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Freestyle (Filipino band)

Freestyle is a pop/R&B band formed in Davao City, Philippines in 1996 currently fronted by Top Suzara since 2022, who returned seventeen years after he initially left in 2005. The band was formed in 1996 and hit the mainstream in 1998, and is popular for the songs "Before I Let You Go", "So Slow", "This Time", "Till I Found You", "Para Sa 'Yo", "Once in a Lifetime", and their rendition of "Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang?" with Pops Fernandez.

The band was originally founded by former guitarist Tat Suzara in Davao City. Notable members of the classic lineup include vocalists Jinky Vidal and Top Suzara, the band's primary songwriter, who left the band in 2011 and 2005 respectively and went on to have solo careers. Post-Freestyle, Vidal and Top Suzara had a reunion concert together in 2013. Other notable members were vocalists Joshua Desiderio, Mike Luis, Ava Santos, and drummer Gerald Banzon who were with the band until Top Suzara returned and took over in 2022.

In mid-2022, after the pre-"Top Suzara-comeback" lineup disbanded, Top Suzara took over and continued the "Freestyle" brand accompanied by his own session musicians. Suzara had his first comeback performance as Freestyle at 19 East in October 2022 in a sold-out gig. Suzara also trademarked "Freestyle" in the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) solely under his name. The IPO ruled that "Freestyle" is synonymous with the name Top Suzara and is deemed the rightful owner.^[1]

Members[edit]

Current members[edit]

• Christopher "Top" Suzara – vocals/guitar (1997–2005; 2022–present)
• IJ Garcia – keyboards/vocals/musical director (2022–present)
• Ian Tan – bass/vocals (2022–present)
• Francis Manalo – guitar/vocals (2022–present)
• Lerod Cailao – drums/vocals (2022–present)

Former members[edit]

• Jinky Vidal – vocals (1996–2011)
• Joshua Desiderio – vocals/keyboards/guitars (2005–2021)
• Mike Luis – vocals/keyboards (2005–2022)
• Tat Suzara – lead guitar/backing vocals (1996–2019)
• Gerald Banzon – drums/percussion (1997–2021)
• Ava Santos – vocals (2012–2022)
• Rommel dela Cruz – bass guitar (2005–2019)
• Bobby Velasco – keyboards/arranger (2018–2022)
• Joel Guarin – bass guitar (2019–2022)
• Gino Aguas – lead guitar (2019–2022)
• Nikki Cabardo – keyboards (2000–2009)
• Carlo Tapia – bass guitar (1996–2005)
• Obet Luzon – keyboards (1996–2000)
• Tzuki Garcia – drums/percussion (1996–1997)
• Jun Masamayor – keyboards (1996–1997)
• David Greenbaum – vocals (1996)

Additional footnotes:

• Vocalist Top Suzara is the cousin of lead founding member Tat Suzara.^[2]
• Former Viva Hot Babe Sheree, relative of Jinky Vidal, was once a touring vocalist.^[2]
• Philippine Idol finalist Gail Blanco also guested as a touring vocalist.^[3]
• Filipina Dutch singer Aliya Parcs also once guested as a backing vocalist in some selected shows.^[3]
• Lead founding member Tat Suzara happens to be the ex-husband of another former vocalist, Jinky Vidal. Vidal and Tat got separated and eventually annulled in 2013. Vidal is now in a common-law partnership and has a child with singer/songwriter X Factor finalist Jeric Medina who is 16 years her junior.^[2]
• Session musician Bogs Bautista toured with the band as drummer/percussionist from 2021–2022.
• Filipino-American singer/performer/educator, Hawaii Stars 1995 finalist, David Greenbaum from San Francisco, CA., performed with Freestyle when the band was based in Davao in 1996.^[4]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

Compilation albums[edit]

Collaboration albums[edit]

• Closer to Home (Viva Records, 1999)
• Closer to Home 2 (Viva Records, 2000)
• Servant of All Jubilaeum A.D. 2000 (Viva Records, 2000)
• Tunog Acoustic 1 (Warner Music Philippines, 2003)
• Acoustic Lokal (Viva Records, 2003)
• Senti: 18 Pinoy Love Hits (Viva Records & Vicor Music, 2008)
• Senti Dos (Viva Records & Vicor Music, 2008)
• Hit Covers (Viva Records & Vicor Music, 2009)
• Senti 3 (Viva Records & Vicor Music, 2009)
• Simly Fied (More Than Acoustic) (Viva Records & Vicor Music, 2009)
• Senti Four: It's Complicated (Viva Records & Vicor Music, 2010)

Live albums[edit]

• Freestyle Live (2000)
• The Love Concert: The Album (2001)
• All Hits Live at the Araneta (2003)
• Live @ 19 East (2006)

DVDs[edit]

• Freestyle Live (2000)
• The Love Concert: The Album (2001)
• All Hits Live at the Araneta (2003)
• Live @ 19 East (2006)

Awards and nominations[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• FreestyleonFacebook – new official page
• FreestyleonFacebook
• FreestyleonX
• Freestyle Interview