Sampaguita | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Tessy Alfonso |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 1977–1994, 2010–present |
| Labels | |
Tessy Alfonso, better known by her stage name Sampaguita, is a Pinoy rock singer from the Philippines, active during the 1970s and 1980s. Sampaguita had released several albums and songs that went successful and are now considered classics. She is also dubbed as the "Queen of Filipino rock music."
Sampaguita started out as a model under then-First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos' Bagong Anyo.[1] She was discovered by her then-husband Nilo Santos. Her stage name was coined by the percussionist Nick Boogie, after the species of jasmine locally known as sampaguita, which is also the national flower.[2] Her first performance was at the New Moon Concert in 1977 at the Folk Arts Theater in Pasay, Metro Manila.
In 1994, Alfonso retired from the Philippine music scene when according to her own words: "[Life became] too dangerous, with sex, drugs and rock and roll, rock until you drop."[1]
In 1996, She released an album "Laguna".[3]
On December 3, 2010, she went onstage again at the Ugat, The Legends of Pinoy Folk Rock concert held at the Araneta Coliseum. She performed along with other Filipino rock artists from the 1970s and 1980s.[4]
Alfonso is the mother of three children: Dolly and Kowboy Santos (with Nilo Santos), and Jacinta Romero (with Miguel Romero).[5] Kowboy Santos, is also a musician, and is the frontman of the band Generation.[6][7][8] Alfonso currently resides in Parañaque with Romero and their daughter, Jacinta.[1]
| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| Sampaguita | 1978 |
| Vol. 2 | 1980 |
| Beatwave | 1984 |
| Nosi Ba Lasi | 1989 |
| Sa Ngayon | 1992 |
| Laguna | 1996 |
