Enrico de Jesus Puno, known professionally as Rico J. Puno, was born on February 13, 1953, in Manila, Philippines, and began his career as a singer. He introduced himself to the entertainment industry by performing at folk houses and small clubs in Metro Manila. In 1975, while singing at Palazzi, he met The Temptations, and he later signed his first record deal with Vicor Records. His breakthrough came with the release of "The Way We Were", a Tagalog-infused version of the American song. Puno's career spanned over four decades, during which he released notable albums such as Spirit Of Christmas and Rico Baby. He won the Aliw Award for Most Promising Entertainer in 1976 and became Entertainer of the Year two years later. Puno passed away on October 30, 2018.
