‘Jukebox Idol’ April Boy Regino, 59, had chronic kidney disease

MANILA, Philippines  — April Boy Regino, the multiplatinum-selling singer who achieved phenomenal success and earned the moniker “Jukebox Idol” in the 1990s, died on Sunday at the Metro Antipolo Hospital and Medical Center in Rizal province. He was 59.

In a Facebook post, Regino’s wife, Madelyn, disclosed that her husband succumbed to acute respiratory failure and had been dealing with stage 5 chronic kidney disease.

“No more pain for you, Love. You said you still wanted to live because you wanted to be with me. Why did you leave me?” Madelyn wrote in Filipino.

The Inquirer sought Madelyn for a statement but had not received a response as of this writing.

Born Dennis Regino Magloyuan Magdaraog, Regino spent his childhood living in a railroad shanty in Caloocan City. In hopes of helping his family, he decided to quit school after Grade 6 to focus on joining amateur singing competitions and stage shows.

At 18, he worked as an entertainer in Japan. He stayed there for about seven years, before returning to the Philippines to try his luck in the local mainstream scene. In 1993, the singer-songwriter had his first hit, “Sana’y Laging Magkapiling,” as part of The April Boys—the trio he formed with his brothers Vingo and Jimmy Regino.

“This is a sad day. Kuya April Boy is gone,” Vingo wrote in Filipino on Facebook.

April Boy would go on to pursue a career as a solo artist. He scored a string of massive singles, including “Umiiyak ang Puso,” “Paano ang Puso Ko” and his most memorable, “‘Di ‘Ko Kayang Tanggapin,” whose catchy melody was amplified by an equally catchy dance move that had Regino — and his audience — criss-crossing their arms above their heads during the chorus.

Postfame, in 2004, he migrated to the United States with his family, but returned to the Philippines in 2010 to help his son JC fulfill his dream of becoming a singer.

Regino spent his last 11 years battling various illnesses. In 2009, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, from which he eventually recovered. In 2013, he was hospitalized after suffering a congestive heart failure, and later on advised by doctors to stop performing.

His eyesight also deteriorated due to complications from diabetes.

Tributes poured for Regino on social media, shortly after news of his death broke out. INQ