Ira Cruz

Ira Cara Cruz is a multi-award winning Filipino musician, composer and producer. He is the lead guitarist of Hijo and former member of Bamboo, Introvoys, Passage and Kapatid.

Professional background

Introvoys (1987-1991, 2001)

Introvoys was formed in 1986 by 3rd-G Cristobal, Paco Arespacochaga, and Jonathan Buencamino. Their first album was a "diamond in the rough". After two singles, Dyna Records, which was the band's label, was ready to drop them like a hot potato. However, fate had a different plan. "However Which way" which was the band's third single shot all the way to No. 1 in Metro Manila in just 2 weeks. After a month, the song became the country's No. 1 song thus paving the way for a national tour for the Introvoys. Culled from the same album are certified No. 1 singles such as, "Calling All Nations","Maynila" and "Lullabye" among many others. Their second album sealed Introvoys' status in the mainstream. Born from this album were songs that are now classified as standard hits. These songs are "Will I Survive", "Di Na Ko Aasa Pa", "Binibini" and "Are You Happy". Eventually, the album shot to quadruple platinum status earning the Introvoys the tagged "the No. 1 Band in the Land!". In 1994 they released "Line to Heaven" album which has melodies that are catchy and pop-inflected, some of which are imbedded in rock-styled arrangements. The carrier single was written after Arespacochaga suffered a terrible tragedy, the loss of his parents in a car accident. He left the band in 1996 rejoined in 2000. Ira Cruz, who had played with Introvoys from 1987 to 1991, joined Passage and Kapatid. In 2001, Ira rejoined Introvoys for the short-lived reunion run.