http://www.malaya.com.ph/apr12/ente_2.htm

April 12, 2008 03:18 PM Saturday

Richard Poon, Michael Buble ng Pilipinas

By: Tonee Coraza

Whatever

HINDI na kailangan pang maghintay ulit ang standard fanatics sa pagbabalik ni Mi-chael Buble sa Pilipinas para mag-show.
   
Kasi may local version na tayo ni Buble in the person of  Richard Poon na magka-karoon ng kanyang first major solo concert sa Music Museum on May 1 & 2 with Sam Milby as special guest.
   
Pareho sila ng manager ni Sam kaya naman he knows Sam from way back bago pa ito pumasok sa PBB house noon. Sa katunayan, masyado raw madalian ang pagpasok ni Sam sa Bahay ni Kuya noon kaya sa kanya pa nanghiram ng mga damit si Sam.
   
Hindi na bago si Richard sa music business, kasi miyembro dati siya ng acoustic group na U-Turn kung saan nakagawa rin sila ng 2 albums under Viva Records from 2002-2006.
   
Pero, it was when he went solo and decided to sing standards na nagkaroon siya ng sariling identity.
   
MCA Music released his debut album Richard Poon: I’ll Take Care of You last year. And late January of this year ay nagsimula na siyang maging regular sa ASAP ’08.         May regular segment siya na Serenading kung saan ma-dalas na nakakasama niyang kumanta ang  buddies niya na sina Sam, Piolo Pascual, Erik Santos at Jed Madela.
   
At 30 wala raw siyang girlfriend ngayon, pero attracted siya kay Maja Salvador.
   
What’s more interesting about Richard is that he is pure Chinese pero Pilipinong-Pilipino ang ugali niya dahil he is born and raised here in the Philippines.
   
Sa  totoo lang, mas maga-ling pa siyang mag-Tagalog kaysa mag-Chinese.
   
By the way, his mother was  a former Taiwanese popstar kaya alam n’yo na nga-yon kung saan niya namana ang kanyang talent for singing.

People's Taliba

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-04-12&sec=3&aid=55743

Tell & Tell

Ibang klase ang timbre ng voice ni Richard Poon. Malamig sa pandinig na mala-Michael Buble, in fairness.    
    
Pero, da who itong si Richard Poon at binigyan agad siya ng solo presscon ng ASAP ’08 at may regular segment agad sa nasabing Sunday variety show, Serenading?
   
Well, itong si Richard Poon ay may dugong Taiwanese at Cantonese, pero born and raised in the Philippines, kaya very fluent sa Tagalog at Ingles.
   
Dating Taiwanese pop star ang kanyang madir. Tulad ng kanyang dad, siya rin ay isang businessman, chef at nagma-mayari ng Mr. Poon restaurant sa iba’t ibang panig ng Metro Manila.
   
And take note, hindi lang siya magaling na balladeer kundi composer rin, in fairness. One more thing, he is a glib talker and sport talker kung kaya’t puwedeng-puwede itong maging singing TV host sa kategorya ni Martin Nievera.
   
In fact, mas type pa nga namin siya magsalita kesa kay Martin na halos kinakain ang salita dahil fast talker ang ex nitong si Pops, tsuk!
   
At take note uli, in person ay medyo hawig siya kay Erik Santos. Kaya ’pag sumikat siya, hindi imposibleng maging interesado sa kanya si Rufa Mae Quinto.
   
Higit sa lahat, kahit ngayon pa lang siya unti-unting gumagawa ng namesung sa larangan ng pag-awit, meron na siyang concert sa Music Museum on May 1 and May 2 produced by ASAP Live.
   
Para maniwala kayo na ibang klase ang hagod ng singing voice nitong si Richard Poon, puwes, manood kayo ng ASAP ’08 tuwing Linggo sa ABS-CBN, okidoki?

