Billy Crawford credits late father as biggest coach in life

October 2, 2024 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — His work as a coach to “The Voice” kids has started, and Billy Crawford is definitely on the lookout for talents, aged between seven and 14, who will constitute his team. Hopefully, one of them will reach the finale show.

Billy simply banks on his years of experience as a singer and recording artist here and abroad.

Like his fellow “The Voice Kids” coaches Julie Anne San Jose and Stell and Pablo of SB19, Billy has a game plan, which he generously shared in a recent press conference for the reality singing talent show, airing Sundays at 7 p.m. on GMA.

“My strategy is that I have to tell and be honest with the kids and tell them that ‘This is a competition,’” said he. “Sa isang competition, may mananalo at may matatalo (in a competition, someone wins and someone loses), pero gusto ko ring i-embed sa kanila na di matatapos yung career nila dahil sa isang kumpetisyon (but I also want to embed or instill in them that their career will not end because of one competition).”

Billy added that he wanted the kids to also appreciate the importance of having work ethics and professionalism in the fields of performing and singing.

“And also how to love and to be passionate about their craft, which is singing,” shared he. “So, when it comes to performance, what I can also give them (as advice) is kung ito ang hilig nila (if this is something they want to do or they’re interested in doing), they really have to give their heart.”

It’s safe to say that all this is a glimpse of Billy as a coach of “The Voice Kids,” although he has also shown his coach side in “The Voice Generations.”

In life, Billy has had coaches or influences who have inspired him to chase his dreams and helped him navigate his entertainment careers, from being a child actor-performer to becoming an international singer and a well-known actor.

“One of my biggest coaches in my life was my father,” said he, adding that his dad gave him a sense of awareness about work and professionalism. (His dad sadly passed away on Sept. 22.) “And I’ve always wanted to be like or at least close to my father.”

However, the idea of coaching is not something new to him.

“I love coaching my kid, Amari,” said Billy, who is married to actress Coleen Garcia. “We try to give them (our kids) the best coach in life at kami yung tinitignan nila araw-araw (parents, like me, are the ones they look up to).”

“I’ve been given this platform to actually motivate kids and to teach them certain things like tricks and trades that we know as coaches and we can share with the kids. That’s why it’s a big responsibility (to be a coach), nakaka-pressure, but the experience of being a coach, it’s not so new to me, pinangarap ko na ito matagal na (I’ve dreamed this for long), like I’ve always wanted to help performers enhance whatever skills they have,” added he.

Following Billy’s train of thought, one could gather that an artist should always try to perfect his or her craft. Regardless of the artist’s chosen field — be it singing, acting or painting, he or she has to work hard and put his or her (heart and) soul into it.

“It feels good to be a coach, and (for) all of us, our roles in life are to coach and teach good to others, kumbaga automatic na tayong coaches,” said he.

That’s why, when the opportunity to coach for this new edition of “The Voice” came along, Billy took and grabbed it. After all, it is his way of paying it forward and helping aspiring singers.

“I’m just really thankful and blessed that I’m given this opportunity, siguro makabalik lang sa kapwa ko whether kahit anong edad (maybe just to help others), but it’s just a blessing na makaka-coach pa ako sa mga kabataan (to be coaching the young ones),” said he.

For Billy, no matter what age, one can start anything, such as discovering and pursuing one’s talent, let’s say, for singing, as one may add.

“It’s just such a beautiful thing to see innocent children having their dreams and fulfilling their dreams, even makatapak lang sila dito sa entablado (them stepping on the stage to perform) without knowing if they will pass (or go to) the next round or not, just the experience, it’s a lifetime core memory, and I hope people will see it. That’s why it’s such a beautiful program to have, it is such a beautiful program to watch,” concluded he.