The surviving member of the famed 70s duo that scored the hits “Love Is The Answer,” “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight,” and “Just Tell Me You Love Me” returns to the Philippines for a series of shows this month. John Ford Coley, whose erstwhile partner England Dan died last March while being treated from mantle cell lymphoma, is again excited to share live his music to the local crowd.

The Manila Bulletin chatted with the classically trained pianist, guitarist, actor, and author. In this interview, John, whose Philippine tour starts on June 11 at Heritage Hotel Ballroom in Pasay, shows both his wittiness and comic flair.

Other schedules will be on Independence Day, June 12, at Subic Convention Center, Saturday the 13th at Pagcor Tagaytay, then at Pagcor Parañaque on June 16. After a trip to Hong Kong, he’ll go back for a three-day stretch: June 24 (Metro Bar), June 25 (Pagcor Davao), and June 26 (Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig).

Read and be amazed as John, born in Dallas, Texas, shares his thoughts on songwriting, performing, what he misses most about Dan, and why he loves Pinoys.

Manila Bulletin: What attracts you most in coming back and performing in front of Filipino crowd? Can you share a good anecdote you experienced involving Filipinos.

Coley: I love the way the Filipinos are always smiling and laughing. I laugh quite lot while I’m there. I make feeble attempts to speak the (Filipino) language and come up with often funny and unexpected phrases. They laugh at one of my stupid jokes and I’ll quickly say “Bakit ka tumatawa?” They look at me and start laughing again. I love that because I really like to make people laugh. One of my favorites is: Sumasakay ako sa dyipni araw-araw. So when it comes to learning the language, ‘Na too too toe’ (he meant ‘Natututo’) ako.

Also, I can spot a Filipino anywhere. I was at church recently and there was a couple there. I walked over to them and said “Komusta kah.” They almost fell over. They couldn’t get over the fact that I knew they were from the Philippines.

Will you be doing on stage something you haven’t done before in your previous visits?

I’ll be performing some new songs that people haven’t heard me play before.

Can you recall your most memorable solo concert? Where was that and why?

I think that one of the most memorable events was one of the first times I was playing in Manila and everyone started singing along to some of the songs I was singing. They were actually singing louder than I was. I was shocked and stepped back and let the audience sing it. They probably thought I was just having them sing, but truthfully I was quite chocked up and couldn’t sing.

What keeps the flame burning as far as fulfillment in singing live is concerned? Do you still discover something new to the performing routine?

I simply love to play. Even in Nashville, Tennessee where I live, I go out and play just for the fun of it.
When I come back from a road trip, the very first thing that gets unpacked is my guitar and it goes back on the stand, so that when I pass by it I’ll probably pick it up and play something.

What was the best thing about your partnership then with England Dan? What do you miss most during your times with him?

Dan and I both traded our lives for a life of adventure. We had a lot of fun touring the world together. We could both be pretty intense, so we’d constantly try to lighten things up and laugh at situations, so we balanced each other out. I guess I’d have to say it’s the friendship I miss the most. Dan and I were friends in high school and were more like brothers during our career together.

What particular song in your catalogue do you think best defines the music of England Dan and John Ford Coley? Why is that so?

There are actually so many songs that define our music. In my opinion most of them were album cuts and not so much the big hits you heard on the radio. I especially liked “Lady,” “Long Way Home,” “Soldier In The Rain” and “Who’s Lonely Now.” They were more career defining and not just radio defining songs.

Of the big hits I think my favorite one was “Love Is The Answer.” It was clothed in such spiritual ambiguity and the chord changes, oh the chord changes... fill up my soul and drop me to my knees.
Do you believe that songwriting and singing reach a peak point of excellence in someone’s career then goes down after?

The very interesting aspect of music, songwriting and singing is that the recording industry has given us the impression that youth are the only ones that have a handle on music. After a certain age, you’re washed up, over the hill, no longer useful, etc. However, the object of music is not a recording contract. The object of music is to play and sing and have fun doing it. The irony of music is that the longer you do it, the better you become at it. I feel much better about where I am now musically then when I was at my “musical peak” with Dan. I couldn’t hold a candle back then to what I’m capable of now. Besides for me it’s about excellence, not volume.

I write now because I just want to and don’t feel the pressure of having to come up with the next great big hit. Many of those new songs I’ve written are going to be on a new CD that I’m in the process of recording. It’s going to be the first studio CD I’ve ever done.