Willie Nep 2 years nakipaglaban sa brain stroke

FULL house ang “Music And Laughter” concert ng OPM Hitmaker na si Nonoy Zuniga at ni Willie Nepomuceno sa The Theater ng Solaire Hotel last Friday. The show was directed by Joey Nombres.

Nakakatuwa kasi ang audience sa concert nina Nonoy na nagre-range from 40 to 80 years old.

E, kasi nga, sila ‘yung mga nakaabot ng kasikatan ng mga hits ni Nonoy during the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Sulit na sulit at ‘di binigo ni Nonoy ang audience with his rendition ng kanyang greatest hits from Da King Fernando Poe Jr.’s favorite song na “Doon Lang” at “Kumusta Ka?” to “Love Without Time,” “Init sa Magdamag,” at “Never Ever Say Goodbye.”

More than 40 years na rin ang itinakbo ng career ni Nonoy as a professional singer.

Nagsimula siya bilang folk singer kung saan may portion sa concert na binalikan at inawit niya ang mga classic folk songs na kinakanta niya sa mga bar o folk houses ang tawag nu’ng dekada ’70.

Mahusay palang tumugtog ng gitara si Nonoy. Nakalimutan lang naming itanong kung ‘yung gitara na ginamit niya during the “Music And Laughter” concert is still the same instrument he used way back nu’ng folk singer pa siya.

Pagkatapos ay nasama siya sa isang banda called Family Birth kung saan nakapwesto sila sa government-owned hotel na Philippine Plaza (Sofitel Hotel now) during Martial Law. That time, maraming government-owned establishment ang pinapasabog ng anti-Martial Law groups kabilang na ang Philippine Plaza.

He was just one meter away from the bowl sa dressing room nila while preparing before the show kung saan nandoon ‘yung bomba at sumabog.

Nakita raw ni Nonoy ang isang binti niya na literally tumalsik after the bomb exploded.

Kahit feeling very weak, he was still conscious about what’s happening that time.

Super like naman namin ang rendition niya with the Brothers Unlimited band, na kasabayan din nilang tumutugtog nu’ng early ‘80s, ng medley of hits ng sikat na sikat nu’ng ‘70s na international group na Stylistics.

Naging emosyonal naman kami nu’ng bigla naming makita ang impressionist na si Willy Nep looking as the Comedy King na si Dolphy. Bigla tuloy naming na-miss ang Comedy King.

Isa sa mga paborito ng publiko na ginagaya ni Willie Nep si Mang Dolphy na ang birthday is just a day before the “Music And Laughter” concert. Kaya naging parang tribute na ni Willie Nep kay Dolphy ang ginawa niyang act that night.

Bukod kay Dolphy, in-impersonate rin niya ang dating Presidente at Manila Mayor na si Joseph Estrada. Halos lahat ng Pangulo ng Pilipinas ay ginawa ni Willie Nep on stage except for President Rodrigo Duterte.

Ayaw niyang gayahin si Presidente Duterte dahil feeling niya mahusay magpatawa ang Pangulo. Kaya paano pa niya gagayahin at sasamahan niya ng jokes.

Two years nag-suffer from brain stroke si Willie Nep at nakakatuwa na napanood ulit siya on stage. Sabi nga niya, “Music is a continuing therapy for me, and laughter is my passion.”

Sa ending ng show, Nonoy and Willie Nep performed a medley of hits from the legendary British band, the Beatles. For sure, iikot pa from other parts of the country and even sa ibang bansa ang “Music And Laughter” dahil sa success ng show last July 27.