Pido

Pido Lalimarmo is a singer-songwriter and guitarist.

Early life

Pido Lalimarmo was born on September 12, 1968. He is a familiar, and good-looking, face in the live band circuit. Already strumming future hits on his guitar when he was 17, Pido soon became an original member of Side A in the late 80s before he formed the band Artstart and churned out the sweet favorite, "Danielle." After being in a short-lived group Anthem, he later re-emerged in the new millennium's acoustic scene with the band Take One. Now in his late 30s, Pido has finally decided to go solo.

Bittersweet, an excellent 12-track album produced by the artist himself and released by independent label Acoustic Gold Productions (AGP) and Warner Music, is Pido at his artistic best. It brings to mind the gentle warmth of such soft rock legends as Kenny Loggins, James Taylor, and even the mellow sentimentality of True Faith and Paolo Santos. In fact, Pido's AGP label mate was the one who inspired Pido to write songs again. "Ang tagal ko nang hindi sumusulat eh, mga seven years," said Pido. "After we started jamming, I got to hear his new songs. As a songwriter, Paolo really inspired me to write again."

Bittersweet was just completed in over two months time, a tight deadline that yielded a rich bounty of MusicAL masterpieces. "I was writing songs off the top of my head," said Pido. "So that's one accomplishment for me. I didn't realize na kaya kong gawin yon." Pido's solo debut is made even more successful with all-star collaborations with premiere musicians such as Paolo Santos, Joey Benin (Side A), Jay Durias and Tata Balane (South Border), Wendell Garcia and Rommel de la Cruz (Barbie's Cradle), Nikki Cabardo (Freestyle), Tots Tolentino, Mike Luis, Mar Dizon and more.

True-blue Filipinos will immediately take to Pido's story-driven songs of love and devotion. His first single, the sunny "Himala" penned by his friend LaVerne Ducut, is already topping the top ten charts on Magic 89.9. "Ice Cube," a song written for Pido by Mr. Acoustic himself, Paolo Santos, is another delightful ditty for torpes everywhere. But if you want the ultimate grow-old-with-you tearjerker, there's the beautiful "Three Squeezes" by his good friend, Jungee Marcelo. "Napaiyak ako, eh. Sobrang emotional yung piyesang iyon," admitted Pido.

Besides his classic "Danielle," a moving duet cover of "On&On" with Take One's Jen Panuncio (which Jay Durias originally arranged for Stephen Bishop's Philippine concert), and a take on his favorite, Michael Ruff's "Don't Ever Say Goodbye," Pido packs his album with soothing originals such as the light and jazzy "Here's To You," the infectious and groovy "I Missed My Train," and the soaring ballad, "Bittersweet." The last cut on the album, the inspirational "Teach Me to Love" by his buddy Sunil Bharwani, brings to mind Marc Cohn's "Walking in Memphis," and will leave you with a positive and introspective sound in your heart.

With Bittersweet, Pido is finally doing his own thing. Like the musician's much-loved pairs of shoes and guitars pictured in the album inlay, Pido is rewardng OPM music lovers with a bit of himself, and it's a quality offering that we shouldn't pass up.

Bittersweet is released by ACP and Warner Music Philippines. It is already available at leading music stores and record bars nationwide and online via Titik Pilipino.

He likewise will be contributing a cover of Kenny Loggin's "On Christmas Morning" to the Warner All Star Christmas Collection, a toasty album that lets 11 hot OPM pop talents, including acoustic pioneer Paolo Santos, soul siren Nina, hip-hop foursome Dice&K9, and romantic crooner Christian Bautista, rework classic and contemporary carols into the Christmas songs of today.

Discography

Studio Album

• Bittersweet (2004; Warner Music)

Singles

• Bittersweet
• Danielle
• Here's To You
• I Missed a Train
• Lani's Dream
• Misty Glass Window
• On & On (feat. Jen Panuncio)
• Teach Me to Love