Rendezvous

Mel Banez, the youngest of 8 children, was born in Manila, Philippines. He came to the US when he was four years old, and has since resided in Berkeley, CA, a small town rich in all its diversity - home to many famous entertainers such as Tupac Shakur, Mike Marshall of the Timex Social Club, and jazz musician Peter Apfelbaum. Unsurprisingly, Mel became drawn to the music industry and has yet become another talented treasure to emerge from the San Francisco Bay Area and has since been performing for over 30 years now.

His musical career was launched by the influence of his oldest brother, who was also highly involved in many of his own musical endeavors. At the age of nine, Mel began taking trumpet lessons. His true talent emerged and he began touring with his school jazz band to other cities. This led to his television debut, where he was highlighted as being one of the Bay Area’s many talented youth musicians.

Towards the end of his Berkeley High School years, in 1979 he formed the band All As One. The band toured internationally to Japan. A few of the band members are now playing with Prince, EWF, Sheila E, just to name a few. Becoming a known vocalist in the Bay Area, Mel began working with many of the best musicians also from the Bay Area, such as The Escovedo Family, ConFunkshun, and Tower of Power.

Mel is musically inspired by artists such as Earth, Wind and Fire (whom he personally met with becoming one of the memorable moments in his life as a musician), Prince, Al Jarreau, Michael Jackson, Larry Graham, Barry White, and Chicago.

In 1988, he partnered with locally known keyboardist Pelagio “P-Dogg” Valdez and established All As One Production Company. In this collaboration, the two became recognized BMI songwriters with a few records to their name. Aside from the trumpet, he also plays the drums, bass, percussion, and keyboards.

Throughout the years, he has performed as lead and guest vocalist with many well-known Bay Area bands such as: Game Plan, Big City Revue, Pulse, Black Orchid, Rendezvous, Masterpiece, Mystic Vision, Rojas Brothers, D’ Groove, Live Performance, The Allstars, Mixxed Company, Xecutive Sweet, Universal Language, Stellar, Banez Brothers and Touch of Class. For over 25 years, he has performed annually for popular events such as the Nihomachi, Cherry Blossom, Oakland Chinatown, and Juneteenth festivals. Partial venue list includes Cache Creek, The Little Fox Theatre, The Muppet Theatre in LA, Pete Escovedo's Latin Jazz Club, Coyote Valley Shodakai Casino, and other venues across California and the US. Presently, he is in negotiations in performing with Purple Reign, a Prince tribute in Las Vegas, NV.

Coming soon!

Bryan began his musical career on the piano at the tender age of Four. During childhood, he transitioned to the trumpet and played horns from the 6th grade through high school.

Bryan started performing in live bands during the 1980's with Live Version, who he has played 20 years with, and then others such as Ground Control and Release. He then situated with Rendezvous and has been a member for 15 years. His most memorable performance was with Filipino artist, Roselle Nava.

Bryan's musical influences are Billy Joel, Earth Wind & Fire, Chicago and Michael Buble. His favorite music is Top 40 and R & B. Bryan's other interests include throwing strikes in the bowling alleys. He is currently a manager at Charles Schwab.

Don, born and raised in San Francisco, started his musical career as a drummer at the age of 12. He wanted to be another Ringo Starr of the Beatles. Don's father, also a musician, played violin in an orchestra, and passed on his musical talents to his aspiring son. Don hasn't looked back since. His musical influences are George Benson, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana and Jose Feliciano.

Switching to guitar at the age 15 after seeing the legendary Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana perform, Don formed his first band called "The Basics" when he was a senior in high school. His biggest moment for The Basics was opening for Marvin Holmes and the Uptights (whose big hits were "Ooh Ooh the Dragon" and "Funky Mule".)

Years later, Don became one of the founding members of a band called "Lady Red". Lady Red performed in the 1st Annual Nihonmachi Street Fair in San Francisco. One of their most memorable moments was opening for Hiroshima (jazz fusion band.)

Don then took a 12 year break from the music scene. He decided to get back into performing after getting together for a jam session with his buddies from the Expo band and realizing the passion for guitar never left. "Thank goodness I still remembered how to play!" remembered Don. He played with Expo from 1992-1995.

