Arthur Bernard Dolino Lui Pio (born February 8, 1982), popularly known as Champ Lui Pio, is a Filipino musician and singer-songwriter. He began his career as a lead vocalist and guitarist of Filipino alternative rock band Hale.

Champ Lui Pio
Champ during an autograph session.
Champ during an autograph session.
Background information
Birth nameArthur Bernard Dolino Lui Pio
Born (1982-02-08) February 8, 1982 (age 42)
OriginQuezon City, Philippines
GenresAlternative rock
OPM
Occupation(s)Vocalist, musician, actor
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active2004–present
LabelsPolyEast Records
Mecca Music
VIVA Films
Spouse
Claire Nery
(m. 2022)

Biography

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Early and personal life

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Lui Pio was born on February 8, 1982, in Quezon City, Philippines. He matriculated in Marymount School and earned a degree in Business Administration. He has a sibling named Christian Lui Pio, also known as VJ Chino, who was featured in Hale's music video of their single Kahit Pa and a winner of Myx VJ Search 2008–2015, and is now a sports anchor of TV5. Lui Pio is also the son of Bernardita Dolino and musician Arturo Lui-Pio, also known as Nonoy Tan of the 1980s band Wadab. He also has two sisters.

Raised in the Iglesia ni Cristo faith, he converted to Roman Catholicism when he got engaged to his girlfriend, Claire Nery. He married Nery in Muntinlupa in January 2022.

2004–2010: Hale

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In 2004, Lui Pio joined Hale as guitarist and vocalist. As a group, the band managed to spawn 4 mainstream albums and 18 mainstream singles, together with 2 jingles meant to promote Nescafé and Close-Up. He also helped established the Treehouse Productions whose sole purpose is to help the needy children suffering from mental and physical illnesses through music. Other musical acts eventually signed up for Treehouse Productions to help achieve the band's purpose and objectives.[1]

On August 6, 2010, Lui Pio, together with the band, publicly announced that they had no more plans in producing more music as a band and therefore disband. This development came after Arthur himself announced his intention to start a solo music career and as an actor.[2]

2010–present: Synergy and Mecca Music

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Currently, he is now signed under local film conglomerate VIVA Films so he could push on with his embarkment as an actor.

As a solo artist, his debut album Synergy is expected to be released sometime in late 2010. The song Hanging Habagat was released on October 19, 2010, and will serve as a physical carrier single of the album simultaneous to the release of its music video. Other singles that followed were Sa 'Yo Lang (feat. Julianne Tarroja) and "Sari-Saring Kwento" (feat. Gloc-9 and Noel Cabangon).[3][4][5][non-primary source needed]

Lui-Pio established an independent local music label Mecca Music in early 2011. Somedaydream was the first to sign up to the label as mainstream contract artist.[6][7] He had also reunited with members from his former band and planned to release a debut single with them on early-2015.[8]

Discography

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With Hale

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Year Title Label
2005 Hale EMI Philippines
2006 Twilight EMI Philippines
2008 Above, Over and Beyond EMI Philippines
2009 Kundiman PolyEast Records
2015 Time and Space EP Warner Music
2018 Alon Warner Music
For a full, detailed list, see: Hale discography

As a solo artist

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Studio albums

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Year Album Title Certifications
2010 Synergy

Singles

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Year Title Album
2010 Hanging Habagat Synergy
2011 Sa 'Yo Lang
(Feat. Julianne Tarroja)
Synergy
Sari-Saring Kwento
(Feat. Gloc-9 & Noel Cabangon)
Nightmares
(Feat. his former Hale band-mates)
2012 It's Your Life
(Feat. Luigi D'Avola & Somedaydream)
2014 No One

References

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  1. ^ "Treehouse Productions". multiply.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2008. Retrieved July 3, 2007.
  2. ^ "Hale-no-more".
  3. ^ "Polyeast Records releases Hale's former frontman Champ Lui Pio's solo album "SYNERGY"". myxph.com. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  4. ^ "Ex-Hale frontman Champ Lui Pio samples solo single tomorrow, October 19". pep.ph. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  5. ^ "Volunteer_Champ". Twitter. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  6. ^ ""Owl City" of the Philippines". blogspot.com. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  7. ^ "Mecca Music". meccaph.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  8. ^ "Hale's Secret Set at 12 Monkeys". Archived from the original on January 20, 2015.