People's Tonight

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-04-12&sec=3&aid=55798

Ni Sanden Anadia
Saturday, April 12, 2008

Richard Poon ganahan ni Maja

Sa edad nga  30 wala pa'y girlfriend ang Michael Buble sa ASAP nga si Richard Poon, pero, nahugyaw siya ni Maja Salvador, ug gani miingon kini, "hindi ko rin alam, everytime na nakikita ko ang mga billboard ni Maja sa Edsa, ‘yung sa Folded & Hung, name-mesmerized ako, ang lakas ng dating niya sa akin," pag-angkon pa sa bag-ong singer sa Asap. Ang iyang singing career ang priority ni Richard ug ang Restaurant business nila sa iyang higala nga nahimutang sa Robinsons' Galleria busa wala pa siya'y oras sa mga babaye. Pwes,kay nindot man ang tingog niya, nag-produce ang  ASAP Live alang kaniya og two night concert sa Music Museum this coming May 1 and 2 nga nag-ulohan og Richard Poon:  I'll Take Care of You.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Showbiz&p=51&type=2&sec=144&aid=20080411179

Gaya ng lagi kong sinasabi, mas hanga ako sa singer kesa sa artista, ang mga great loves ko ay yung mga nakakatulugan ko na kinakantahan ako sa kwarto ko via my component at yung pinapanood ko ang mga concerts.

After Chad  Borja, akala ko wala na akong pwedeng hangaan pang iba, until dumating dito ang isang Fil-Am actor na gumawa ng album dito. Hindi siya isang great singer kaya siguro hindi rin nagtagal ang paghanga ko sa kanya.

Si Richard Poon, never ko pang napapanood sa ASAP, dahil my Sundays are spent outside of the house kundi nagsu-swimming ay namamasyal sa mga malls, parks, o kahit na saan, with my family. Until ABS-CBN launched him at nakita ko’t narinig siyang mag-perform.

Hindi kagwapuhan si Richard, isang typical Chinese-looking guy whom I thought at first was quite young to be singing classics na nakalakihan ko. Pero matikas siyang manamit, very neat sa kanyang black and white suit.

He reminded me of a young Bert Nievera, maybe not in looks nor performance but in talent. It will probably take him years bago niya ako makumbinsi ng buong-buo sa kanyang “act,” pero, I must admit, nahuli na niya ang atensyon ko.

Hindi siya basta marunong kumanta at inamin niya na ngayon pa lamang siya nagsisimulang maging komportable sa pinili niyang tipo ng mga kinakanta, pero may timbre ang boses niya na  hindi nagbabago kahit na ilang ulit siyang nangapa ng lyrics ng Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko ni Rey Valera. Maganda niyang nadale yung Moon River at More.

In between, nalaman kong professional singer ang mom niya, sikat na sikat sa Asya at kasalukuyang nasa Taiwan. Mayro’n siyang sister na sinasabi niyang mas magaling kumanta sa kanya. I just wonder kung bakit hindi niya sila ginawang guest sa first major Richard Poon: I’ll Take Care of You concert niya sa Music Museum sa May 1 and 2, na prinodyus ng ASAP Live para sa kanya.

Incidentally, sa ASAP where he performs every Sunday, unti-unti na  niyang naiaangat ang kanyang sarili against the likes of Piolo Pascual, Erik Santos,  Jed Madela at maski kay Sam Milby, dahil sa kanyang walang ka-effort- effort na pagkanta at siguro dahil siya lamang ang hindi bumibirit ng kanta, pero maayos at maganda niyang naipapaabot ang ganda ng melodiya at lyrics ng mga kinakanta niya sa lahat ng manonood.

Ewan ko kung makadadagdag sa interes n’yo na malaman na marunong siyang tumugtog ng gitara, marunong siyang gumawa ng areglo ng mga kanta at bago siya napasok sa mga classic songs, kasama siya sa bandang U Turn at kumakanta ng mga pop songs.

