VEHNEE SATURNO ROCKS ON...

When he was younger, his mother discouraged him from pursuing a musical career. As far as she was concerned, music and bands were synonymous with vices — the old, 'sex, drugs and rock n' roll' thing...

By Aprylle Liabres (Contributor)

Published: Mon 15 May 2006, 3:23 PM

Last updated: Sat 4 Apr 2015, 4:49 PM

— and she didn't want her son associated with any of that. But Vehnee Saturno knew that it was where his calling lay. So in 1980, he quit his job as a collector and metre reader after seven years, to become a songwriter.

When Vehnee won his first songwriting contest in 1982, he rushed home and handed the trophy and prize money to his mother.

Today, Vehnee is better known as the musical genius behind songs like Be My Lady (his first hit and, incidentally, also the first big hit of Martin Nievera), Forever's Not Enough and How Could You Say You Love Me by Sarah Geronimo, Till My Heartaches End by Ella Mae Saison, movie-TV themes like Mula Sa Puso, Esperanza, Ikaw Na Sana and Di Ba't Ikaw, Kaba by Tootsie Guevara, Nag-Iisang Ikaw by Louie Heredia, Sana Kahit Minsan by Ariel Rivera, Bakit Pa by Jessa Zaragoza and From the Start by Rachelle Ann Go.

On May 26, Vehnee marks his 25th year in the business with a concert entitled Silver: The Songs of Vehnee Saturno.

Joining him will be performers Jay-R, Rachelle Ann, Mark Bautista and Juris Fernandez and Chin Alcantara of the acoustic duo MYMP. Also on hand to help mark this special occasion will be Martin Nievera, Jaya and The Company and featuring special performances by Jessa Zaragoza, Dingdong Avanzado, Louie Heredia and Randy Santiago.

During the concert, says Vehnee, people will not only hear the songs performed again, but will also get to hear the stories behind some of the songs.

For instance, do you know that Be My Lady — which was Vehnee's first big hit and also the first big hit of Martin back in the early 80s — was not written for Martin Nievera?

The song, an entry to the Metropop Song Festival, was first recorded by an unknown singer named Pedrito Montayre. The song finished last among seven finalists in the Professional Division of the Metropop. Vehnee thought that was the end of it until the song was picked up by Chito Ilagan for a young Filipino-American singer who was just starting his career. The guy's name was Martin Nievera.

The song got Martin's career off the ground; it also 'made' Vehnee, a fact for which he will be eternally grateful.

The career has been very good to him. "I did not expect that there would be money in songwriting," says Vehnee.