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Keno (singer)

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Origin
  
Role
  
Singer

Name
  
Joaquin Sanchez

Albums
  
The Best of Keno


A poster of Joaquin Francisco Sanchez also known as "Keno", a Filipino singer, actor, and writer.

Birth name
  
Joaquin Francisco Sanchez

Also known as
  
Keno, JFSanchez, J. Wolf Sanchez

Born
  
June 16, 1962 (age 61) (
1962-06-16
)

Occupation(s)
  
Singer, Actor, Host, Author

Genres
  
Music of the Philippines, Pop music


Similar
  
Jamie Rivera , Timmy Cruz , JoAnne Lorenzana

Joaquin Francisco Sanchez (born June 16, 1962), more commonly known as Keno, is a Filipino singer, actor and writer. He was popular in late 1980s until 1990.

Contents

Keno wearing a blue suit and holding a microphone.

As a singer, he popularized songs such as "A Friend", "Leaving Yesterday Behind", "On Wings Of A Dream", "Want You To Cry To", "Why Do I Love You", and "Wish".

Keno wearing a blue polo shirt and sitting in a black chair.

As an actor, Keno was in the cast of a teen-oriented action film, Ninja Kids, playing the Yellow Ninja, in 1986.

Album of Keno entitled "A New Beginning"

As an author, he published The Last Castrato in 2005, with I.M. Wolf Publishing.

Album of Keno entitled "Beyond Limits"

As in his song, Keno "left yesterday behind", leaving admirers and fans with much music and a children's movie.

Keno wearing a black suit and a red tie.

Facts

  • Keno, whose real name is Joaquin Francisco Sanchez, is a singer originating from the Philippines and was popular in the late 1980s until 1990​​.
  • He is also an author and published "The Last Castrato" in 2005 with I.M. Wolf Publishing​​.
  • Keno holds a Bachelors degree in Behavioral Science from the New York Institute of Technology, where he graduated summa cum laude​​.
  • He started his music career in opera but later switched to popular music, entering the Philippines' music industry in the late 1980s​​.
  • Keno was an advocate and board member of the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), the official association of Filipino singers​.
  • He retired from the music and movie industry following a major concert at the ULTRA stadium in 1991 and took up writing under the byline JFSanchez​.
  • After retiring, he moved to DeLand, Florida in the USA, studied at the University of Central Florida, and now works as a crisis counselor in an in-patient psychiatric facility.
  • He is married to Eleanore Sanchez, and they have two children, a boy and a girl​1​.

Life and career

He graduated from secondary school at Notre Dame of Greater Manila, Class of 1978. He studied at University of the Philippines Diliman. He continued his education at the New York Institute of Technology, graduating summa cum laude with Bachelors in Behavioral Science degree.

Keno started his music career in opera but switched to popular music. He entered the Philippines' music industry in the late 1980s. At that time, he was heralded as an heir to the niche that singers Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano had made for themselves.

In 1986, he released his version of the classic Filipino love song Leaving Yesterday Behind, which won a gold record award.

When the song became a national hit, Viva Films cast Keno as one of the ninjas in "Ninja Kids". His song, Leaving Yesterday Behind, was the love theme; he was mistakenly associated with one of those who performed the main theme, the new wave-sounding song, You've Got the Power. The song was actually performed by Triple Threat, which is composed of Randy Santiago, Gino Padilla and himself. But he was replaced by Juan Miguel Salvador, because the Dyna studio would not allow him to record the song. Ninja Kids was Keno's first and only film, despite Viva Films' other offers.

Keno came out with four albums. A Friend was the most requested song on Philippines radio in 1990. A media icon for Pepsi-Cola in those years, he was part of the Pepsi New Generation artists that helped launch the careers of several other artists, such as JoAnne Lorenzana, Timmy Cruz, Raymond Lauchengco and Gino Padilla.

As ALIW's most promising entertainer of the year in 1987, Keno was an advocate and board member of the fledgling Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), the official association of Filipino singers. Keno was also a host of GMA Network's Lunch Date from 1986 until the early 1990s with Randy Santiago, Lito Pimentel, Willie Revillame, Fe Delos Reyes, Toni Rose Gayda, and Chique Hollman-Yulo, which rivaled the then popular Eat Bulaga. He discovered and mentored comedian Arnel Ignacio.

Retiring In Showbiz & Post Showbiz Career

Keno retired, following a successful major concert at the ULTRA stadium in 1991.

After he left the music and movie industry, he took up writing and released articles under the byline JFSanchez. He also released a book The Last Castrato under the name J. Wolf Sanchez.

Personal life

Keno later moved to DeLand, Florida in America. He studied at University of Central Florida and works as crisis counselor in an in-patient psychiatric facility. He is married to Eleanore Sanchez, and have two children, a boy and a girl.

Television

  • Triple Treat (ABS-CBN 2) - 1986-87
  • Lunch Date (GMA-7) - 1987-89
  • Straight To The Heart (TV-5 formerly known as ABC-5) - 1992
  • Movie

  • Ninja Kids
  • Discography

  • Keno: Leaving Yesterday Behind, Dyna Music (LP, 1986)
  • Beyond Limits, Dyna Music (LP, 1988)
  • A New Beginning, PolyEast Records formerly OctoArts International (LP, 1990)
  • Keno: Whenever You Need Me, PolyEast Records former OctoArts International (LP, 1992)
  • Collaborations

  • OPM Hit Series 2, PolyEast Records formerly OctoArts International (Cassette, Digital Download 1990)
  • Maligayang Pasko Sa Inyong Lahat, PolyEast Records former OctoArts International (LP, Cassette, Digital Download 1990)
  • Leaving Yesterday Behind
  • I Want You To Cry Too
  • A Friend
  • What Are You Doing Christmas Eve? [remake of an original classic by a foreign artist]
  • Araw Ng Pasko [remake of an original classic by a Boyfriends]; also duet with Carlo Orosa]
  • References

    Keno (singer) Wikipedia