Ewan ko pero nakadagdag ng pogi points niya sa akin na marunong siyang magluto at may mga matatagumpay na kainan o restoran siya na  Little Poon, samantalang ang Mr. Poon ay negosyo ng kanyang pamilya na tumulong siyang patakbuhin bago siya tinawag sa mundo ng musika.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Showbiz&p=50&type=2&sec=58&aid=20080412144

The singing chef finds his voice in standards

BY ISAH V. RED

Richard Poon, after cooking for many years in both his dad’s Mr. Poon and a charming gourmet restaurant along what is now C5 fronting what is now occupied by the SM Hypercenter Pasig, is now whipping up a different kind of dish.

He is singing and not cooking, something his father, the older Mr. Poon whose Cantonese cooking has made him a byword among Manila’s gourmet set, may not have wanted his son to do, but is very proud of these days.

Richard, whose fledgling career in music at one point in his youth nearly pressed him to give up on music and focus his mind more on cooking up palette-pleasing dishes, is now a celebrity in his own right.

He has a CD out in the market, a regular segment in a musical variety show every Sunday, an increasing fan base, and an upcoming solo concert.

Eva Poon (of Eve’s Garden fame) from whom Richard inherited his talent for music —she was a popular chanteuse in Taiwan before moving to Manila to settle with Richard’s dad —should be very happy that Richard is actually singing his way to the bank.

Richard Poon is living his dream—writing songs for other artists such as Piolo Pascual, singing standards and contemporary songs and performing in front of an audience. Being in the limelight is already in his blood since his mother was a Taiwanese popstar. But don’t think that Poon is only talented in music. He is also a businessman and owns a restaurant which offers both Chinese and Filipino food.

He shares that for a Cantonese-Taiwanese singer like him, it is rare to find another one in the music industry. This is why he feels honored that music icon Jose Mari Chan himself encourages and supports Poon in his endeavor.

When writing songs, he doesn’t have any ritual and isn’t contained into writing ‘within a box.’ Most people don’t know that he dreams of collaborating with a variety of musical artists from different genres, such as Bamboo, Gloc 9, Andrew E and Salbakuta as well as Regine Velasquez, a woman he speaks highly of, and Christian Bautista for a Buble-Groban concert.

When asked how he feels working with Asap (the weekly Sunday concert party) and Asap Live (concert production) he states, “It’s very challenging. Sometimes I feel pressured because since I’m new in the industry, I don’t know what to do. But I’m so overwhelmed with Sir Deo’s [Endrinal] support for me. Everyone—they’re all so supportive and so nice.”

He shares that people can expect to hear and watch a different Richard Poon in his much-awaited concert. Be ready to be captivated and delighted by his refreshing old school music and unpredictable production numbers.

Catch Richard Poon in Asap ’08 regular segment, “Serenading” and watch out or his first major solo concert, Richard Poon: I’ll Take Care of You on May 1 and 2 at the Music Museum, produced by Asap Live and under the stage direction of Georcelle Dapat.

Richard Poon sets own standards


Yugel Losorata

Richard Poon is not your ordinary entertainer. He is perhaps one of the few solo acts who knows the technical aspect of his music. In fact, he's so sharp that he knows when a note from the bass player goes astray

"Musikero ako and when I sing standards, I make sure it has to pass my standard," said the former member of the band U-Turn.

Even then, he was already the meticulous guy in the group who was keen on the musical technicalities, he never let slip anything that did not satisfy him.

With a 13-track album of his own, Poon has gone to the next level as he still showcases his mastery of music, doing lead singing by himself and carefully dealing with the sound coming off his big band.

His current fulfillment is brought about by his admiration for standard music as well as his skill to play up new songs into sounding standard-like: "I’m enjoying because we’re doing the old thing with a fresh twist to it."

With him regularly appearing over ABS-CBN’s ASAP during Sundays, Poon has suddenly become one of the most recognized voices in the industry.

He sings for ASAP ‘08’s "Serenading" segment and this quite made him ripe for a solo major concert on May 1 and 2 at the Music Museum. The show, produced by ASAP Live concert production and to be directed by Georcelle Dapat, is entitled "Richard Poon: I’ll Take Care of You."

