Kuya Productions

Kuya Productions is a multi-platinum award-winning Canadian hip hop, R&B and pop production duo from Toronto, Ontario, consisting of Samuel T. Gerongco and Robert T. Gerongco (both sometimes credited without the "T.").

Early life

Samuel T. Gerongco (Sammy) and Robert T. Gerongco (Bobby) were born in Toronto, Ontario. They are the sons of Felipe and Godofreda Gerongco, and brothers of America Patman.

Sammy's first big break as an actor/singer and dancer was in the original Canadian production of the Broadway musical Miss Saigon at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, which then led to a five-year run on Broadway in New York City. It was there that Sammy met Johann Camat (originally from Montreal) after both being cast in the production. Shortly after that, the group Kuya was formed when Sammy's younger brother Bobby joined after completing his program in music production. After beginning to develop their unique style and recording with producers in Los Angeles, New York City and Toronto, Kuya quickly caught the attention of internationally recognized producers (Wyclef Jean, Pharrell Williams, Timbaland), and record label executives within the North American Music Industry.

It was in New York that the brothers put their work as a group on hold to begin developing their craft as songwriters and producers.

Career

In 2004, Kuya produced on two U.S. Top 10 albums including the No.1 Grammy nominated album Suit for hip hop artist Nelly, as well as Mase's Welcome Back album. Both would do extremely well, with Nelly reaching 3 million in sales worldwide (3× platinum) and Mase hitting gold (500,000 units). Jon Platt from EMI Music Publishing signed Kuya on in 2005.

Kuya Production's official releases include songs by Jesse McCartney, Kandi Burruss, Big Time Rush, Jordin Sparks, Girlicious, and Slim (singer). The year 2009 was devoted to the development and recording of their new R&B artist, JRDN. The next year was known as a breakout year for JRDN, including a top ten single, a number one hit on the Much Music charts, along with two Juno Award nominations. JRDN's second single "Like Magic", produced by Kuya, achieved a SOCAN award for the most played song on Urban Radio across the nation.

In 2011, Kuya was a part of Cover Me Canada, a Canadian reality television show which aired on CBC Television. Kuya came on as producers to work with the Cover Me Canada contestants.

2012-Present

In January 2012, Vancouver-native Terence (Tee) Lam joined Kuya as a producer and sound engineer.

Kuya's 2013 work included the release of JRDN's second studio album, as well as single releases for pop artist Karina Es. In 2015, Kuya wrote and produced for Canadian R&B singer Alessia Cara's debut album, Know-It-All, including her hit single "Here", which went #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Rhythmic, Mainstream Top 40 and peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Other songs they wrote for her debut album "Seventeen", "Overdose", "Stars" and "Outlaws". Cara's first time recording in a studio was with Kuya Productions and Sebastian Kole.

In 2016, Kuya produced on the song "F.U." on the #1 selling album Glory Days for girl group Little Mix. The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart; it later became their first album to yield more than two top ten singles when the fourth single, "Power", reached number six on the UK Singles Chart. In January 2018 the album was certified triple platinum in the UK for shipments of 900,000 units.

Discography

Year Single Artist Label Work 2002 Get Ready Shawn Desman SONY/BMG Producer 2002 Shook Shawn Desman SONY/BMG Producer 2004 Wastin' My Time Mase Fo Reel Ent/Universal Records Producer 2004 Together Keshia Chanté SONY/BMG Producer 2004 In My Life Nelly feat Mase Fo Reel Ent/Universal Records Producer 2005 Far Away Ginuwine Sony Urban Music Producer 2007 Lovers Holiday Cory Lee Universal Records Producer 2007 Ovaload Cory Lee Universal Records Producer 2008 I Apologize Slim Virgin Records Producer 2008 There Kreesha Turner Virgin Records Producer 2008 Blow Nicole Scherzinger Interscope Records Producer 2008 Rock You Jesse McCartney Hollywood Records Producer 2009 Find Love Akon UpFront Records/Konvict Producer 2009 Why Sean Garrett Interscope Records Producer 2009 I Just Know Kandi Burruss Kandi Koated Ent/Asylum Producer 2010 Count on You Big Time Rush Sony Music Writer 2010 U can Have it All JRDN Kuya/Fontana North Writer/Producer 2011 Bye Bye my Friend Meisa Kuroki Sony Music Writer/Producer 2011 Life of the Party Aleesia A-Lista Music Inc/EMI Producer 2011 100 Howie Dorough Howie Do It Music Inc/Fontana North Writer/Producer 2011 Like Magic JRDN Kuya/Fontana North Producer 2012 Top It All JRDN Kuya/Fontana North Producer 2013 Can't Choose feat Kardinal Offishall JRDN Kuya/Fontana North Producer 2013 Under Ahsan EP/Interscope Producer 2014 So Bad Camron Nicki Minaj Killa Ent Producer 2015 Overdose Alessia Cara EP/Def Jam Songwriter 2015 Stars Alessia Cara EP/Def Jam Songwriter/Producer 2015 Outlaws Alessia Cara EP/Def Jam Songwriter 2015 Seventeen Alessia Cara EP/Def Jam Songwriter/Producer 2015 "Here" (Alessia Cara song) Alessia Cara EP/Def Jam Songwriter 2016 "F.U." (Little Mix song) Little Mix Syco/Columbia Songwriter/Producer 2017 Stay EXO S.M. Entertainment Songwriter/Arranger 2018 Dinner Suho S.M. Entertainment Songwriter 2018 Saviour Daisy Gray Velvet Tree/Faction/Kobalt Music Group Songwriter/Producer 2019 Monologue Taemin S.M. Entertainment Songwriter/Arranger 2019 Future Love Katie Axis Songwriter/Producer 2019 Better Off Katie Axis Songwriter/Producer 2019 Love Kills Katie Axis Songwriter/Producer 2019 Thinkin Bout You Katie Axis Songwriter/Producer 2019 Learn Marco Mckinnis Republic Songwriter/Producer 2019 That's Okay D.O. SM Entertainment Songwriter/Arranger 2019 With You Meghan Trainor Kaskade EPIC Songwriter 2019 Wonderland Christina Aguilera RCA Songwriter/Producer 2019 De Mi CNCO Sony Music Songwriter/Producer 2019 Love Don't Hate It Duncan Laurence Universal Music Songwriter 2020 Happy Taeyeon SM Entertainment Songwriter 2020 U Should Chika Warner Brothers Songwriter/Producer 2020 Ghosted Benicio Bryant Arista Songwriter/Producer 2020 Sad Songs Eric Ethridge Anthem Songwriter/Producer 2021 Tangerine Benicio Bryant Arista Songwriter/Producer 2021 Good Old Days Quest Warner Records Philippines Songwriter/Producer 2022 Aku Di Sini Andi Bernadee Warner Malaysia Songwriter/Producer 2024 Water Grace Kinstler 27 Entertainment Songwriter/Producer 2025 Umaaligid Sarah Geronimo SB19 G Music Songwriter/Producer