They make beautiful music together, literally and figuratively. Age-wise, they are father-and-daughter apart, but the professional relationship that binds Leo and Diego transcends time and space.
They live miles apart. Leo Romero, who is 60 something, goes home to Fairview, Quezon City while Diego (true name is Anna Katrina Zamora) 25, hies off to Marilao, Bulacan by midnight, or a bit later after crooning it out onstage for their adoring fans of night club and resto bar habitues.
Leo struggled for more than 40 years as a folk singer, having alternated on stage with such big names as the legendary Freddie Aguilar of the world renowned “Anak” ballad, and the indomitable Florante de Leon.
Circa 1983 when Leo started performing at the now defunct Hobbit House on Mabini Street in Malate, Manila owned by the late former American Peace Corps volunteer Jim Turner.
Leo’s band disbanded sometime in 2014. But the show must go on, and Kat turned out to be an expedient replacement. Thus, the seed of partnership between her and Leo was sowed–and it blossomed through the years.
To date, the duo still looks inseparable, onstage and backstage, albeit they go on separate ways to go home when the show is over.
Leo discloses that he presumably inherited the musical talents of his parents. He admits that he knows of no other craft but singing and strumming.
Leo has cut with Alpha Recording a 10-song album entitled Simply Leo Romero, bannered by the songs As Long As I Live and Tampo. Hope springs eternal, and Leo still looks forward to the day when his name–and his songs–will make it to the hits list.
Diego (Kat, if you may) shares Leo’s visions on this score. She, too, dreams of making it big in the music industry–and she has the instruments to do that.
Kat was renamed Diego by her admirers, specifically the prolific businessman-publicist Dante Vino). Leo gamely conspired with the name changers.
Kat obtained her bachelor’s degree in Education from the Bulacan State College last year, but for her, the call of singing is louder than the tolls of the school bells.
She also plays the guitar, having learned the chords all by herself, but would rather have Leo do the act in their performances.
Oh, yes! She says she’s also good at the drums, but very rarely flaunts the sticks around.