"This certainly is my biggest gig yet. I’d be combining the old and the new as with my repertoire," he related.

The son of a Taiwanese pop star, Poon envisions capturing the Chinese market. Whether as a band member or solo, Poon, who also owns a restaurant offering Chinese and Filipino food, remains the kind of musician that he is – very zealous in finding the right notes and thinking out of the box in writing songs.

"I’m very technical when it comes to music. I studied hard about it and I have to be critical to achieve perfection," he related.

http://www.mb.com.ph/ENTR20080415121881.html

***

Meet Richard Poon, the newest singing sensation now regularly seen in "ASAP Live."

Richard’s family owns the popular chain of restaurant named Mr. Poon. Before he became a singer, he was first a cook at their restaurant, dishing up Chinese and Filipino food.

His dad did not object when he decided to be a singer, but he didn’t encourage Richard either. His dad probably did not foresee him becoming a full-time singer.

Before being a part of "ASAP Live," Richard sang with a band. He just turned solo singer this year.

It was Erick Raymund, the talent manager of Sam Milby, who encouraged him to be a solo singer. Aside from being a good friend, Erick is now Richard’s talent manager.

"It was Erick who introduced me to Mr. Deo Endrinal (unit head of ‘ASAP Live’), who immediately assigned me to do a song number the Sunday thereafter. Henceforth, I became a mainstay of the program," Richard related.

It’s also "ASAP Live" which will produce Richard’s very first major concert as a solo star on May 1 and 2 at the Music Museum. Titled "Richard Poon: I’ll Take Care of You," the concert will have Georcelle Dapat at the helm.

Will he invite his dad to the concert?

"Definitely," he answered. "And I’m pretty sure he will come with my mom."

One of the songs in Richard’s repertoire is a Chinese song which his mom translated into Tagalog. "I’m sure both my mom and dad would love to listen to this particular song. It will be my first time to sing the song in public."

http://www.malaya.com.ph/apr18/ente_1.htm

April 15, 2008 05:01 PM Tuesday

Richard Poon handa na sa solo concert

Maaaring  taglay na ang lahat ni Richard Poon – isang solo album, regular segment sa musical variety show, dumaraming fans at isang nalalapit na solo concert.
   
Kahit na bago pa lang sa industriya, mabilis niyang nabihag ang atensyon at puso ng lahat bilang isang classics balladeer.
   
Pangarap ni Richard Poon ang magsulat ng mga kanta para sa ibang artists, kumanta ng  standards at kontemporaryong musika at mag-perform.
   
Lahat ng ito ay nasa dugo na niya dahil ang kanyang nanay ay isa ring celebrity noon, isang Taiwanese popstar.
   
At hindi lamang sa larangan ng musika ang talento ni Poon.  Siya rin ay  isang businessman at nagma-may-ari ng isang restaurant na may Chinese at Filipino food.
   
Minsan lang tayong makahanap ng isang magaling na Cantonese-Taiwanese singer na tulad  niya, kaya  na-man malaking karangalan para sa kanya ang suportang ibinibigay ng music icon na si Jose Mari Chan pagdating sa kanyang singing career.
   
Kapag nagsusulat ng mga kanta, walang sinusundang formula si Richard at hindi nali-limita  sa lawak ng mga  lyric at melody.              

Maraming hindi nakakaa-lam na  isa  sa mga pangarap  niya ay ang makatrabaho ang iba’t ibang musical artists mula sa sari-saring genre tulad nina Bamboo, Gloc 9, Andrew E at Salbakuta, pati na rin si Regine Velasquez -- isang babaing singer na hinahangaan niya -- at si Christian Bautista para sa isang  Buble-Groban concert.
   
Nang kumustahin ang kanyang pakikipagtrabaho kasama ang ASAP (Sunday concert party  tuwing linggo) at ASAP Live (concert production), sabi niya: “Napaka-challenging. Minsan  pressured pa ako kasi bago lang ako sa industriya, so minsan hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. Pero sobrang overwhelmed ako sa suporta na ibinibigay  ni Sir Deo (Endrinal). Lahat sila ay napaka-supportive at mababait.”
   
