Perfecto de Castro

Perfecto "Perf" de Castro (born August 14, 1974) is a Filipino musician, currently focusing on Classical and Flamenco music played on the Ten-string guitar, but perhaps best known for having been a celebrated fixture in the Philippine alternative rock scene during the 1990s. During the course of that decade, he was one of the original members of the alternative rock band Rivermaya, founded the band Triaxis, and also collaborated with the seminal Filipino rapper Francis Magalona and Filipino hard rock band Wolfgang.

Perf de Castro
Birth namePerfecto de Castro IV
Also known asPerf de Castro
Born (1974-08-14) August 14, 1974
GenresPinoy rock (OPM)
Classical
InstrumentsTen-string guitar, Electric guitar, Acoustic guitar
Years active1994–present
Associated actsRivermaya
Triaxis
Francis Magalona
Wolfgang
The Mike Hanopol Band
RockStallion

Life and career

His most notable awards as a musician include the 1998 Katha Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance and Composition and the 1998 NU Rock Award for Guitarist of the Year. He is also widely recognized as a talented album producer and sound engineer, with his work including the multi-platinum albums of Wolfgang (“Semenelin”) Francis M (FreeMan and FreeMan II) and Marc Velasco (eponymous). For this he received numerous accolades, including the Producer of the Year Award in the 1998 NU 107 Rock Awards and the 2001 Awit Award for Best Rap Recording for a song done in collaboration with Magalona.

De Castro started learning classical guitar at 13 but switched to electric guitar after less than a year, and spent the next decade learning, playing and teaching electric guitar. He was introduced to the ten-string classical guitar by Jose Valdez in 1998, and has since then concentrated on this instrument. He uses a unique tuning adapted from the Valdez tuning.

In 2004, de Castro relocated to Los Angeles, CA where he continues to record, perform and teach the guitar.

On January 9, 2016, he re-united with his former Rivermaya co-members, Nathan Azarcon, Mark Escueta and Rico Blanco for a "secret mini semi-reunion", following his gig at 19 East, Taguig City.

On September 7, 2018, Perf De Castro performed in the launching of the Hollywood Wish Bus at Universal CityWalk with Introvoys, 90s band, and Robin Nievera, the DJ for The Roadshow program of Wish 107.5.

Awards
  • 1998 NU 107 Rock Awards Guitarist of the Year
  • 1998 Katha Award for Best Instrumental Performance and Arrangement for “Perf’s Boogie”, Triaxis
  • January 1999 Artist of the Month, VirtualTunes.com
  • 3rd place 1999 NAMCYA Classical Guitar Category C
  • January 2000 Artist of the Month, Musiko.com
  • 2001 Awit Award for Best Rap Recording, “Luv 4 Lyf”, Francis M artist and co-producer

Discography
as a performer
  • 1994 RiverMaya, Rivermaya, BMG Pilipinas
  • 1995 FreeMan, Francis M., BMG Pilipinas (guest artist)
  • 1995 Semenelin, Wolfgang, Epic/Sony Music (guest artist)
  • 1996 Further Down the Bend, Triaxis, Epic/Sony Music
  • 1997 The Shadowland Deep, Backdraft, NEO/Viva Records (guest artist)
  • 1998 Who We Are, Triaxis, Epic/Sony Music
  • 1999 Marc Velasco, Marc Velasco, Epic/Sony Music (guest artist)
  • 2000 Nescafe Open Up Party, various artists/Mike Hanopol, Mike Hanopol, BMG Pilipinas (guest artist)
  • 2000 FreeMan 2, Francis M, BMG Pilipinas (guest artist)
  • 2001 Impressions, Nonoy Zuñiga, Columbia/Sony Music (guest artist)
  • 2006 A Journey Through Ten Strings, Perfecto de Castro, Independent release
as a producer
  • 1994 RiverMaya , Rivermaya, BMG Pilipinas
  • 1995 Semenelin, Wolfgang, Epic/Sony Music
  • 1996 Further Down the Bend, Triaxis, Epic/Sony Music
  • 1997 The Shadowland Deep, Backdraft, NEO/Viva Records
  • 1998 Who We Are, Triaxis, Epic/Sony Music
  • 1999 Marc Velasco, Marc Velasco, Epic/Sony Music
  • 2000 FreeMan 2, Francis M., BMG Pilipinas

Sources
  • Enriquez, Clara (October 14, 2005), Perf De Castro Makes A Classical Comeback, archived from the original on August 21, 2007, retrieved 2008-01-15
  • Manansala, Nathan; Clara Enriquez, Perf De Castro, retrieved 2007-01-15
  • Perf De Castro Interview, retrieved 2008-02-19
  • An Interview with Perfecto De Castro- Part 1, Jan 27, 2009, retrieved 2008-02-19
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