Dennis “April Boy” Regino is the real name of the famous “April Boy” Regino, who is a Filipino singer, composer and songwriter. He was a member of the defunct April Boys, who is composed of his brothers, Vingo and Jimmy. April Boy was born on April 9, 1969 in the squatter’s area in Caloocan City, Philippines. He is the fourth among eight siblings to parents Regino and Lucena Bariso Regino. His hardships and experiences when he was still a little boy include peddling and selling banana and camote cues, bibingka and rice cakes, and other street foods in railroads and factories in their neighborhood to help support the family of the household expenses. In return, his customers will always request him to sing before buying anything from him.
He started joining amateur singing contests at the age of ten, and always had in mind to win, in order for him to take home the prize for the family. He furthered his singing talent in Japan where he worked as an entertainer for eight years. Upon returning to the Philippines, he composed a song entitled “Sana’y Laging Magkapiling,” which he dedicated to Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion. Unfortunately, the same song was rejected by several recording companies. Her mommy Lucy gambled to produce the song which eventually earned various awards from Gold Record Awards, Platinum Awards among others.
This paved the way for April Boy to pursue his singing career and his songs became blockbuster hits which made him a very famous singer in his time. He was dubbed as “Jukebox King,” and his songs can be heard almost everywhere. He also had successful concerts here and abroad. The little boy who dreamt of becoming a popular singer never thought he will make it this big in the Philippine music industry. But fate has its own way of twisting the luck. In the midst of his popularity, he was diagnosed with a prostate cancer while staying in the U.S. He is still undergoing his treatments until now.
Prestigious awards and recognitions had been given to him by various award giving bodies in the music scene such as : 2006 Entertainer of the Year Award , on 4th Annual Gawad Amerika Awards in Los Angeles California, in 2005, he was also awarded as “The Most Outstanding Male Performer” by the Asia Pacific Excellence Awards, in 1999 he was awarded as the ‘Best Entertainer Of The Year,” by Parangal ng Bayan Award by His Excellency Joseph Estrada, Awarded as “The Best Pinoy Traditional Pop Vocal Performer,” by the Katha Music Awards, and he was even presented the award as “Outstanding Father Of The Year,” in 2005. He had also received an award for having sold a million records called “Diamond Record Award,” which is the first in the history of the Philippine music industry, and “Young Professional Achievers Award,” from the former First Lady Dr. Loi Ejercito, held at the Malacanang Palace, Philippines. There are more awards given him as a proof of his contribution as a singer in Philippine entertainment. Indeed, April Boy Regino is one of the special persons who had made Filipino songs be revived and live again in the heart of the masses.
