S Magazine, May 2003 Issue

Larry Marshall: the next phenomenon to hit the Philippines

You see blonde haired and blue-eyed Larry Marshall being introduced to you. And you think in panic that you’d finally have to unearth your grade schoolish English hidden and uncalled-for by time. You say hi. He said “kumusta” in perfect Tagalog. You think you heard wrong. “How do you like it here?” you try again in broken English. “Ok naman. Medyo mainit, pero ok lang.” You STARE at him.

Brace yourself. Larry Marshall (a.k.a. Katawang Kano, Pusong Pinoy), Viva Records newest artist is more than just another Thalia phenomenon that hit the Filipino audience by half a dozen soap operas dubbed in Tagalog and singing a few carefully crooned Tagalog songs. Nor is he anything like a number of boy bands who toured the Philippines uttering, “magandang tanghali po” and “mahal ko kayo Philippines” in a knotted tongue that sounded like they had no idea what they’re saying. No, this six foot and two inches hunk of mass is more Filipino than adobo. This guy definitely knows what he’s saying. He speaks (and does it fluently) and thinks Filipino.

Larry has entertained the Filipino community in both Chicago and California for the past ten years, opening for such artists as Jocelyn Enriquez, Jose Mari Chan, Jun Polistico, Joey Albert, Carol Banawa, and Hajji Alejandro, to name a few. Larry had always left the audience’s mouths gaping by singing Tagalog songs like Louie Heredia’s Nag-iisang Ikaw, Basil Valdez’s Ngayon at Kailanman, and Freddie Aguilar’s Anak without any trace of an American accent.

Larry’s passion for the Philippines is so unwavering that it led him to hit the books and start studying our language, history, and culture. Satisfied with the result of practicing the language with his Filipino friends and the warmth of the Filipino audiences in Chicago, he set his next goals here. Signing a contract with Viva Records last November and finding his seat in June Torrejon Rufino’s line of talents, Larry comes home to a much bigger audience and has released his debut album, Ikaw Ang Dahilan in February 2003. The album contains all original Tagalog songs written by respected composers as Jun Morala, Jimmy Borja, Mitch Morala, Mico Alvero, and Vehnee Saturno. He will also be facing the television cameras with guestings on several shows.

Ironic how this full blooded American tries to be Filipino while a lot of Filipinos try to be American. Surely this American, who is not too American at all, has a lot to tell us in the future – in Tagalog.