Filipino Soul And Ska Legend Bing Austria Dies At 62
Austria’s journey from punk rocker to ska revivalist, soul singer, and respected tastemaker made him one of Philippine music’s most distinctive figures.
Photo by Studio Justin Bella Alonte Photography, taken from Bing Austria’s Facebook page.
Photo by Studio Justin Bella Alonte Photography, taken from Bing Austria’s Facebook page.
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Bing Austria, best known for his music in the bands Put3ska and Juan Pablo Dream, has died at 62.
Last May 29, it was reported through his Facebook page that the veteran singer and musician was “in a very critical condition at the ICU due to a ruptured appendix.” The following day, another update regarding his condition and a call for donations was posted. Finally, on June 8, it was announced that Austria had passed after battling sepsis, and “sent off by his family and loved ones to a nice place.”
A fixture of the Filipino band scene since the 1980s, beginning with stints in various punk bands, Austria had been the keyboardist of reggae group Tropical Depression before moving on to Put3ska — arguably the band that brought the sound and aesthetic of second-wave ska (otherwise known as “two-tone” ska) to a wider Philippine audience — in the early 1990s. He spent the next decade exploring northern soul and Motown-influenced music as the lead singer of Juan Pablo Dream, which released two acclaimed albums under the country’s most prominent independent label at the time, Terno Recordings.
In the 2010s, Austria fronted The Flippin Soul Stompers, a similar outfit that channeled the likes of Otis Redding, Al Green, and other American soul acts. The band — along with most other groups that Austria led — earned a reputation for excellent live sets that attracted both partygoers and musician peers alike. He also reunited with ex-Put3ska singer Tuesday Vargas in the more ska and reggae-flavored bands Todo Pasa and High Targets, the latter of which was his current band before his passing. Apart from composing and playing music, he was also a highly regarded tastemaker, radio host, and DJ.
Watch the music video for Juan Pablo Dream’s “Nice Place” below:
Frequently Asked Question
Bing Austria was a Filipino musician, singer, and DJ who played a pivotal role in the Philippine indie music scene from the 1980s onward. He was best known as a founding member of ska band Put3ska and as the lead vocalist of Terno Recordings act Juan Pablo Dream, and was widely regarded as a tastemaker and live performer.
Bing Austria was most closely associated with Put3ska, the Filipino ska band credited with bringing second-wave or “two-tone” ska to a wider Philippine audience in the early 1990s. He was also well known as the lead singer of Juan Pablo Dream, a northern soul and Motown-influenced act under Terno Recordings.
Bing Austria died on June 8, 2025, from complications related to sepsis following a ruptured appendix. He had been admitted to the ICU on May 29, and his passing was announced by his family on his official Facebook page. He was 62 years old.
Juan Pablo Dream was a Filipino band fronted by Bing Austria, drawing from northern soul and Motown influences. The group released two critically acclaimed albums under Terno Recordings, the Philippines’ most prominent independent music label at the time, and built a loyal following in the country’s indie music community.
Beyond Put3ska and Juan Pablo Dream, Bing Austria led The Flippin Soul Stompers — a Filipino soul band channeling artists like Otis Redding and Al Green — and co-founded Todo Pasa and High Targets alongside ex-Put3ska vocalist Tuesday Vargas. He was also a member of reggae group Tropical Depression earlier in his career.