Gino Padilla

Career

Padilla launched his music career in 1986. At 22, he landed a Pepsi commercial in Hollywood with Tina Turner, which opened doors to other projects. He then joined Randy Santiago and Juan Miguel Salvador on "You've Got the Power," written by Tats Faustino and Gary Valenciano for the film Ninja Kids. The movie's success led Padilla and Santiago to host Triple Treat alongside Keno and Regine Velasquez.

In 1987, he and singer Rocky recorded "Let the Love Begin," a cover of Jimmy Demers and Carol Sue Hill's song from the 1986 film Thrashin'. In 1991, he translated Utha Likumahuwa's Indonesian song "Sesaat Kau Hadir" into Tagalog as "Gusto Kita," which became a hit and has been covered many times. The next year, he recorded a jingle for Close-Up toothpaste called "Closer You and I," with music by Louie Ocampo and lyrics by Gina Tabuena-Godinez. Public demand turned the jingle into a full song, winning him Awit Awards for Best Ballad Recording and Song of the Year.

Close-Up still uses the song in commercials, with Sponge Cola and Adie updating it for new audiences. In 1996, Padilla performed "Cha-la Head Cha-la" and "You Are the Hero" with the children's choir Age of Wonder for the album Dragon Ball Z: Songs of a High Spirited Saga - Volume I. He also sang those songs with the choir and played Goku in the play Dragon Ball Z: Myth, Magic, and Music. In the early 2000s, he appeared on collaboration albums and the bestselling prayerbook "Presence, Prayers For Busy People," joined Santiago's concerts, and performed at the 2006 Luna Awards.

During the 2010s, he was part of the Men of the 80's group with Santiago, Raymond Lauchengco, and Louie Heredia. He acted in the 2014 film adaptation of ABNKKBSNPLAko?! and judged the Wish 107.5 Music Awards from 2016 to 2018.

Personal life

Padilla is married to Concepcion Canno, daughter of a general, and they have two children. He wrote the song "I Believe In You" for her.

Their son Josh was cast in the 2011 TV remake of Bagets. The family owns a security agency. In 2002, his non-showbiz uncle, also named Gino Padilla, was kidnapped and murdered; early news reports mistakenly identified the singer as the victim.