In 1995, Don got with some old musician friends and met a wonderful female vocalist named Rowena Rapadas. Together, they formed the band you know and love, Rendezvous, and have been playing ever since.

Other current bands that Don has played with include Expo (Top 40 Oldies) and Mana (Comtemporary Hawaiian).

Don is currently an Investment Analyst for Esurance Insurance Company, and is married with two cats.

Phil Wong, a native-born San Franciscan, grew up listening to Easy Listening and Latin Jazz, before getting into The Beatles. Phil then started listening to Funk and R&B, which later became his favorites. He was influenced by listening to Santana which got him into his love for the congas. He started playing in a band at the age of 20 but after a couple of years, decided to take a break from live performance. After a 20 year hiatus, he returned to his love for performing on the congas again.

Phil has played in various bands including Chimera (Top 40), Expo (Top 40), Playin' Around (Top 40), Mana (Contemporary Hawaiian), and Jest Jammin' (Top 40 / Motown). Phil has also performed with the Bay Area's Pulse Band (Top 40 / Neo Soul), Fusion Band (Hip Hip/R&B), and in a group called Conga Compay (Rumba). Phil has marched the Carnaval Parade w/ Escola Nova De Samba, and has studied with a master in his own right, Jorge Bermudez.

He is now currently performing with Rendezvous and has been a member for 14 yrs.

Elmo arrived in San Francisco in 1968 at the age of 10. A long ways from his native Phillipines, he grew up in the heart of the hippy area or Haight and Ashbury. Shortly thereafter, joining the Boy Scouts led to meeting other aspiring musicians at many jam sessions during their Friday Night Rallies. The band they created, Cordial Coterie Band, later simply became known as Cordial. Elmo played 2nd Guitar, while his cousin Danny played lead. This prompted Elmo to make the switch to Bass. Elmo stayed active with Cordial for over 12 years, ending with his preliminary musical stint on New Year's Eve of 1989 with the Mel Leanio Band.

In those discovery days, Elmo attended many concerts, hung outside of night clubs by Broadway and Columbus, and also Fillmore West Hall, and enjoyed street fairs and park concerts. He watched performers such as The Eshabarrs, Rojos, Revelos, Escavedos, and the Santanas of Mission High School. Elmo liked Rock, but couldn't resist the strong influence of Motown, R & B and Soul Power, through the likes of Mr. James Jamerson, David Brown, Larry Graham, Jaco and Pops Popswell, who all expanded his bass foundation.

Elmo's musical career took a hiatus as he prepared for day-to-day life, leaving for Honolulu, and landing a job as assistant Therapeutic and Medical EQ Tech, which he quickly blossomed into as a Bio-Medical Tech. He dabbled in local Hawaiian kine garage and luaus, Kanakapilo style, while listening regularly to kine yah and Jawaiian which was dominating the radio at the time. In his spare time, Elmo hung out at the Waiks and choke kine, fishing and surfing. Elmo made another life move as he returned home to San Francisco during the Summer of 1992 to marry his wife, Brenda. Two weeks later, he was back in Honolulu with Plenty/Choke Stuff. There he met Cliff of Aura (house band of the Ol' Point After Club), and other island musicians such as Uncle Tony and Uncle Bert, Founding Members of Society of Seven, Glenn and Jonathan Guys of Honolulu, and other Ilocano Kine bands, and also Salsa and Mambo musicians, Rolando Sanches, Eddie Ortiz, Salsa Hawaii and Cajunto Cache.

Elmo was approached by Uncle Richard Natto to be the bassist of The Krush, and performed at the Waikiki Sheraton Espirit Lounge. His most memorable gig was on the 4th of July, playing for the military, and New Year's Eve, Ho'olaulea. Coming back to the Bay Area in the Winter of 2003, Elmo hooked up with some local kine Hawaiian bradahs and plenty kine Halau, helping out at Henry's Restaurant in Daly City and making contact with his best friend Cyrian T (bassist for Kickback band) who helped him with the use of the EQ. Then Don from Rendezvous asked Elmo to become their bassist and the rest is history! In his own words, Elmo said, "Tanks, Eh! Hardly no one will ever give a 50-something manong a chance, but I get more..."

Coming soon!

Coming soon!