They pioneered the Manila sound genre along with bands such as Hotdog and Cinderella, and rose to fame with their first hit song, "Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko".
The song ignited Philippine disco culture, and sparked "VST Mania"; a craze that swept across the country throughout the late 1970s.
In a 2011 interview with Arnold Clavio, Sotto tells the story of hearing the Boyfriends tune being sung by a waitress, which gave him the impetus to create a better hit:[3] N'ung araw, n'ung ako'y vice president ng Vicor, lahat ng hit galing sa amin.
'Di ba, "Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko", 'tapos yung flip-side nun eh, "Ikaw ang Aking Mahal"?
][3] In a mini-documentary special by ASAP, featuring artists that gave birth to the Manila sound movement, which then led to the beginnings of OPM (Original Pilipino Music), Male Rigor confirms Tito Sotto's anecdotal account:[4] Tito Sotto worked for Vicor.
The band became a regular performer on the noontime show Eat Bulaga!, hosted by the Sotto brothers (Tito, Vic) and Joey de Leon.
The band's legacy is an attestment to their enduring popularity, as their hit songs continue to be played on the radio, and used in television and in film.
In an interview with GMA Network News in 2008, songwriter Joey de Leon yearned to write new songs for VST & Co.[5] VST & Company's first major hit, and most recognizable disco anthem, "Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko" ("Sing and I Will Dance"), was not originally intended to be the group's first single.
Composed by Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, the song was actually the B-side to the ballad, "Ikaw ang Aking Mahal" ("You Are My Love").
[2] Original song arranger, Lorrie Ilustre recalls its genesis: As I was leaving Cinema Audio recording studios in Mandaluyong after a session, I got a call from Tito Sotto...
Vic Sotto with his acoustic guitar and Joey de Leon with a pencil and a yellow pad paper, were there trying to put a song together.
After a day, back at the studio, I called Jun Regalado (drums), Roger Herrera Jr. (bass) and Celso Llarina (guitar).
I just laid down the basic rhythm track as I had to fly to Davao to do a couple of shows for The Jem Fever Tour.
When the radio stations got hold of the single, the DJs preferred playing the song on side B, which turned out to be "Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko".
[2] Roger Rigor comments on the ups and downs of fame: What we thought as first as a quick stint in recording turned out to be life-changing.
[2] As the disco decade came to a close, VST & Company's last performance and public appearance as a band, would be during the nationwide Coca-Cola "Coke Litro" Tour.
At the time the band quietly exited the entertainment industry, they had already completed five full-length albums filled with double platinum hits, and made three feature films.
Although in recent years, it has been revealed that the acronym is simply the initialism of the first names of the group's three founding members: Vic (Sotto), Spanky (Rigor), and Tito (Sotto), as reported in a special by PTV evening show XIAOTIME in 2016, hosted by Xiao Chua, entitled: "VST & Co.: Kultura na Nagbubuklod sa Nasyong Pilipino".
Tito Sotto: Ah, yun ang nakatagong talagang totohanang mga ibig sabihin nun.
Although nung araw, sa sales, para ma-palusot ko yun dahil baka mag tampo sa'kin... ba't mo... ikaw na lang ang may ari nito... at yung Vicor... Ang sabi ko: Vic, Spanky, Tito yun.
Spanky Rigor: Now you're stil wondering what the VST stands for... we had at least, maybe about two days... thinking about what name to give the band.
Libretto by actress Bibeth Orteza, choreographery by Carissa Adea, James Laforteza, and PJ Rebullida, directed by BP artistic director Paul Alexander Morales.
Featured singers and theater actors: Karylle, Michael Pangilinan, Markki Stroem, Kyle Echarri, Cooky Chua, Sandino Martin, Jef Flores, and Noel Comia Jr.[7][8][9] Maestro Gerard Salonga comments: Everybody owes it to themselves to check out an art form like ballet... People should engage in historical art because the depth is so much profound.
Male Rigor made a special appearance to celebrate with cheerful students at the ADU campus in Manila, where he performed 'Awitin Mo At Isasayaw Ko', during the celebratory bonfire.
[11] Male Rigor shares a tender moment in connecting with the younger generation: First of all I’m very happy for Adamson that they won the UAAP Cheerdance championship, so I personally came here to congratulate them.
Musical direction by Lorrie Ilustre, the original arranger of "Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko", featuring a powerhouse band from Las Vegas: Pepe Jimenez (drums): Mamma Mia!, Cirque de Soliel, The Lion King, and Carlos Santana.
[4] During the late 1970s, Filipino director Al Quinn directed two feature films that showcased the songs of VST & Company as the films' soundtrack: Disco Fever (1978), starring Vilma Santos, Christopher de Leon, and Cocoy Laurel; and Swing It, Baby (1979), that top-billed Vilma Santos and Romeo Vasquez, with Tito, Vic and Joey, and other stars of the decade such as Amy Austria, Walter Navarro, Rolly Quizon, Sandy Garcia, Geleen Eugenio, Bing Davao and Mike Monserrat.