Pinoy rock star Wally Gonzalez passes away

Renowned Pinoy bluesman and rock pioneer Wally Gonzalez passed away on Thursday morning.

His son, John, confirmed the news on Facebook and said that Wally died "peacefully in his sleep."

"My father passed away peacefully in his sleep earlier this morning. To his friends in the music industry and off, we are arranging for a short wake so that you can visit him post-cremation, as was his last wishes," John wrote.

According to a GMANetwork.com report, Wally tested positive for COVID-19 and suffered from a mild stroke in January.

No cause of death has been reported.

Wally is known to herald in the age of Pinoy Rock. In 1968, the guitarist co-founded Juan de la Cruz Band with drummer Edmund "Bosyo" Fortuno. Later on, the band was composed of Wally, singer-songwriter and drummer Joey "Pepe" Smith, and bassist Mike Hanopol.

They went on to create songs that merged blues with rock and produced hit songs such as "Himig Natin," "No Touch" and "Titser's Enemy No. 1."

After the band broke up in the '80s, Wally released his solo record in 1978 which contained one of his most popular songs called "Wally's Blues." – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News 

Photo credit: JUAN De La CRUZ BAND (The Page)