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OLOMWAAY BAND Solid as a bond
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Posted on Oct 12 1999
But local fans simply know Olomwaay as the name of their favorite band that gave them the popular local hit She Gave Us Love..
The band, formed in 1995, broke into the island music scene when it won the grand prize for the first annual Battle of the Bands last year.
Olommwaay released its first single last July. The single, which carries two cuts, She Gave Us Love, and the Chamorro song Ta Baila Na Dos , quickly met a receptive audience. “New orders for our CD just arrived this month,” said the band’s founder Gus Kaipat.
She Gave Us Love is a tribute to Gus’s mother whom she refers to as “the best thing in life.”
Kaipat grew up without a father. His father died when he was four years old, forcing his mother to raise 10 children all by herself.
“I was thinking of my mother when I wrote that song. When I looked back at the hardships that she went through while raising us, I realized that she was a hero. She gave us unconditional love and that’s what inspired the hit song,” Gus said.
Ta Baila Na Dos was also written (in English) by Gus and translated into Chamorro by his brother Cris Kaipat — also a musician belonging to another local band.
“That song makes the last call for cha-cha,” Gus explains.
Ta Baila Na Dos , which means “Dance With Me,” is intended for ballroom dancing, Gus says.
Olomwaay is preparing for its first Christmas album which is expected to be out in the market before the holiday season. “This album will carry original compositions in Carolinian, Chamorro and English,” Gus said.
Gus founded the band with his brother Bud. They both strum guitar and ukulele. The band has since changed members since it was formed in 1995.
“It’s always a constant challenge to improve the band, that’s why changes always have to be made,” said Cinta Kaipat, the band’s manager.
Also in the band are Simpy Seman Wabol who plucks the bass; John Rosario beats the drums, and Randy Rosario is one of the vocals.
“There’s a rumor going around that the band has broken up. We want to make our fans know that we’re here and we will never break up,” Gus said. (MCM)
