Willy Cruz

Wilfredo Buencamino Cruz was born in San Miguel, Manila on January 30, 1947. Having a musical lineage, being related to artists Francisco Buencamino, Lorrie Ilustre, Nonong Buencamino and pianist Cecile Licad, Cruz’ musical skills were not surprising. He began training for piano, learning piano techniques and classical music from Rosario Buencamino, Licad’s mother. He also learned pop and jazz under the tutelage of Marcelo Carluen. He gradually inclined himself to popular music, seeing that he was not fit for classical music. He began to compose for TV commercials and films during the erlay 70’s. He had a breakthrough in 1975, when his composition Araw-araw Gabi-gabi, won 1st Prize at the World Popular Song Festival. It also won Best Theme Song at the FAMAS Awards, and sold almost 100,000 copies.To date, Cruz has arranged and written socres for more than a hundred movies. He helped Nonoy Zuniga rise to fame with his composition Never Say Goodbye, which was later revived by other artists including Regine Velasquez. He was inducted to the FAMAS Hall of Fame for having won more than 5 times in musical scoring.