In the early 1970s, one of the most popular entertainers in South-East Asia was the Filipino organist, Amormio Cillan Jr. He came out with several albums in which he played the Yamaha E3 organ, reputedly the latest and most expensive at that time. I've been searching the Internet for more information on Cillan's background but nothing concrete turned up except for lists of his old records and people still selling them. Maybe one day, some Filipino will write a tribute to him. He's really that good on the organ!
Side 1: Vaya Con Dios, Besame Mucho, Solamente Una Vez (You Belong To My Heart), Historia De Un Amor, Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White, Maria Elena
Side 2: Quizas Quizas Quizas, El Mar El Cielo Y Tu, Amor Amor Amor, Anniversary Song, South Of The Border, Adios
Side 1: Little Brown Gal, My Little Grass Shack, Moonlight Bay, Hawaiian War Chant, Blue Hawaii, Sweet Leilani
Side 2: Hawaiian Wedding Song, Pearly Shells, Beyond The Reef, Lovely Hula Hands, The Moon Of Manakoora, To You Sweetheart
Side 1: Proud Mary, My Life Is A Lonely One, La Paloma, Que Sera Sera, Yummy Yummy Yummy/Mony Mony, Hernando's Hideaway
Side 2: Help Yourself, Are You Lonesome Tonight, Roman Guitar, Mrs Robinson, Ting-A-Ling, Cuando Caliente El Sol
Yeah, I used to "play" some of the tunes on our Yamaha organ. My dad had some of his LP's which have now been lost. I managed to buy a tape of his Immortals and converted the tracks to MP3 (not as good, but better than nothing). His music brought a lot of memorable times with my parents during that decade.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I used to "play" some of the tunes on our Yamaha organ. My dad had some of his LP's which have now been lost. I managed to buy a tape of his Immortals and converted the tracks to MP3 (not as good, but better than nothing). His music brought a lot of memorable times with my parents during that decade.
ReplyDeleteYes.. I also used to Play some of His Music in our Kawai Organ in the 70's.. His Long Playing that my Dad used to play every morning on our Stereo..
ReplyDeleteHow i missed His Nice and Cool Music, esp. on Filipino Classic Music sung by Pilita Corrales...
I would like to find all his albums. Can anyone help me please! My Email is:
ReplyDeletekynguyentuan@yahoo.com
I have some Album of Amormio and ur intersted just message me in my Facebook acct. Arnold Jurado , Gumaca, phil. Good day
DeleteHello... I just came across this blog. I am a relative of Amormio Cillan Jr. (his grandmother and my grandfather were siblings)... I am sad to say that he recently passed away (just last week in fact). He had a stroke a few years back and has been staying here in the Philippines for quite some time now. I would be glad to stay in touch with you, just send me a message at louiseannepp@yahoo.com
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DeleterestroupI'm saddened to hear of Amormio Cillan Jr's passing. He's such a gifted keyboard musician ...... My eldest bro. had one of his albums and I used to enjoy listening to his music ........
ReplyDeleteI wonder if he had ever made recordings using a Hammond organ 'cos I think that would have made his music sound even better!
Dear sir, if you have any album of Amormio Cillan Jr, please kindly share me in lossless format. I have The Immortals Organ Music cd and can share to you. Thanks.
DeleteThanks to Mrs. Louise Anne Porciuncula for information, I'm so sad to hear of Amormio Cillan Jr's passing..
ReplyDeleteI have bought The Immortals Organ Music cd from Manila. It's the last cd in that music store.
So sad to hear about Amormio Cillan Jr.'s passing. I was his student in the late 70's when he taught Yamaha organ in Hong Kong. He was the best teacher, I always look forward to my next lesson. I still have his neatly written music scores in my organ notebook. RIP! I'll miss him tremendously! All the best to his family!
ReplyDeleteJust wanna ask if Sir Amormio Cillan Jr.has mixed race like Castillan or what..we still keep his waltzes album, it survived the typhoon.
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ReplyDeleteAmormio Cillian, Jr.'s family was my neighbor at Marcelo Green Village, Paranaque City, PHILIPPINES. Their family "composition" was like ours. 1 boy, 2 girls & 2 boys. Amormio and I are the eldest in our families. Except for their youngest - they were all musically talented. I will always consider Amormio much better than Relly Coloma. That's why Yamaha hired him. And after that hiring I never saw him again.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I think the really most gifted in their family was the 4th child - Gerald. In 1978 Gerald and I thought of entering the 2nd Metro Pop Music Festival, and we did. Gerald was the composer and I was the lyricist. Our entry entitled "Di Ba't Maraming Bituin" landed as 16th place during the final eliminations, 4 spots short to enter the finals. A year after Gerald died from kidney complications.
I always imagine that if Gerald Cillian had not died so early, then maybe just maybe we could have gone on to a great partnership of musical composition.
Lost somewhere on a cassette tape are our recordings of "Di Ba't Maraming Bituin", "Minsan Sa Isang Panaginip Ko" and "Time for the Summer".
...Victor Misa
My Mom took organ lessons from Amormio in the 70s.
ReplyDeleteShe enjoyed her lessons immensely, and continued to play long after Amor left HK, till wrist pain made her stop a few years ago. She died 2 years ago.
I think his wife’s name was Alice, and they had a baby. My parents and sister visited them in the Philippines long ago.
I’m sorry to hear of his passing.
I have two of his Vinyl LP. I am selling them.
ReplyDeleteI was also his student in 1973 ( I think ) with Danny Chan ( who subsequently became a pop star. We use to attend his lessons at Cameron road in Kowloon. I recall he was quite over weight as compared to the photo on the front of this album. I won the competition sponsored by Tom Lee in 76 (again I think) but gave the place to DNny because I went to England to study Nd cannot fulfill the contract. I remember he was very nice to me even though I was very young and could barely speak English then. I remember the manager of Tom lee then was a chap call moondorgie ... or someth8ng that sounds like that . Anybody else from that era ? There is a poster saying her mother is Alice ...I can vaguely remember a young girl of that name, ,,, it was a long time ago, best regards to his family
ReplyDeleteAmormio Cillan Jr was idolized by many. As a young lad, I learned to love his flawless musical scores. I never played the keyboard but I play the guitar. Sometimes, I would jam and accompany his music with my guitar. He is and will forever be a legend. So sorry to hear his demise more than a decade ago
ReplyDeleteAmormio Cillan Jr was my high school classmate in UP Prep School, Class 1965. He was bright, handsome, humble, friendly, talented.
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