.
No wonder he earned the moniker Manila’s Pop Virtuoso!
Some cuts in “Pop Virtuosity” are now famously played for GMA-7’s TV dramas. “Nasasaktan,” a poignant love song, has been picked as theme song for “Makita Ka Lang Muli” while “Muli” (a remake of the 90s hit popularized by the late Rodel Naval) was once used for a Koreanovela titled “Into the Sun.”
Apart from the recording scene, Reuben also actively treads the boards. He has, in fact, auditioned for the role of Lun Tha in the Broadway production of “The King and I,” and hopes to do “St. Louis Loves Dem Filipinos The Musicale.”
In the international scene, Reuben is contemplating on joining the World Championship of Performing Arts in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California come July.
In our Q & A session, Reuben shared the obstacles that he had to deal with before landing on the plane which he is standing on at the moment.
Read Tugtog’s Q&A with Reuben Laurente >>
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