Jun Lopito

Wolfrando Lavalan Jr. (September 25, 1957 – March 29, 2022), professionally known as Jun Lopito, was a Filipino guitarist. He worked with most of the Philippines' rock bands and singers such as Pinoy rock legend Pepe Smith and ethnic singer Grace Nono.

Early life

Born as Wolfrando Lavalan Jr., Jun Lopito was the son of Wolfrando Lavalan Sr. better known as "Lopito", a comedian and the original Filipino TV host of Tawag ng Tanghalan in the 1950s. Jun at the age of 8 was caught up in music after seeing The Beatles in concert in 1966. At the age of 17, he played blues and rock. In 1979, the alternative rock and blues band The Jerks was formed and he joined later in the year.

Career In 1976, Joey Smith of the Pinoy rock band Juan dela Cruz during its hiatus formed the band The Airwaves. In 1978, Lopito joined Anak Bayan along with drummer and lead vocalist Edmond "Bosyo" Fortuno, lead guitarist Gary Perez, and bassist Virgilio "Gil" Lemque. On that year, Anak Bayan released the song "Pagbabalik ng Kuwago" and it topped the charts before Lopito joined The Jerks whilst the remaining trio of Fortuno, Perez, and Lemque became the members of the backing band for Sampaguita by mid-1978. The band The Jerks was formed in 1979 and Lopito joined as a guitarist and left the band in the 90s. The album Bodhisattvas was released in 1995 as his first solo album on which he composed four of the eleven songs.

Death Jun died on March 29, 2022, at the age of 64.

Awards