Macaraeg's father, born in Malasiqui, Pangasinan and educated at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, was a medic with the rank of captain in the Philippine Army during World War II.
He played in a rock band with his elder brother Gordon, aged 12 and 13, and with grandsons of Filipino composer Nicanor Abelardo.
While there, he became friends with Lito de Joya, Sonny Santiago, Gus Cosio, Renato Garcia, Chito Kintanar, Kenny Barton, Bruce Brown, Butch Dans, Kinjo Sawada, Goff Macaraeg, Doden Besa, Jim Paredes, and Boboy Garovillo, who would become the band APO Hiking Society.
He then formed another band that included his brother Goff, Victor James, Dean Sampaio, and Joe Guererro, called the Salvation Army, singing and playing all over the island during weekends until he completed his high school.
After graduation in 1974 at the age of 22, he toured the US with a show band, singing and playing bass guitar at Mountain Shadows in Scottsdale, Arizona, Harvey's in Reno and clubs in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Meeting up with another show band bound for Japan out of San Diego, California, Macaraeg played for Japanese audiences during the early 1980s.
His first hit, "Kahit Konting Pagtingin" in 1982, was an immediate favorite and launched his career as a Filipino recording artist, performing on many television shows and in concerts, both locally and overseas.
At the time Segreto's career took off, the trend in the Philippines had shifted back to original English-language Filipino songs.