Rico Rene Granados Blanco (born March 17, 1973) is a Filipino singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actor, endorser and entrepreneur. He began his career as one of the founding members, and served as the chief songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, and keyboardist of the Filipino rock band Rivermaya from 1994 until 2007, and has been a solo artist since 2008.
Blanco's songs and performances gained success and critical acclaim, earning himself a reputation of being one of the well-received local music icons in the Philippines.Rico Blanco Top Ten Songs . VivaCor. 2020.
Early life Rico Blanco was born at Manila Doctors Hospital in Ermita, Manila on March 17, 1973, to Rene Aldeguer Blanco of Iloilo City and Purita Crisostomo Granados of Leyte, Leyte. Blanco grew up in San Pedro, Laguna. Blanco graduated grade school at O. B. Montessori Center, high school at the Benedictine Abbey (now called San Beda College Alabang) and college at the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in AB Management Economics where he was once a classmate of Kris Aquino.What does Rico Blanco think of former classmate Kris Aquino? . ABS-CBN. 2014. Blanco was an A-student and was accelerated twice in grade school. He was once a Sangguniang Kabataan chairman.
Musical influences At a young age, Blanco listened heavily to his uncle's records which included The Beatles, jazz and 1970s rock. He moved on to appreciate late 1970s to 1980s punk rock, post punk, synth pop and new wave artists (mostly from the U.K.) such as XTC, The Cure, The Smiths, U2, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, OMD, Tears for Fears, Ultravox, New Order, Madness, Terry Hall, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Midnight Oil (Aus), among others. He also listened to Filipino artists such as Deans December, Violent Playground, Identity Crisis, Urban Bandits, Joey Ayala, among others. The music he listened to while growing up is largely credited for his musical style.
Early career Blanco was one of the founding members of the Filipino rock band Rivermaya, in varying roles as vocalist, keyboardist, guitarist, and main songwriter from 1994 to 2007.
Among the albums Blanco produced are Slapshock's Project 11–41, Sugarfree's Sa Wakas, The Dawn's Salamat (Millennium edition single), Teeth's I Was a Teenage Tree and Rivermaya's Free album which won him an NU Rock award for Producer of the year. Blanco also used to host Myx Live!. He also composed and arranged scores for many commercials & other various corporate functions around the Philippines.
In May 2007, Blanco announced his departure from Rivermaya. His last performance with Rivermaya was on May 4, 2007, at the Metro Bar (wherein two other high-profile Filipino bands opened the show, Pupil and Sandwich; two spin-off bands of the legendary pop-rock group Eraserheads). It was coincidental that Blanco's first gig as singer for Rivermaya was also held at the Metro Bar (formerly known as "Kampo"). Furthermore, first ever Rivermaya gig (where Blanco was keyboardist) was in Las Piñas in 1993 where the band was the opening act for Eraserheads.
In 2007, he launched a clothing line for a clothing brand in the Philippines, Human. Blanco also wrote and produced an electronic dance music song titled "Control" for the album of Nancy Castiglione. In the same year, Rico Blanco was also cast as the voice actor of Ryusuke Minami, lead guitarist of the fictional band, Beck, in the Filipino dubbed edition of the anime series BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad.
Solo career
Your Universe (2008–2011) On June 12, 2008, Warner Music Philippines, launched Rico Blanco's first single "Yugto" which marked his entry in the Filipino music industry as a solo artist. Critics and music fans immediately hail it as a "neo-epic". The song won a host of awards, among them 4 major Awit awards including Song of the Year. His first album titled Your Universe was released on August 8, 2008. The 10-track CD is a unique fusion of diverse sounds, among them the ethno-rock "Yugto", the heart-tugging title track "Your Universe", the rockabilly/punk feel of "Ayuz", the sweet, Pinoy-folk "Para Hindi Ka Mawala", and the sing-along anthem "Antukin". Also notable is his return to his roots as a keyboard player as evidenced by the infusion of synthesizer and electronic elements throughout the album. Incidentally, Warner Music Philippines are known for disbanding bands and turning their respective lead vocalists into solo artists.
Blanco's live band was usually composed of Robert de la Cruz (of Queso and Skychurch) on drums and Ricci Gurango (formerly of Hungry Young Poets and Mojofly) on bass, while Blanco plays guitars and keyboards. Many other session musicians join him on stage from time to time.
In November 2008, Blanco won the "Vocalist of the Year" award in the NU Rock Awards. In December 2008, he was heralded RX93.1 "OPM Solo Artist of the Year". He also opened for Myx Mo 2008 and performed "Yugto". Aside from his band, The Mandaluyong Children's Choir, Manila Symphony Orchestra, Kulintangan musicians (headed by Malou Matute), and various Percussionists (headed by Iggy de Dios), all performed with him. The opening set was touted to be the biggest in the event's history.
In February 2009, he won as "Best New Artist" in the Myx Music Awards 2009. Then, Blanco was picked by Unilever Philippines to re-write and sing a version of the regional campaign song of Close Up toothpaste, released a single entitled "Come Closer".
In December 2009, Blanco launched his new music video for the single "Ayuz", it features his dance tribute to Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, with Cristine Reyes as special guest.
The same year, Rico Blanco launched his first album "Your Universe" in other Asian countries such as Singapore and Hong Kong. The Asian release featured a new single "Neon Lights", the song quickly gained the number 1 spot in Hong Kong charts beating other artists such as Justin Bieber, Avril Lavigne, Wonder Girls and Mika.
On June 10, 2010, Rico Blanco Collaborated with PLDT-SME with the title "Bossing Ako" with Arnel Pineda. and was launched in NBC Tent at the Fort, Taguig City to serves as an anthem for entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs.
In the same year, Blanco co-wrote the song "Chemistry" with Solenn Heussaff for the latter's self-titled debut album.
