Tia Belau (Palaus Local Newspaper) June 19, 2014 JOHNNY B IS BACK If you stop at Taj Restaurant on the second floor of PDC Building every Thursday from 5—10pm, you can be serenaded with the popular Palauan, American, Micronesian, and Japanese songs of the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s belted out by none other than Johnny Bekemekmad. Popularly known in short as Johnny B is back after a hiatus of two and half years from the music scene in Palau. Playing solo on his organ with exquisite background décor and mellow lighting at the Taj bar, he entertains with his unique voice and in memorable style and interaction with customers. You just have to check it out to remember those nostalgic 60’s and 70’s. Johnny B is really the Micronesian professional singer who first emerged as singer in variety shows and school functions in Maris Stella Elementary in Palau and Xavier High School in Truk in the 1960’s. He played his guitar and usually sang solo and his fans were gathering in Truk and Palau but in the early 1970’s, his big break came when he won the singing contest at the Charter Day of the University of Guam. Since then, it has been history. Johnny B is the first Palauan singer to sing professionally at restaurants, nightclubs, and hotels in Palau, Saipan, Guam, and Japan in the 1970’s, to the 2000’s. He has done concerts and private parties from Marshalls to Pohnpei to Chuuk and Yap. In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, produced the first album and tape of songs entitled, MEKNGIT A RENGUM LEKEBIL, which was a sellout and also consisted of the popular CONTINENTAL AIR MICRONESIA. Among his five compositions is BELAU MY ISLAND which was also a hit for years. After two and half years, Johnny B appears to be resurrected and more refined in his voice. He said he had done not only a lot of meditation, praying, and thinking but also had composed several songs that will be out soon.
Posted on: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 08:38:35 +0000
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