Butch Dans, the man who made a household name of the Apo Hiking Society, among many other OPM acts, has succumbed to to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Thursday.
According to his son, Anton, his father, 69, died peacefully in his sleep at 6:15 a.m. at their home in Quezon City.
The son of the late minister of transportation and communications Jose Dans and painter Araceli Dans, Butch was among original members of the Apo Hiking Society.
He would go on to manage the group when it evolved into the trio of Danny Javier, Jim Paredes and Buboy Garrovillo.
Jim wrote on Twitter, “Butch Dans, my dear brother. I love you. Till we meet again. Though it was expected, I am shattered," he said on Facebook. “I am so far away. My heart is crying. I want to hug all my friends....It has been so long.”
Butch also managed the careers of Leah Navarro, Noel Cabangon, Lyn Sherman, and Bituin Escalante at different points in their careers.
Details of his cremation, funeral and online memorial are yet to be announced.