Galactik Fiestamatik In 2012, Blanco released a new single, Amats, available for digital download via iTunes. The single was taken from his second studio album Galactik Fiestamatik released on July 10, 2012.
Dating Gawi On October 6, 2015, Rico Blanco signs with Universal Records and plans to release his album in a November release with the help of fellow musicians Roll Martinez (Hale), Buddy Zabala (Eraserheads) & Raimund Marasigan (Eraserheads).
On November 11, 2015, Blanco released a Lyric Video on his new carry single "Videoke Queen". On November 27, 2015, Blanco released his third album Dating Gawi. His single "Wag Mong Aminin" was the number 1 song for 2016 in Magic 89.9's OPM chart.
Rivermaya semi reunion On January 9, 2016, he re-united with his former Rivermaya co-members, Perf de Castro, Nathan Azarcon and Mark Escueta for a "surprise mini semi-reunion", following de Castro's gig at 19 East, Muntinlupa.
On July 3, 2019, Blanco collaborated with Filipino pop-funk band IV of Spades with the song "Nagbabalik" and a Music Video was released on July 15, 2019.
On July 28, 2019, his solo debut "Your Universe" was released in Vinyl Format
On May 1, 2020, Blanco released his new song "This Too Shall Pass" which served as a message to bring comfort to those who needed light and love amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and a music video was subsequently released on May 17, 2020
On August 25, 2020, Blanco released "Happy Feeling" and a music video was released on December 11, 2020
On May 27, 2021, Imperial Blue Whisky release a commercial with Rico Blanco singing the song "Alaala" as a tribute to summers past. On June 15, 2021, he posted a music video of the song "Alaala"(which was shot 6 years prior) on his YouTube channel.
On August 23, 2021, Rico Blanco produced the posthumous solo debut album of Slapshock frontman Jamir Garcia. He released the single "Paraiso" on September 5, 2021
On September 14, 2021, Blanco released his newest single, a reimagined version of "Pinoy Ako" entitled "Pinoy Tayo" for Pinoy Big Brother: Kumunity Season 10, the 10th season of the Philippine reality show Pinoy Big Brother. and a music video was released on February 7, 2022.
In 2024, Blanco created the musical score, which was inspired by electronic music and The Chemical Brothers single "Elektrobank", of the film Sunshine, starring his former partner Maris Racal.
On August 1, 2025, Blanco released his first original single, "Paalam", after his re-recorded single "Kisapmata" was released on July 19, 2024.
Discography (as solo artist)
Albums YearAlbum title Certifications Label2008Your Universe5× PlatinumWarner Music Philippines2012Galactik Fiestamatik–2015Dating Gawi–Universal Records
Singles + List of singles as lead artist, showing year released, selected chart positions, and associated albums Year Title Peak chart positions Album PHLTPS2008 Yugto––Your Universe Your Universe632009 Antukin73– Ayuz––2010 Bangon–– Your Universe:Deluxe + Kahit Walang Sabihin (2-disc set) Neon Lights–– Your Universe:Deluxe + Kahit Walang Sabihin (2-disc set) / Your Universe Southeast Asian Version 2011 Kahit Walang Sabihin–– Your Universe:Deluxe + Kahit Walang Sabihin (2-disc set)2012 Amats––Galactik Fiestamatik Burado––2013 Lipat Bahay––Ang Tangi Kong Pangarap–– rowspan="6" 2014Panahon Na Naman Ng Harana––Ito Ang Ating Sandali––World Without Strangers––Time For You––2015All The Seconds in Our Hours–– Videoke Queen–– Dating Gawi2016 Wag Mong Aminin––Sorry Naman––2019 Nagbabalik–– rowspan="11" Balisong - Transformed88–2020 Happy Feelin'–– This Too Shall Pass––2021 Pinoy Tayo––2022 Palibot-libot––2023 You'll Be Safe Here166Sayong sayo (Papel, Gunting, Bato)––2024Kisapmata––2025Paalam——Healing (Someday I Might Fly)—— Year-end charts Chart (2025)TitlePositionRef Philippines Hot 100"Your Universe" 49
Awards and nominations (as individual/solo artist) Year Award giving body Category Nominated work Results2008NU Rock AwardsVocalist of the YearGuitarist of the YearArtist of the YearProducer of the Year"Your Universe"RX93.1 FMOPM Solo Artist of the Year2009Awit AwardsBest Performance by a Male Recording Artist"Yugto"Song of the YearBest Musical ArrangementBest Engineered RecordingAngee Rozul for "Yugto"Myx Music AwardsFavorite New ArtistNU Rock AwardsSong of the Year"Antukin"Philippine Radio Music AwardsAlbum of the Year"Your Universe"Best Solo ArtistBest New Artist2010Myx Music AwardsFavorite Myx Live Performance201225th Awit AwardsBest Performance by a Male Recording Artist"Kahit Walang Sabihin"rowspan=3 Music Video of the Year"Kahit Walang Sabihin"Best Rock/Alternative Recording"Ngayon"PMPC Star AwardsRock Artist of the Year"Galactik Fiestamatik"2014Myx Music AwardsFavorite Collaborationwith Gloc 9 for "Magda"2017Myx Music AwardsFavorite Rock Video"Videoke Queen"202134th Awit AwardsBest Pop Recording"Happy Feelin"202336th Awit AwardsDangal ng Musikang Pilipino Awardrowspan="2" People's Voice Male Artistrowspan=3 World Music Recording"Pumila Ka"20269th Eddy's Awards Best Musical Score Sunshine Best Supporting Actor Manila's Finest
Charity and social activism Blanco was a founding Sangguniang Kabataan chairman in his hometown of San Pedro, Laguna long before he started his music career.