VST & Company

VST & Company was a Filipino disco group prominent during the late 1970s in the Philippines. Considered to be the pioneer and icon of what is known as the Manila Sound, VST & Co. released disco singles such as Swing It, Baby, Magsayawan, Ipagpatawad Mo, Awitin Mo, Isasayaw Ko and Disco Fever. The group rose to fame with other bands that were grouped under the Manila Sound genre, such as Hotdog, Cinderella and The Boyfriends. VST & Co. eventually faded from popularity when OPM (Original Pilipino Music), a new musical genre, emerged and rose to prominence in the late 1970s. VST & Company was composed of Vic Sotto (vocals, producer), Spanky Rigor (bass, vocals, producer), Val Sotto (vocals), Celso Llarina (rhythm guitar, producer), Monet Gaskell (vocals), Male Rigor (vocals), Roger Rigor (vocals), the late Jun Medina (vocals), Joey de Leon (composer, lyricist), Homer Flores (musical arranger, keyboards), Chito Ilagan (bass), Ben Escasa (percussion), Fred Concepcion (trumpet), Boy Alcaide (drums) and Clod Baria (trombone). The all-male group's name, "V.S.T", was said to represent the names of three lead vocalists, "Val, Spanky and Tito."[citation needed] Other speculations were that the acronym stood for "Very Special Talaga", or "Vicor Super Team" — implying supremacy in the roster of Vicor Music Corporation. VST is also being used by Tito Sotto, which means "Vicente Sotto the Third" and by Vic Sotto, "Vic Sot To."