Gone, but the music remains

Eugene Villaluz has been making beautiful music with the angels in heaven these past seven years.

- BABY A. GIL

But he has been unable to sing one of his most memorable recordings, Nothing I Want More.

Arranged as a duet, it needed a very special partner. So why not bring in Louie Reyes, a fantastic singer, jazz artist, vocal coach, voice teacher and former New Minstrel.

So, Louie was called in to join that gathering of singers in the great beyond. She passed away in her home in the US last Oct. 26. She was married to New Minstrels founder Cesar de la Fuente for almost 50 years and had two sons.

Time now for her to join Eugene and sing again that showstopping chorus, "I don't understand the reason/ I told you so before/ for when I'm with you there’s nothing I want more/ I want more..."

The grim reaper has had quite a time harvesting well-loved people in the music scene this year. As the old joke goes, somebody up there must be forming a band to provide entertainment for some heavenly event. And some of the best were taken to be in that forever gig.

The talented singer and songwriter Davey Langit, 37, also said goodbye last Oct. 21 from a rare form of infection of the spine. Among his works were Paratingin Mo Na Siya and Dalawang Letra.