MENTION the name of the late Arthur Manuntag—the tall, pony-tailed local crooner—and immediately, images of him as “the Tony Bennett of the Philippines” come to mind. Yet Manuntag, who passed away recently after slipping into a coma three months ago following a heart attack, had this connection with that man from Hoboken, New York: Frank Sinatra.
“[He] loved the classic performers: Sinatra, Bennett, Sammy Davis, Mel Torme [and] Ray Charles…” related his wife Kathryn at the Legazpi Street Market on March 11. “But perhaps of all his shows and performances, he considers the Sinatrology Grand Gala Night Concert in Prague, Czech Republic, in December 2015 as probably the highlight of his career.”
Manuntag represented the Philippines and Asia in the show that celebrated the 100th birthday of the late, great Sinatra. And during that fateful performance in Baguio City in November 2017 where he suffered a heart attack, he had just finished performing Ole Blue Eyes’ “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”.
“My father died doing something that he really loved, and that was singing,” added his daughter Mikee.
Ironically, Manuntag stumbled into singing by sheer accident.
He started out playing drums in a rock band while in school. During one performance, the singer didn’t show up due to stage fright. With the crowd getting antsy, Manuntag told his bandmates that the show must go on. “Okay, [I will be the one to sing.]” Related Kathryn in Tagalog: “He saw the girls turned wild and said, ‘Don’t let the singer return—I’ll do it from hereon!’”
The infatuation with the 70s rock music of Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, and Fleetwood Mac eventually ended and gave way to the standards. “He listened to a lot of music, but he really loved [those] of Bennett, Sinatra, and the Rat Pack.”
Aside from releasing four albums, Manuntag became a favorite performer for weddings, parties and nightclub performances. More than his maltzy baritone that charmed audiences, he had a gift of gab. The local crooner loved the interchange and banter with audiences.
“When we were in Prague, he was told to stop talking to the crowd and simply perform,” shared Kathryn. “‘But this is who I am,’ he protested. He continued. By the show’s end, all the other performers that night were doing the same thing.”
Manuntag had such a powerful voice that it sometimes caused disbelief among the audiences. “One time, these (Filipina) ladies were watching and they couldn’t believe his voice,” continued the wife. “One of them said [in Filipino], ‘He is so good… Surely, that must have been a taped recording.’”
Manuntag also wowed foreign performers. He has performed with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and opened for one of the all-time greats, Dionne Warwick.
“My father opened for Warwick’s first-ever show in Manila,” told Mikee. “During my dad’s set, she watched him from backstage and her hair was still in rollers. By the time he was done, Ms. Warwick said, ‘Arthur, you should be performing all over the world!’ It took her a bit to get on stage because her hair wasn’t done.”
The world-famous singer formed a bond with Manuntag that she missed him during her recent Valentine’s Day Show at Solaire. After her show, Warwick, who was battling a bad cold and unable to attend, sent flowers to Manuntag’s wake.
The Manuntag household was filled with music. “He made us appreciate music and the gift of song,” said Mikee. “And for me, one of the best ever gifts he could leave me was to write a song that he recorded for a Christmas album!”
Manuntag’s passing is still fresh. After the interview at the Legazpi Street Market, the family made their way to the Manila Memorial Cemetery to visit him.
“It hasn’t been easy,” said Kathryn who held back the tears. “But I just play his music to hear his voice—and it makes me feel all right.”