(Eagle News)—Filipino rock icon Joey “Pepe” Smith has passed away.
His death was confirmed by one of his daughters in a Facebook post.
“Thank you for everything papa bear ko. Thank you for being the best dad in the world. I know youre in the best place now, no more pains papa.. i will see you in few days. I love you to the moon and back,” Daisy Smith-Owen said.
Smith had suffered a stroke several times in the past but was reportedly not taking his medication.
Smith, who was born in 1947 at the Clark Airbase in Pampanga, was a member of the then-Juan Dela Cruz, Speed and Glue and Shinki bands.
In 1974, his Juan dela Cruz band released “Himig Natin,” said to be one of the precursors to Filipino rock.
He released his last album “Idiosyncrasies” in 2015.