Steve Tyrell approached singing by becoming a producer first.

"I never was an artist," he said. "I am more of a producer."

Steve Tyrell, who hails from Houston, Texas, journeyed to New York when he was only 19 and worked at the pop and soul music giant Scepter Records. He worked with several great names in the recording industry, but it was songwriting producers Burt Bacharach and Hal David with whom he developed strong alliance.

That alliance lasted for nine years, and it enabled Tyrell to forge his initial mark in the music industry.

Through his work with Bacharach and David, Tyrell got to work in motion pictures and at a very young age became one of the first music supervisors responsible for coordinating hit songs with the release of the films they appeared in.

"Back to Bacharach" is his sixth album and still to be released in the US this June. But the release of the album is made earlier here in the Philippines to coincide with his concert a few days ago.

The album features 14 songs: "Walk On," "The Look of Love," "This Guy’s In Love," "One Less Bell to Answer," "What the World Needs Now," "Reach Out For Me," "I Say A Little Prayer For You," "I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself," "Always Something There To Remind Me," "Don’t Make Me Over," "Close To You," "A

House Is Not A Home," "Alfie," and "Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head."

Reviewers say that "for music lovers, those songs are indelibly bound to our DNA, haunting strands of melodious memories that bring forth a flood of emotions and associations. For Steve Tyrell, the songs represent milestones in a distinguished career and the joys and pains of his own personal life. His wife died of cancer of the colon,

For the song "What the World Needs Now Is Love," Steve said it has more relevance more than anything. Indeed, true love alone can heal the ills of the world.

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Fr. Suarez says Mass for Merchant Bank employees

Socialite and philantrophist Mila T. Manapat invited famous healing priest Fr. Suarez last Friday noon to say Mass for her family, close friends and employees of Merchant Bank. The Holy Mass was a fitting goodbye and thanksgiving gesture for the staff and officers of Merchant Bank (of which Mila became chairman when her husband Teddy passed away) which has been acquired by RCBC.

Despite his very busy schedule Fr. Suarez found time to oblige Mila’s request. Incidentally, Mila reminded everyone that Fr. Suarez is building a church in Batangas and of course he needs help.

When Mila marked her milestone recently, the motif was Hawaiian and it was indeed a very festive and colorful occasion, with most of the guests coming in Hawaiian costumes.

Mila is a director of the All Nation Women’s Group (ANWG) of which her good friend Lolita Escobar Mirpuri is again the president (her fourth stint as such!).

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A musical show presented birthday boy Engr. Samaniego

A musical show was presented recently for recent birthday celebrator Engr. Marcelino Samaniego who turned 80. His wife, Mrs. Corazon M. Samaniego, and their children hosted a dinner party for him at the Sampaguita Room of the historic landmark Manila Hotel.

Mrs. Samaniego is of course the prime mover of the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation, Inc. which annually gives out the Box-Office King/Queen Award and other recognitions related to the entertainment industry. For four consecutive years, Vic Sotto was given the Box-Office King Award. This year’s plum awards went to John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo.

We were surprised to note that the Samaniego family is musically-inclined although they pursue other professions. A son (Rene) is a doctor at Makati Med, a daughter (Josie) is also a doctor, at St. Luke’s; another son (Arthur) is a contractor, a daughter (Amy, married to Engr. Teodulo Tiongco) is into business.

But on that night, the Samaniego children shared their music talents for the entertainment of their father and his well-wishers.

Dr. Rene and Engr. Arthur rendered a few songs each, and they later joined their other siblings and their children in a dance number.

Leading the guests were Mrs. Violy Mendoza, wife of Bulacan Gov. Jon-Jon M. dela Cruz; Atty. Pete Principe and wife, Dr. Potie Principe.

There were also other performers (brought by Vir Mateo and Doc of "Showbiz Central") like Jason Dee who can impersonate Regine Velasquez, and Joyce Prado.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, June 2, to Dra. Loi P. Ejercito, Sylvia la Torre, Lorna Quisumbing, Jenny Hernandez, newshen Ching Utzurrum of Cebu, cousins Freddie Y. Martinez and Jeanne Anne M. Parlan of New York, and Mar Tolentino of San Francisco, CA... Happy wedding anniversary to Monaco Consul Fortune A. Ledesma and husband Rene...