Howlin' Dave

Dante David
Born	July 16, 1955(1955-07-16) Philippines
Died	May 26, 2008(2008-05-26) (aged 52) Quezon City, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Other names	Howlin' Dave
Occupation	radio disc jockey

Dante David (July 16, 1955 — May 26, 2008) was a Filipino radio disc jockey. Better known by his stage name Howlin' Dave, he is credited with introducing Filipino radio listeners to Pinoy (Filipino) rock music^[1] in the early 1970s, and to new wave and punk rock in the 1980s.^[2]

Howlin' Dave grew up in Pasay City and dropped out of high school.^[3] While enrolled in a Fine Arts course at the Philippine Women's University, he was hired as a radio announcer on DZRJ-AM in 1974.^[3] He adopted the name "Howlin' Dave" after the American blues singer Howlin' Wolf.^[3] He soon became the host of Pinoy Rock and Rhythm, a weekend thirty-minute radio program that featured the then-nascent Pinoy rock music. The program was credited with popularizing such Filipino rock acts as the Juan Dela Cruz Band, Asin and the singer Sampaguita.^[2] Howlin' Dave himself became known for his trademark mangled grammar and syntax, his atypical on-air use of the Tagalog language, and for his passionate and excitable delivery in his big booming voice.^[3][4] The drummer Pepe Smith called him "the best rock DJ the Philippines ever had.”^[4]

Howlin' Dave was also credited with introducing Filipino radio listeners to punk rock and new wave music beginning in the late 1970s, through his program New Wave Nights.^[2][3] His choice to promote punk music was controversial among his fellow deejays and with his station, but his program developed a following, with spikey-haired teens soon showing up at the radio station, drinking gin and breaking bottles.^[3] Between 1980 to 1985, Howlin' Dave hosted the annual 'Brave New World' punk concert, which he closed with his take on Sid Vicious's version of "My Way".^[3]

In the late 1980s, Howlin' Dave was diagnosed with a brain tumor, as well as several other health problems that left him house-bound for several years. In his later years, he hosted radio programs with DZRJ, ROCK 990, and NU 107. In 2001, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the NU Rock Awards. He died in May 2008, two days after collapsing at home following a stroke.^[4]

References

1. ^ Robles, Jojo (2008-05-30). "RIP, Howlin’ Dave". Manila Standard. http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=jojoRobles_may30_2008. Retrieved 2008-05-31. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Rome Jorge (2008-05-27). "A Cry for Howlin' Dave". Manila Times. http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/may/27/yehey/life/20080527lif2.html. Retrieved 2008-05-28. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Eric Caruncho (2007-03-04). "The Last of the Singing Cowboys". Philippine Daily Inquirer. http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/sim/sim/view_article.php?article_id=52732. Retrieved 2008-05-28. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} Pocholo Concepcion (2008-05-26). "Howlin' Dave, Filipino rock icon, dies at 52". Philippine Daily Inquirer. http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20080526-138981/Howlin-Dave-Filipino-rock-icon-dies-at-52. Retrieved 2008-05-28. 

Persondata
Name	Howlin' Dave
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1955-07-16
Place of birth	Philippines
Date of death	2008-05-26
Place of death	Quezon City, Philippines