Howlin' Dave

Dante David
Born (1955-07-16)July 16, 1955
Philippines
Died May 26, 2008(2008-05-26) (aged 52)
Quezon City, Philippines
Nationality Filipino
Other names Howlin' Dave
Occupation radio disc jockey

Dante David (July 16, 1955 – May 26, 2008) was a Filipino radio disc jockey. Better known by his stage name Howlin' Dave, he is credited with introducing Filipino radio listeners to Pinoy (Filipino) rock music[1] in the early 1970s, and to new wave and punk rock in the 1980s.[2]

Howlin' Dave grew up in Pasay City and dropped out of high school.[3] While enrolled in a Fine Arts course at the Philippine Women's University, he was hired as a radio announcer on DZRJ-AM in 1974.[3] He adopted the name "Howlin' Dave" after the American blues singer Howlin' Wolf.[3] He soon became the host of Pinoy Rock and Rhythm, a weekend thirty-minute radio program that featured the then-nascent Pinoy rock music. The program was credited with popularizing such Filipino rock acts as the Juan Dela Cruz Band, Asin and the singer Sampaguita.[2] Howlin' Dave himself became known for his trademark mangled grammar and syntax, his atypical on-air use of the Tagalog language, and for his passionate and excitable delivery in his big booming voice.[3][4] The drummer Pepe Smith called him "the best rock DJ the Philippines ever had.”[4]

Howlin' Dave was also credited with introducing Filipino radio listeners to punk rock and new wave music beginning in the late 1970s, through his program New Wave Nights.[2][3] His choice to promote punk music was controversial among his fellow deejays and with his station, but his program developed a following, with spikey-haired teens soon showing up at the radio station, drinking gin and breaking bottles.[3] Between 1980 to 1985, Howlin' Dave hosted the annual 'Brave New World' punk concert, which he closed with his take on Sid Vicious's version of "My Way".[3]

In the late 1980s, Howlin' Dave was diagnosed with a brain tumor, as well as several other health problems that left him house-bound for several years. In his later years, he hosted radio programs with DZRJ, ROCK 990, and NU 107. In 2001, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the NU Rock Awards. He died in May 2008, two days after collapsing at home following a stroke.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Robles, Jojo (2008-05-30). "RIP, Howlin’ Dave". Manila Standard. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
  2. 1 2 3 Rome Jorge (2008-05-27). "A Cry for Howlin' Dave". Manila Times. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Eric Caruncho (2007-03-04). "The Last of the Singing Cowboys". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
  4. 1 2 3 Pocholo Concepcion (2008-05-26). "Howlin' Dave, Filipino rock icon, dies at 52". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
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