Another Pinoy music great passes on

Guitarist Eddie Munji III, who recorded the groundbreaking "Pinoy Jazz Volume I" in 1978, died Sunday, Nov. 18, of a heart attack.

Munji  died at 7 p.m. at Queen Mary Help of Christians Hospital in Cardona, Rizal, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.
Songwriter Jim Paredes, best known for being in APO, also announced the news on his Facebook page and on Twitter, calling Munji  "a great musician, arranger and friend."
Munji arranged some of APO's biggest hits, including "Panalangin," "Mahirap Magmahal ng Siyota ng Iba,"  "Lumang Tugtugin,"  "Salawaikain," and " Handog ng Pilipinas sa Mundo," among others, Paredes added.

Eddi Munji III (right) with Jim Paredes at Radio Republic (Photo courtesy of Jim Paredes)
"The man never went to music school yet his arrangements wowed everyone. He was a natural. He learned to read and write cuz he joined the school band. He knew how to turn a song to something that would surprise and delight. He loved the old jazz greats. I personally learned so much from him," Paredes wrote on Facebook.
Nowhere was Munji's propensity to surprise and