At L Fisher Hotel in Bacolod Casino, there used to be a music lounge. People who were normally good would drink and sing on stage there. They sang to other drinkers who didn’t care.
But this was no ordinary karaoke joint. You could belt out tunes with a live band that had guitar, bass, drums, and piano. The band would match your pace and pitch, even if they were off. You could not do that with karaoke. Karaoke had limited choices and forced you to sing too fast or too slow. He could shift the songs to fit the voice range of any singer who dared to take the stage, something that karaoke could not do. He had a sharp ear and a nimble mind that enabled him to change the key and tempo of any song to suit the singer’s taste. He could make anyone sound great and enjoy music.
No matter how obscure your song, Ed Malata probably knew it. He was a musician from Bacolod who knew many pop and jazz songs. He could play old songs that most people had forgotten. He was very good, not many guitar players in the Philippines could play songs like “Speak Low” or “It’s Delovely” or “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” or “I Like New York in June” or “Laura”.
"A walking encyclopedia of pop standards and jazz classics"
Ed had been playing with strings since he was young. He taught himself ukulele and guitar, then learned violin for four years in school. He became a professional musician in 1960 and played with a band at Bacolod’s K Club and other places. He even played with the famous Bobby Enriquez. Ed still learned new songs: “You never stop learning music.”
A generous and kind-hearted person
Ed Malata was not only a talented musician, but also a very generous person who extended kindness to people beyond his family. He offered his house in Manila as a shelter to those who had nowhere to go. He was always willing to share his knowledge and skills with others, especially young musicians who wanted to learn from him. He was a humble and friendly man who treated everyone with respect and dignity.
I wish to hear the real master, a Filipino guitar virtuoso on stage again someday.
Check out his music here!
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