The original owner of the “Kilabot ng Kolehiyala” moniker is Angelito Toledo Alejandro, or Hajji Alejandro. He was born on December 26, 1954. He formed his own singing group in high school and started singing professionally in 1973 with the Circus Band. – the group that also produced Ray-Ann Fuentes and Tillie Moreno. In 1976, he graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in management and at the same time, started a solo career.
His first single contained two songs; “Tag-araw, Tag-ulan,” and “Panakip-butas,” and both topped the music charts and the single became a gold record. His first blood for success was followed by one of his best songs; “Nakapagtataka.” The song was revived for a couple of times, and like the original, the revivals were also chart toppers. The first person who revived his masterpiece was his eldest daughter Rachel, who first afraid she might not produce an impact with the song. Her rendition of her father’s song became number one on the hit charts for a couple of weeks on radio in the early 1990s.
In 1977, he held series of campus tours in the capital’s major colleges and universities. Capped by a successful solo concert at the Folk Arts Theater. He later developed into an all-around artist capable of holding the attention of mature and sophisticated audiences as proven by his well-attended shows in Manila’s plush hotels and nightclubs.
In 1978, “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika” and “Ang Lahat ng Ito’y Para sa Iyo” was launched and also became a gold record. “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika” defeated Freddie Aguilar’s “Anak” and gave Hajji the grand prize in the First Metro Manila Music Festival in 1978. The song also won the grand prize in the First International Seoul Song Festival in Korea.
Hajji also dabbled in stage acting and was part of the cast of “Batibot” under the tutelage of great director Behn Cervantes. His other notable theater shows were “Kapinangan,” original ethnic musicals at the Metropolitan Theater and adaptations of Broadway musicals such as “The Wiz” and “The Fantastks,” and the rock opera ballet “Tales of the Manuvu.”
He is the first husband of late TV host and actress Rio Diaz. Their son Ali Alejandro is a member of the band Mojofly.
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