Freestyle (Filipino band)

Freestyle
Freestyle
Origin	Davao City, Davao del Sur, Philippines
Genres	Pop, R&B, soul
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Viva Records, independent, Press Pause Media Productions, Inc. (present)
Members	Top Suzara; IJ Garcia; Ian Tan; Francis Manalo; Lerod Cailao
Past members	Jinky Vidal; Joshua Desiderio; Mike Luis; Tat Suzara; Gerald Banzon; Ava Santos; Rommel dela Cruz; Bobby Velasco; Joel Guarin; Gino Aguas; Nikki Cabardo; Carlo Tapia; Obet Luzon; Tzuki Garcia; Jun Masamayor

Freestyle is a pop/R&B band formed in Davao City, Philippines in 1996 currently fronted by Top Suzara since 2022, who returned seventeen years after he initially left in 2005. The band was formed in 1996 and hit the mainstream in 1998, and is popular for the songs "Before I Let You Go", "So Slow", "This Time", "Till I Found You", "Para Sa 'Yo", "Once in a Lifetime", and their rendition of "Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang?" with Pops Fernandez.

The band was originally founded by former guitarist Tat Suzara in Davao City. Notable members of the classic lineup include vocalists Jinky Vidal and Top Suzara, the band's primary songwriter, who left the band in 2011 and 2005 respectively and went on to have solo careers. Post-Freestyle, Vidal and Top Suzara had a reunion concert together in 2013. Other notable members were vocalists Joshua Desiderio, Mike Luis, Ava Santos, and drummer Gerald Banzon who were with the band until Top Suzara returned and took over in 2022.

In mid-2022, after the pre-"Top Suzara-comeback" lineup disbanded, Top Suzara took over and continued the "Freestyle" brand accompanied by his own session musicians. Suzara had his first comeback performance as Freestyle at 19 East in October 2022 in a sold-out gig. Suzara also trademarked "Freestyle" in the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) solely under his name. The IPO ruled that "Freestyle" is synonymous with the name Top Suzara and is deemed the rightful owner.^[1]

Members

Current members

Christopher "Top" Suzara – vocals/guitar (1997–2005; 2022–present)
IJ Garcia – keyboards/vocals/musical director (2022–present)
Ian Tan – bass/vocals (2022–present)
Francis Manalo – guitar/vocals (2022–present)
Lerod Cailao – drums/vocals (2022–present)

Former members

Jinky Vidal – vocals (1996–2011)
Joshua Desiderio – vocals/keyboards/guitars (2005–2021)
Mike Luis – vocals/keyboards (2005–2022)
Tat Suzara – lead guitar/backing vocals (1996–2019)
Gerald Banzon – drums/percussion (1997–2021)
Ava Santos – vocals (2012–2022)
Rommel dela Cruz – bass guitar (2005–2019)
Bobby Velasco – keyboards/arranger (2018–2022)
Joel Guarin – bass guitar (2019–2022)
Gino Aguas – lead guitar (2019–2022)
Nikki Cabardo – keyboards (2000–2009)
Carlo Tapia – bass guitar (1996–2005)
Obet Luzon – keyboards (1996–2000)
Tzuki Garcia – drums/percussion (1996–1997)
Jun Masamayor – keyboards (1996–1997)

Additional footnotes:

Vocalist Top Suzara is the cousin of lead founding member Tat Suzara.^[2]
Former Viva Hot Babe Sheree, relative of Jinky Vidal, was once a touring vocalist.^[2]
Philippine Idol finalist Gail Blanco also guested as a touring vocalist.^[3]
Filipina Dutch singer Aliya Parcs also once guested as a backing vocalist in some selected shows.^[3]
Lead founding member Tat Suzara happens to be the ex-husband of another former vocalist, Jinky Vidal. Vidal and Tat got separated and eventually annulled in 2013. Vidal is now in a common-law partnership and has a child with singer/songwriter X Factor finalist Jeric Medina who is 16 years her junior.^[2]
Session musician Bogs Bautista toured with the band as drummer/percussionist from 2021–2022.
Filipino-American singer/performer/educator, Hawaii Stars 1995 finalist, David Greenbaum from San Francisco, CA., performed with Freestyle when the band was based in Davao in 1996.^[4]

Discography

Studio albums

Artist	Album	Tracks	Year	Records
Freestyle	Freestyle	Goodluv Not That Easy Wanna Be The One Lover Before I Let You Go Let's Get It On I'm Gonna Love You So Slow Treat You So Right Get With Me Bakit Iniwan Na?	1999	Viva Records
Freestyle	This Time	Down And Funky Take A Little Time 'Til I Found You This Time Love Is Here Missing You Para Sa 'Yo You Love Is Here Don't Go My Way, Your Way Make Love You Wanna Be With Me	2000	Viva Records
Freestyle	I Wanna Get Close	Mr. What I Wanna Be You've Taken Over Me Lying To Myself To Love Me I Like The Way All That I Want Nakilala It's Got To Be Love Paano I Wanna Get Close (feat. Kyla) I Like The Way (Dance Remix)	2002	Viva Records
Freestyle	Once in a Lifetime	Sa Ayaw Mo't Sa Gusto Right By Your Side Hindi Na Ba Pwede Mananatili Sa 'Yo I'll Wait For You Once In A Lifetime Forever Loving You When Hello Means Goodbye Hanap Ka	2004	Viva Records
Freestyle	Back at the Yard	Tameme Naglalambing Muling Ibalik Mapipigil Mo Ba? Dati I Will Still Love You Paper Rain Is It Over? Wonder Rainbow Coloured Sky Bawat Tao Wrapped Around Your Fingers Maybe Sugar Bakit Kaya? Nananabik	2007	Viva Records
Freestyle	Playlist	I Will Survive There's No Easy Way Got To Be There Suddenly I Live For Your Love Take Me I'll Follow Don't Let Me Be Lonely Sara Love's Holiday 'Till I Loved You Sweet Baby Easy I Can't Find The Words To Say Goodbye Truly	2009	Viva Records
Freestyle	Mga Kwentong Kinanta	True Love Paputol Putol Kulang Ang Mga Sandali Isang Halik Bangon Kahapon Kung Di Rin Lang Ikaw Paano Nga Kaya Pasensya Mahal	2014	Freestyle Music Philippines

Compilation albums

Artist	Album	Tracks	Year	Records
Freestyle	Greatest Hits	Before I Let You Go Bakit Iniwan Na? This Time I Wanna Get Close Missing You 'Till I Found You Mananatili Good Luv So Slow Para Sa 'Yo Paano? Treat You So Right Once In A Lifetime Down And Funky Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang? (feat. Pops Fernandez) Love Medley (Weak, Incomplete, 6-8-12, I'd Still Say Yes)	2005	Viva Records
Freestyle	Silver Series	So Slow Mananatili Let's Get It On Before I Let You Go Nakilala This Time Get With Me Missing You I Like The Way Bakit Iniwan Na? Incomplete (feat. Zsa Zsa Padilla) OPM Medley (When I Met You, Bakit Ba Ganyan, I Think I'm In Love)	2006	Viva Records
Freestyle	18 Greatest Hits	Bakit Iniwan Na? Before I Let You Go Half Crazy Mananatili So Slow Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang? One Hello Still Maybe Down And Funky I Wanna Get Close Paano? I Just Can't Stop Loving You Ebony And Ivory Good Luv Treat You So Right Once In A Lifetime I Don't Want To Lose You	2009	Viva Records