Wika pa niya, maaasahan ng mga tao na makakapanood at makakarinig sila ng isang kakaibang Richard Poon sa kanyang inaabangan na ng lahat na concert.         Maghanda para mabihag at matuwa sa kanyang pagkanta ng mga bago at lumang musika at sa mga hindi ina-asahang production numbers.
   
Panoorin si Richard  Poon sa kapana-panabik na baha-gi ng ASAP ’08 na  Serenading  tuwing linggo at  abangan ang kanyang unang  major solo concert na gaganapin sa Music Museum sa May 1 & 2 mula sa ASAP Live at sa ilalim ng stage direction ni Georcelle Dapat.

People's Taliba

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-04-15&sec=3&aid=56066

BUZZSTATION

Edgar Cruz

04/15/2008

Richard Poon is a charmer

Atty. Joji Alonso and I don’t talk much about music, but when she saw Richard Poon sing in ASAP, she swooned and sent a text message to Buzzstation about it. When I told her I have an extra copy of his debut CD, she told me she could not wait to receive it. She volunteered to have it picked up by a person from her law office from where I live. Like clockwork, he knocked on my door before office hours. That’s Richard’s power over people who love his “fresh classics.”

Richard met the media when he launched “Richard Poon: I’ll Take Care of You,” his first major concert at the Music Museum on May 1 and 2 as produced by ASAP Live. Entertainment journalists usually ask one or two questions during the open forum, but in Richard’s case, they threw strings of questions. Richard answered with honesty, often flashing a smile with each question. When asked if he’s a singing cook, he answeed with laughter in his voice, “Yes, you can say that.” You see, Richard used to be a cook at Mr. Poon, his father’s famous Chinese restaurant, until he decided to be a solo singer.

http://tribune.net.ph/20080415/life/20080415lif1.html

 MovieGoer
Accidental singer of old songs
Nestor Cuartero

IT WASN’T EASY for a young man, turning 30 at the time, to train himself as a singer of old songs.

‘I was still high on acoustic music, having been part of a band that played nothing but,’ Richard Poon said the night he announced he was starring in a solo concert, his first, at the Music Museum on May 1 and 2.

Richard’s accidental singing of a couple of old songs during a gig elicited the wildest response from his audience. The episode inspired his manager, Eric Raymundo, to push him in that direction.

With some trepidation, Richard followed suit. It helped that his parents loved (and lived) those songs. Of greater help was Richard’s mother, who was a singing star in Taiwan during her prime.

Richard is a full-blooded Chinese, but he speaks Filipino with the fluency of a native. The son of the popular restaurateur Mr. Poon, Richard finished his business studies at De La Salle before working for the family business, the Mr. Poon restaurants.

‘I started as a dishwasher,’ he said. He graduated to being a cook, then restaurant manager. In partnership with friends that include Sam Milby, Richard runs his own restaurant, Little Poon in Quezon City.

Making music while the sun shines on old songs is his calling at the moment. He proved this when he performed a couple of standards during the media event: ‘More’ and ‘I’ll Take Care of You,’ which incidentally is the title track of his Star Records album and also the title of his two-night concert series.

http://www.tempo.com.ph/news.php?aid=37818

Entertainment, 4/25/2008 10:25 PM April 25, 2008
Romance comes alive at Richard Poon's first major solo concert in Manila

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Chinese-Taiwanese singer Richard Poon is all set for his upcoming solo major concert, “Richard Poon: I’ll Take Care of You.”

Both Poon and ASAP Live! are preparing for the said event. Poon's concert will feature fresh arrangements of a repertoire of classics and standards. Never before seen production numbers will also be featured.

The younger audience will not feel left out enjoy because Poon will also perform contemporary songs with different a flavor. The sales of his concert is doing great and part of Richard’s preparation for the concert is conserving his voice and resting.

