Local music industry mourns passing of 'Because of You' hitmaker Keith Martin
Filipino musicians paid tribute to American singer-songwriter Keith Martin, who was found dead in his condo unit in Quezon City on March 25. He was 55.
Police said a resident notified the building's property manager about a foul smell from Martin's unit. Police and barangay officers then found his lifeless body on the bed. The cause of death has yet to be determined.
Ex-Viva Hot Babes member Sheree Bautista was among the first to take the matter to social media, saying she cannot believe what happened as they're "just so happy singing and laughing."
Bautista, who shared two collaboration videos with Martin from her YouTube channel "Sheree On Top TV." talked about "Kitkit" in a few more posts. In the first video, she was performing Heaven Knows, an original song Martin wrote for her where he also played the piano. The second video saw the two of them doing the A-Z song challenge.
"Little did I know this is the last time I’m seeing you and hearing your loud ass voice! kitkit! (broken heart emoji)" she wrote in her post. "you will be missed!" followed by three crying emojis.
Kyla, saying she was "in shock and in disbelief," thanked Martin for the inspiration. They worked together on her studio albums Not Your Ordinary Girl (2004) and Beautiful Days (2006).
In shock and in disbelief.. You will be missed, Keith Martin.. Thank you for the inspiration. You will leave a legacy of great music that is timeless and will always be remebered..
— Kyla (@kylaessentials) March 25, 2022
"You will leave a legacy of great music that is timeless and will always be remembered," Kyle wrote.
Luke Mejares of South Border fame noted that he sang Martin's song in every gig in the late '90s, saying he couldn't believe his luck to meet him in person in 2003.
"You have been a good friend and mentor to me and you even called me your nephew," Mejares said. "You believed in me and helped me explore music through your ears."
Daryl Ong mourned Martin's passing on Instagram Stories. Martin was among Ong's guests during his wedding last March 12, where they performed a Boyz II Men medley with Michael Pangilinan and Thor Dulay.
"Thank you for sharing your music with us and for being part of our special day a few weeks ago," Ong wrote, followed by a broken heart emoji.
Thyro Alfaro, who was behind the soundtrack of the Nadine Lustre and James Reid movies Talk Back and You're Dead and Diary ng Panget, said he'll never forget Martin's words of inspiration for him.
"You ain't like those other dudes. You up there yokin! We need more of those" Alfaro wrote.
Fil-Am artist Kris Lawrence also lamented the "shocking" news, saying Martin was "gone too soon."
"You will be missed brotha. Your music will live in our hearts forever," Lawrence wrote, followed by a fist bump emoji.
Record label Def Jam described the incident as a "sad day."
In another post, Def Jam said it's hoping for more releases from Martin as more plans are on the works.
"I guess that was the end of the line, but his music will be alive forever," Def Jam said, as it shared Martin's last release with the label, I'm Starting Over in November 2021.
Martin rose to fame in the '90s with his romantic love songs. He was the hitmaker behind Because of You, Never Find Someone Like You, and Why Can't It Be, among others.
He had been living in the Philippines for years. Bautista said Keith has no other family or relatives here.
