Blakdyak (July 25, 1969 – November 21, 2016) was a Filipino actor, comedian and reggae singer. He was known as "The King of Pinoy Reggae".

Early life

Blakdyak was born Joseph Amoto Formaran on July 25, 1969 in

Olongapo City Olongapo, officially the City of Olongapo ( fil, Lungsod ng Olongapo; ilo, Siudad ti Olongapo; xsb, Siyodad nin Olongapo), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Located in the province of Zambales ...

Zambales Zambales, officially the Province of Zambales ( fil, Lalawigan ng Zambales; ilo, Probinsia ti Zambales; Pangasinan: ''Luyag/Probinsia na Zambales''; xsb, Probinsya nin Zambales), is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon ...

. His American serviceman-father (who was once stationed in Subic Naval Base in Olongapo City where he met Joey's mother) is of Jamaican descent.

Career

Blakdyak started singing in high school in Castillejos,

. He began to earn money from singing when some comedian-performers included him in their shows performing in provinces. He soon migrated to Manila and formed his own band. In 1997,

Viva Records Viva may refer to: Companies and organisations * Viva (network operator), a Dominican mobile network operator * Viva Air, a Spanish airline taken over by flag carrier Iberia * Viva Air Dominicana * VIVA Bahrain, a telecommunication company * Vi ...

discovered him and immediately signed him up to record an album. With his hit singles "Good Boy" and "Noon at Ngayon", Blakdyak became the first local solo reggae act to achieve success in the entertainment field. Blakdyak received his first Platinum Record Award for his first album ''Noon at Ngayon''. At the 1998 Awit Awards, he won the award for Best Novelty Act and Best New Male Performer.

Death

Blakdyak was found dead inside his condominium unit in Sampaloc, Manila on November 21, 2016. His head was covered with a plastic bag, but the circumstances leading to his death are unclear. The Manila Police District said there were no evidence of forced entry. However, some of the late singer's possessions were found scattered on the unit's floor.

Personal life

He was married to non-showbiz wife Twinkle Estanislao-Formaran (died March 31, 2018 of heart attack), with whom he had four children.

Discography

Studio albums

Filmography

Film

References

{{Authority control 1969 births 2016 deaths Deaths from asphyxiation Filipino male comedians 20th-century Filipino male singers Filipino people of Jamaican descent Kapampangan people People from Olongapo People from Sampaloc, Manila People from Zambales Reggae musicians Tagalog people 20th-century Filipino male actors 21st-century Filipino male singers