I was born in Manila. My background is American-Mexican-Pacific Islander. The artists who influenced me are Madonna, The Bee Gees, Mariah Carey, and Filipino artists Sharon Cuneta, Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano. When I came to the US my goal was to write my own songs of sadness, heartbreak and joy.
I like all kinds of music but prefer pop because it makes me dance. At the first club I went to I heard music from Madonna and started dancing out there on the dance floor. Everybody backed up … The DJ played that music and I was just out there enjoying myself. I’m the kind of person who will enjoy dancing ’til my last breath. I put some move on that Madonna music. After I danced the DJ came up to me and said “You really can dance. Did you go to a dancing class?”
I replied “No. It’s natural. I love to dance. I watched some videos on MTV and that’s where I get my influence.”
The DJ said “You’re really good. You’ve got some little bit of Michael Jackson in you, you have Bobby Brown, you got some Madonna, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears … How do you do that?”
“It’s all in my mind, and I just practice daily. That’s what I do.”
I started writing and recording songs in my High School days. At that time I was going through a lot of sorrows and pain, relationship-wise, and I didn’t know what to do. I just wanted to do something with my life. So, for the very first time, I started writing my feelings and then turned it into music by using a tape recorder and started writing bit-by-bit. My first songs were When I’m Close To You and Doesn’t Matter To Me. I have those early recordings put away because in the future I may use them. I kept it all because it has always been my dream to be a recording artist.
My working relationship with Morgan McRae and Chris Holloway is really fantastic. I would never have had my first single recorded if it wasn’t for them. In 2008, I walked into their Magnatron Studios for the first time. The producer that owns the business, Patrick, and Chris were there. They tested my vocal and from then on started recording my songs.
That was also the year when I successfully auditioned for America’s Got Talent. I went to Honolulu, Hawaii, and took my headset out there in the middle of the beach, dancing, and a couple of people, a husband and wife, saw me dancing and said “Hey, you’re really good at dancing. Is it okay if we film you?”
I said “Sure.” The film of me dancing was sent to America’s Got Talent. It was very raw footage.
I got a call. “Are you Ronny B?”
I said “Yes I am.”
“Why don’t you come to Los Angeles. We want you to audition.”
“You’re kidding!”
They said “No we’re not kidding. We’re serious. You sign a contract with us and we will make you famous.”
The judges were Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne, and David Hasselhoff. I did my audition and then went to Vegas for the second round.
I love the audience. Some people think I’m a shy person when they see me but they don’t know that on stage I will go out there and overcome that fear. I love being on stage. On America’s Got Talent, smacking the scenery – that was my idea. At first, yes, I admit, fear got into me when David Hasselhoff buzzed me but I said to myself no no no no no, I would not leave the stage until I get the audience in awe and that was my whole point of view. I remember Jerry Springer telling me before I got on stage, “Do your best out there Ronny B. Show your talent. This is your moment. Give it all you’ve got out there because whatever anyway happens Simon Cowell is watching this and you are talented so go out there, do your best and make it to Vegas.”
For my album I will include various kinds of pop music, dance, r ‘n’ b and slow jams. I also plan to record a P-pop record for my Filipino fans.
