ARNEL PINEDA-Faithfully-Open Arms

A Filipino who became the lead singer for Journey last February 2008. He is another filipino with extra-ordinary talent.

In 2006, encouraged by legendary Filipino talent manager and TV director, Bert de Leon, Pineda moved back to the Philippines with Monet Cajipe, the guitarist who has been in all Pineda's bands during the last 24 years. They formed the The Zoo. They signed on with de Leon's company, Sundance Entertainment. The Zoo Band performed several nights a week at clubs in Manila and Olongapo during 2006 and 2007. Shows regularly spanned 3-5 hours. The Zoo’s first album "Zoology" was released by MCA Universal in September 2007 featuring 13 original tracks, several of which were penned by Pineda.

Journey

Videos of The Zoo performing cover songs by Journey, Survivor, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Air Supply, The Eagles, Kenny Loggins and other popular acts from the 70s, 80s and 90s, began appearing on YouTube.com in February 2007 and now number more than 200 in total. In August 2007, Neal Schon of Journey contacted Noel Gomez, a longtime fan and friend of Pineda who uploaded many of these videos, and then asked for Pineda's contact information. Schon then sent an e-mail to Pineda inviting the latter to audition for Journey. Pineda initially dismissed the e-mail as a hoax, but after persistent persuasions by Gomez he finally replied to Schon's e-mail. Ten minutes later Pineda received a phone call from Schon. Later in that month Pineda, along with his manager Bert de Leon, flew to Marin County in San Francisco to audition.

ARNEL PINEDA-Faithfully-Open Arms.wmv