“I’m so excited for my first major concert. We really worked hard for the whole show. People will get to watch different music and fresh arrangements. With standards, we remember fond memories from the past,” Poon said.

Poon's first ever major concert at Music Museum on May 1 & 2 is brought to you by ASAP Live and under the stage direction of Georcelle Dapat.  Poon's special guests include Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, Sitti Navarro, Pops Fernandez and Juris ng MYMP.

Catch  Richard Poon in the romantic segment of ASAP '08, "Serenading" every Sunday.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=116194

April 26, 2008 04:16 PM Saturday

Richard Poon ayaw maging solo artist

By: Leo M. Bukas

MATAPOS makasama sa isang kilalang pop band, nakilala si Richard Poon gamit ang sariling pa-ngalan at sa loob lamang ng dalawang taon, nagkaroon na siya ng album at patuloy na dumadami ang mga loyal supporters niya.
    
Ngunit maniniwala ka ba na wala talagang plano ang “romantic classics balladeer” na ito na maging isang solo artist? 
   
”Ayoko sanang maging solo artist gamit ang pa-ngalan ko. Gusto ko sana isang banda na may band name. Sa totoo lang, hindi ko inakalang makakarating ako dito, na kaya ko pala. Sa grupo, pwede pa pero hindi solo. Kaya ngayon, sobrang gulat, natutuwa at  overwhelmed ako sa atensyon na binibigay sakin,” wika pa niya.
   
Ngunit ang kanyang tagumpay, ang mga musical artists na humaha-nga sa kanya at ang mga taong patuloy na sumusuporta sa kanyang musika ay pahiwatig na tama ang kanyang desis-yon na maging solo artist.
   
Ipinakita niya sa buong bansa na mayroon siyang sariling style at tunog, ang pinaghalong standards at modernong kanta na ikinagugulat naman ng kanyang audience na binubuo ng   moms and dads at   yuppies. 
 
Bago pa man siya kumanta, namamangha na agad ang audience ni Poon.         Dahil siya ay pinaghalong Taiwanese-Cantonese at mukhang foreigner, inaakala ng tao na magkakaroon siya ng punto pag nag-Ingles at hindi makakaintindi ng Filipino.
   
Sa katunayan, fluent si Poon sa English at Filipino at talagang maga-ling  kumanta.
   
Sa kanyang nakahuhumaling na charisma, mati-punong tikas at malamig na boses, marami ang nag-iisip na gugustuhin ni Poon ang pagpasok sa showbiz.              Nang tanungin siya ukol dito, mabilis siyang umiling. 
   
”Hindi. Ayokong umarte. Mas gusto kong mag-focus sa mga bagay na magaling ako like sa pag-arrange ng music, paglikha ng awit at pagkanta ng galing sa puso.” 
    
Napapanood si Richard Poon sa regular segment na Serenading ng ASAP 08. Meron din siyang first major solo concert titled Richard Poon: I’ll Take Care of You sa May 1 & 2 sa Music Museum, produced ng ASAP Live at sa ilalim ng stage director na si Georcelle Dapat.

People's Taliba

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-04-26&sec=3&aid=57366

April 27, 2008 03:58 PM Sunday

By: Tonee Coraza

Whatever

*  *  *     

MASAYANG ibinalita sa amin ng ASAP Live na maganda  naman ang sales ng tic-kets para sa first major concert ni Richard Poon na gaganapin sa Music Museum on May 1 & 2.
   
At ang kanyang final line-up of guests at sina Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, Sitti  Navarro, Pops Fernandez and Juris of MYMP.
   
Panay pa rin ang promo ni Richard ng kanyang concert titled Richard Poon: I’ll Take Care of You sa Serena-ding” portion ng ASAP ’08 every Sunday.
   
Asahan ang mga bonggang production numbers sa kanyang concert, classics and standards with fresh arrangements at mga contemporary songs with a different flavor. 

