| Joaquin Francisco Sanchez | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Joaquin Francisco Sanchez |
| Also known as | Keno, JFSanchez, J. Wolf Sanchez |
| Born | June 16, 1962 |
| Origin | Philippines |
| Genres | OPM, pop |
| Occupations | Singer, Actor, Host, Author |
Joaquin Francisco Sanchez (born June 16, 1962), more commonly known as Keno, is a Filipino singer, actor and writer. He was popular in late-80s until 1990.[1]
As a singer, he popularized songs such as A Friend, Leaving Yesterday Behind, On Wings Of A Dream, Want You To Cry To, Why Do I Love You, and Wish.[2]
As an actor, Keno was in the cast of teen-oriented action film, Ninja Kids, playing the Yellow Ninja, in 1986.
As author, he published The Last Castrato in 2005 under I.M. Wolf Publishing.[3]
Much like his song, Keno "left yesterday behind", leaving admirers and fans with much music and a classic movie.
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He graduated his secondary years at Notre Dame of Greater Manila, Class of 1978.
He studied at University of the Philippines Diliman. He pursued his education at New York Institute of Technology, graduating summa cum laude with Bachelors in Behavioral Science degree.[4]
Keno started his music career in opera but switched to popular music.
Keno entered Philippines' music industry in the late 1980s. At that time, he was heralded as heir to the niche that singers Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano had carved out for themselves.
In 1986, he came out with the classic Filipino love song Leaving Yesterday Behind, which garnered a gold record award.
When the song became a national hit, Viva Films casted him as one of the ninjas in "Ninja Kids". His song, Leaving Yesterday Behind, was the love theme, although he was mistakenly associated as one of those who performed the main theme, the new-wave-sounding song, You've Got The Power. The song was actually performed by Triple Threat, which is composed of Randy Santiago, Gino Padilla and himself. However, since his mother studio, Dyna, would not allow him to record the song, he was replaced by Juan Miguel Salvador. [5] Ninja Kids was Keno's first and only film, despite Viva Films' other offers.
He came out with four albums. A Friend was the most requested song in the Philippines radio in 1990.
He performed in several solo concerts in the Philippines and other Asian countries.
A media icon for Pepsi-Cola in those years, he was part of the Pepsi New Generation artists that helped launch several careers of other artists such as JoAnne Lorenzana, Timmy Cruz, Raymond Lauchengco and Gino Padilla.
ALIW's most promising entertainer of the year (1987), Keno was an advocate and board member of the then fledgling Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit or OPM, the official association of Filipino singers.
Keno was also a host of GMA Network's Lunch Date from 1986 until early 1990s with Randy Santiago, Lito Pimentel, Willie Revillame, Fe Delos Reyes, Toni Rose Gayda, and Chique Hollman-Yulo, which rivaled the then popular Eat Bulaga.
He discovered and gave break to comedian Arnel Ignacio.
Keno retired following a successful major concert at the ULTRA stadium in 1991.[6]
After he left the music and movie industry, he went on to write, releasing articles under the byline JFSanchez. He also released a book The Last Castrato under the name J. Wolf Sanchez.
Contrary to some online reports, Keno is not a real estate agent, but works as crisis counselor in an in-patient psychiatric facility in Deland, Florida.
He is married to Eleanore Sanchez, and have two children, a boy and a girl.