Guji Lorenzana

Infobox musical artist


Name = Guji Lorenzana

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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Gregory Mangindin Lorenzana, Jr.
Alias = GuJi, Goo-G
Born = Long Beach, California, United States
Died =
Origin = United States of America
Instrument = Vocals
Genre = Pop, Alternative rock, Pop rock
Occupation =
Years_active = 2005 - present
Label = [http://www.lmphilippines.com LuKas Music Philippines]
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URL = http://www.gujimusic.com
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Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Gregory Mangindin Lorenzana, Jr., who is better known as Guji (pronounced "Goo-G") Lorenzana (born May 11, in Long Beach, California, U.S.), is the newest Filipino alternative rock, pop rock solo artist, to hit Philippine shores - his music is the only OPM to be dubbed as "Edgy Pop".

Guji Lorenzana is a talent of ABS-CBN's Star Magic Batch 16. Official launching on ASAP 08 was on August 17th, 2008.

Biography

Guji knew that entertainment would be his fate. During his childhood, he participated in children's musical theater groups, and singing ensembles. During college, he majored in Communications and Theater Arts at the University of California (Davis), he performed with HIPE - a "boy-band" once under the same management as the San Francisco-based Fil-Am group, Kai. Guji moved to New York City immediately after graduation to hone his theater skills.

In 2003, Guji tested his luck on American Idol Season 3. As "Gregory Lorenzana," he signed-up with US-based indie label [http://www.immijrecords.com Immij Records] and released "Five Days More" in 2005. The CD Single gave him the opportunity to tour with his new band, [http://www.sundaygroove.com Sunday Groove] , as opening act for Philippine-based artists like [http://www.kuhledesma.net Kuh Ledesma] and Zsa Zsa Padilla, Rica Peralejo, Kristine Hermosa and Jericho Rosales (to name a few) in venues such as The Cow Palace, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, Palace of Fine Arts, San Jose Arena, Harrahs Casino Lake Tahoe, Stardust Hotel and Casino, and a lot more.

By January 2006, Guji bid farewell to his band, his friends, family, and the foreign land he called "home" and came to Manila headstrong to succeed on Philippine shores. In only a matter of months a self-titled CD Lite/EP was released (distributed by [http://www.pari.com.ph/members/ivory.html Ivory Records] ) with "I'll Be Yours Forever" composed by [http://www.ogiealcasid.ph Ogie Alcasid] as the carrier single. The music video features Lougee of MOJOFLY as his leading lady.

Current

Guji's first full-length album entitled "Without Your Love" was released (2nd Quarter, 2007), this time under [http://www.lmphilippines.com AniraK Records] (a subsidiary of [http://www.lmphilippines.com LuKas Music Philippines] , distributed by [http://synergymusicorp.com Synergy Music Corp] ). The music video for "Tagumpay" (directed by Paul Soriano)was shot in scenic Ilocos and features Veronica Scott of the Kitty Girls (Philippine Girl Pop Group). The next music video for the follow-up single, "Kasalanan Ba?" can be seen on MYX and MTV Philippines, and features Philippines TV personality Patty Laurel as Guji's leading lady. The video is directed by Enzo Valdez.Guji Lorenzana is also a nominee for 2008's AWIT AWARDS for the Best Male Performance category for his "Tagumpay" single, featured on the Without Your Love (2007) album. This years nominees in this category include Gary Valenciano, Richard Poon, Jose Mari-Chan, and Martin Nievera.

Guji's very first TV commercial was for a Hershey's Kisses for the Philippines. Other commercials Guji Lorenzana appears in include: Selecta Ice Cream, Globe Telecom, Citibank Philippines, and Greenwich Pizza. Guji also has a commercial being aired in Vietnam for Nescafe's Cafe Viet. He also participated in the Colgate Fresh Confidence Borakada Challenge which was featured on ABS-CBN's ASAP for six consecutive weeks in spring of 2007. Apart from these, Guji is currently sponsored by Penshoppe Clothing Co. and is part of this summer's nationwide Penshoppe tour, along with music acts including Chris Cayzer, Bamboo, Stonefree, Mojofly.

During gigs, Guji is usually backed up by a full-band. Apart from performing original songs, Guji also treats the audience to renditions of many of today's pop-rock alternative artists.

In addition to music, Guji is a contributor writer for popular Philippine magazine publications including Chalk Magazine (ABS-CBN Publications) and Myx Magazine (ABS-CBN).

Guji Lorenzana releases

"Without Your Love - LP (Enhanced Compact Disc / AVCD) ": December 2007 Release ^{Released under [http://www.lmphilippines.com Anirak Records (LuKas Music Philippines)] Distributed by [http://synergymusicorp.com Synergy Music Corp]}

* Tagumpay (Video)
* I'll Be Yours Forever^*
* Tagumpay^*
* Kasalanan Ba?^*
* Drastic Changes
* Without Your Love
* Kabaliktaran
* Thru (Re-cut)
* Mister Mister
* Pagkakataon
* Incredible
* Tagumpay (Acoustic)

"Guji Lorenzana - EP ": October 2006 Release ^{Distributed by [http://www.pari.com.ph/members/ivory.html Ivory Records]}

* I'll Be Yours Forever^*
* Thru
* Five Days More
* Fairytale
* Dahil Sa Iyo (Because of You)
* I'll Be Yours Forever - Minus One

"Not Another Christmas Album 3 ": December 2006 Release ^{[http://www.jam883.fm Jam 88.3] Promotion}

* Christmas Island

"Five Days More - CD Single": November 2005 Release ^{Released under [http://www.immijrecords.com Immij Records] USA, as Gregory Lorenzana}

* Five Days More^*
* Five Days More (Radio Edit) "^*music video available"

Miscellanea

* During the San Francisco audition footage of American Idol Season 3, you can actually see Guji sitting next to the now world famous William Hung.
* Guji's aunt is [http://www.joannelorenzana.com Joanne Lorenzana] , popular pop recording artist of the late 1980s and early 1990s - releasing albums under Vicor Records, and later EMI/OctoArts.
* Guji Lorenzana is the first artist to film a music video featuring the giant power generating windmill turbines of Bangui, Ilocos Norte Philippines.
* [http://www.ogiealcasid.ph Ogie Alcasid] first wrote and released "I'll Be Yours Forever" on his "Better Man" album, yet never became a single.
* Keith Martin's popular hit song, "Because of You", which was re-made several times by other Filipino artist, was re-made into Tagalog for the first time by Guji (entitled - Dahil Sa Iyo).

References

All information written are taken from Guji Lorenzana's Official Websites and Mailing List ("see" external links).

Guji Lorenzana's Official Websites and Mailing List are moderated by his management.

External links

* [http://www.gujimusic.com Official website]