Lolita Carbon

Carbon showed promise as a singer early in life. At age 10, she won a singing contest on the radio program Tina Betty's Children's Show with a performance of "The Impossible Dream". At age 13, she held a 6 month position as a singer with the Philippine Navy Band N2 Division and sang music by Shirley Bassey. Despite her father's wishes, Carbon decided to drop out of high school and pursue a career in music.[4]

By 1976, Carbon had become an active musician who was booked to a full-time singing slot at a club called the Kola House. At that time, the Filipino popular music scene was undergoing a folk music revival associated with the Pinoy Rock movement. Filipino pop musicians were heavily influenced by Western performers[5] such as Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, Joan Baez, and Peter, Paul, and Mary. While working at the Kola House, Carbon met fellow musicians Cesar Bañares Jr. and Mike Pillora Jr. and together with them, she would eventually form the ensemble known as Asin. One of the band's early successes came when they were signed by a record company and Carbon was tasked with singing a Japanese overdub of the hit song Anak, written by fellow filipino musician Freddie Aguilar.[4]

While the band saw great success and popularity, Carbon and the other band members had extremely turbulent relationships. After alternating periods of collaboration and hiatus, Asin officially disbanded in 1990.[6] In the time since, Carbon has contributed many musical collaborations. She was a part of the 'supergroup' Lokal Brown (best known for their hit "This Is Not Amerika") in 1990 and in 1991 formed her own band by the name of Nene.[4] In 2012, she formed the band Tres Marias with fellow female musicians Cooky Chua and Bayang Barrios.[3]

Carbon had her first child at the age of 17. She has had four children from three different fathers. She gave birth to twins while married to a disk jockey known by the stage name of Bob Magoo.[4]

Through her work with Asin, Carbon has contributed to the representation of indigenous Filipino instruments in popular music.[7] She is also notable as a female band leader who has been consistently performing with various outfits since the 1970s.

• One Way Up Band
• Asin
• Lolita and The Boys
• Sulabama
• Holy Smoke Band
• Lokal Brown
• NENE
• Tres Marias

• Winner, singing contest on Tina Betty’s Children’s Show at age 10 for a performance of “The Impossible Dream”[2]
• Best Folk Song of the Year for “Pagbabalik” - Aliw Awards 1978[6]
• Best Rock Recording for "Paraisong Liku-liko" - AWIT Awards 1990[6][2]
• Best Musical Arrangement for "Dalawang Dekada ng ASIN (Overture)" (a classical arrangement of all of ASIN's top hit songs) - AWIT Awards 2002[6]

• Official Website