People's Taliba

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-04-27&sec=3&aid=57479

A different Richard Poon

Chinese-Taiwanese singer Richard Poon is more than ready for his upcoming solo major concert, "Richard Poon: I’ll Take Care of You."

Both Richard and ASAP Live are preparing for the said event. Not only will they be featuring classics and standards with fresh arrangements, they will also show never before seen production numbers. The younger audience will enjoy as much because of the contemporary songs with different a flavor in the line-up.

The sales of his concert is doing great and part of Richard’s preparation for the concert is conserving his voice and resting.

"I’m so excited for my first major concert. We really worked hard for the whole show. People will get to watch different music and fresh arrangements. With standards, we remember fond memories from the past" Richard smilingly shares.

His special guests include Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, Sitti Navarro, Pops Fernandez and Juris of MYMP. Catch Richard Poon in the romantic segment of "ASAP ‘08," "Serenading" every Sunday and in his first major concert at Music Museum on May 1 and 2 brought to you by ASAP Live and under the stage direction of Georcelle Dapat.

http://www.mb.com.ph/ENTR20080430123149.html

Concerts that won’t burn your pocket
SOUNDS FAMILIAR By Baby A. Gil
Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Richard Poon: I'll Take Care of You:  Pop singer/songwriter who has reinvented himself as a swinging balladeer will be at Music Museum in Greenhills on May 1 and 2.  Produced by ASAP Live and directed by Georcelle Dapat, the show will have Poon, who is of Taiwanese/Cantonese parentage, singing cuts from his latest album. Familiar titles included are the lead cut I'll Take Care of You, Moon River, Way Back into Love, Somewhere, More, Kahit Maputi Na ang Buhok Ko, Let's Call the Whole Thing Off, Fallen, My Kind of Girl, All of Me, The Last Time and his own originals, Naaalala and Goodbye.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Entertainment&p=49&type=2&sec=31&aid=2008042986

Balladeers of the new generation

TAKE TWO

Ambet R. Nabus

05/01/2008

Tonight, May 1, is the first of two shows of dear friend, Richard Poon, at the Music Museum.

The six-foot balladeer, whose claim to fame is his being a singing chef, has come a long way. Richard’s family owns the famous Poon restaurant, which used to be in Ermita (now in Banawe, Quezon City). He served as “an all-around helper” before he became a chef for six years right after he graduated from De La Salle University.

Richard muses that perhaps because he was the son (he has an older sister) that he was expected to take on the business his father established even before they were born. Although he loves cooking, however, he decided to also pursue his other passion, singing.

“When the chance came for me to divide my time between the kitchen and joining my friends in karaoke bars, it was when the idea of joining an acoustic band came,” relates the Chinese-Taiwanese-Pinoy balladeer.

But it was his friend (and now manager) Erickson Raymundo, who encouraged him to try singing standard songs. “On one occasion I was forced to sing those songs that we grew up on. They liked it and, as the saying goes, the rest is history,” Richard explains.

His album under Star Records, Richard Poon, I’ll Take Care of You, carries the classic song as the carrier single.

Having listened to it a number of times, I can attest to the fact that Richard is standing true to his claim that his sound is soothing, relaxing and pleasurable. Unlike others who have to belt out, Richard’s singing is entirely different.

That’s why we promised to catch him tonight and maybe tomorrow at his shows to listen to more. His renditions of such classics as “Moonriver,” “I’ll Take Care of You,” “More” and others are noteworthy, but he has more to offer as his big band arrangements are truly new to our auditory sense.

He also promised to give us not just the classics and standards with fresh arrangements, but he will also show us never before seen production numbers! The younger audience will enjoy it as much because there are contemporary songs with a different flavor in the lineup.

Ricahrd’s special guests include Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, Sitti Navarro, Pops Fernandez and Juris of MYMP. Catch Richard Poon in the romantic segment of ASAP ‘08, “Serenading,” every Sunday and in his first major concert at Music Museum on May 1 & 2 under the stage direction of Georcelle Dapat.

http://tribune.net.ph/life/20080501lif4.html