TNT Boys

Quick Facts

Group Name: TNT Boys
Honorific Nickname: The Big Shot Trio
Genre: Pop

Current Members:
Keifer Sanchez
Mackie Empuerto
Francis Concepcion

Year of Inception: 2017
Current Base: Metro Manila
Languages: Filipino, English, Bisaya
Label: TNT Records
Status: Active

TNT Boys – Photo by Vincent Duke

About the TNT Boys

The members of the TNT Boys had their start as individual contestants of a noontime variety show singing contest, the Tawag ng Tanghalan Kids (TNT Kids) where all three figured in the top five. During the grand finals on June 10, 2017 at the Resorts World Manila, Keifer Sanchez placed runner up, Mackie Empuerto third and Francis Concepcion fifth.

It wasn’t until a week after the finals when the three guested in Gandang Gabi Vice that they would become an official group. Host Vice Ganda challenged the boys to sing Beyonce’s Listen while acting out a dramatic bullying situation. The boys’ impromptu performance was so good, it went viral. On that same guest appearance, Vice Ganda dubbed them the TNT Boys, named of course, after the contest they’d joined.

What followed were busy months of multiple guestings for the boys, one of the early ones being in Little Big Shots Philippines in September 2017. They went on to perform in Little Big Shots US in April 2018, with the show’s producer Ellen DeGeneres tweeting a preview of the boys performance and a jesting invitation to Beyonce to watch the episode. Host Steve Harvey was reportedly so impressed he told the boys after their performance he wanted them back. In June of the same year, they reunited with Harvey and took center stage again with Somebody to Love. This time, it was Brian May of Queen who gave them a shout out, for their “brilliant” performance.

The boys also performed in the UK (June 2018) and Australia (September 2018) franchises of Little Big Shots, making them the first Filipino act to perform in all four franchises of the show. By this time, fans had already taken to calling them The Big Shot Trio.

In between show guestings both local and international, the boys joined season two of Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids in May 2018, dressing up and singing as the actual singers of the songs they performed. Their rendition of the Bee Gees’ Too Much Heaven earned them a thank you tweet from the official Bee Gees Twitter account. The TNT Boys went on to win the competition with their 16th and final performance as Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj singing Bang Bang.

With multiple successes and accolades tucked under their wings, the group earned the right to their first major concert dubbed Listen: The Big Shot Concert on November 30, 2018, making them the record holder for the Philippines’ youngest sold out performers at the Araneta Coliseum.

With hardly a moment to breathe, the TNT Boys where next seen as contestants in The World’s Best winning their audition and battle rounds, but eventually bowing out to the acapella group Naturally 7 during the championship round. While in the US, they met one of their singing idols, Ariana Grande while guesting at The Late Late Show with James Corden. Host James Corden jokingly referred to them as his “favorite new boy band on planet Earth.”

As of this posting, the TNT Boys are set to embark on their World Tour, with shows scheduled on April 23 and 25, 2019 in California and April 27, 2019 in Canada.

About Keifer Sanchez

Born on November 25, 2004 in Davao City, Keifer, nicknamed Poy, is the eldest kuya (older brother) of the trio. When not in school, Keifer spent some of his time as a barker for his father, calling out to passengers as his father drove their passenger jeepney. It was in relation to this early work experience that led some of his fans to christen him with a more apt moniker, the Balladeer Barker.

Prior to joining Tawag ng Tanghalan Kids, he had only joined two other competitions. Although a relatively inexperienced amaturista (amateur contest participant), Keifer felt a strong inclination to perform on stage, which was what led him to choose to compete on a national competition. Notwithstanding his modest experience, his talent paved the way for an astounding second place finish.

Of the three boys, Keifer has perhaps undergone the most noticeable physical change. Although still reed thin, he has become subtly, but wonderfully stylish, his well chosen wardrobe complementing an undercut and a sleek ponytail, a hairstyle so perfectly suited to his slim figure his fans have again given birth to yet another nickname — Ponytail.

It is unclear whether the TNT Boys will ever veer away from the stage, but if they ever do decide to pursue higher studies, Keifer has expressed a desire to become a civil engineer, wanting to help improve the quality of public streets and roads, no doubt seeing firsthand during his days as a barker how much they need improvement.

About Mackie Empuerto

Mackie was born on September 8, 2005 in San Juan, Manila, and is the trio’s unquestionable veteran of amateur contests. He started joining small town singing contests at the age of 8. To date, he has joined more than a hundred singing contests, a fact attested to by his collection of numerous medals and trophies once captured on camera by a TV crew.

His love for singing and penchant for competing was a natural offshoot of his parents’ eager support and his father’s equally avid love for joining competitions himself. In some instances, Mackie’s father would do more than take his son to contests in various provinces. He would be illegible to compete himself, sometimes getting pitted against his own son, with Mackie on occasion beating him. One of their more amusing anecdotes was their family winning all three top spots with Mackie’s sister rounding up third place.

From the start, Mackie’s avowed reasons for his perpetual presence at contests is both pragmatic and grand, wanting to first help his family financially with his winnings and to attempt to fulfill his dream of achieving fame as a performer. On a sweeter note, Mackie wanted to win Tawag ng Tanghalan Kids so he could sing for and surprise his sister at her debut.

By his own admission, Mackie was slightly mischievous as a child. He is however, clearly the most staid and formal of the trio on stage, often lending support and balance to the younger Francis’ more animated stage temperament. It’s likely that Mackie’s unifying quality is owing to his long experience in the contest circuit.

Like Keifer, Mackie has entertained thoughts of a different direction as an adult, aspiring to one day become a music, arts and physical education (MAPEH) teacher. And again, like Keifer, it is uncertain if the path is truly set and clear for Mackie to pursue his dreams of a different career. The chances of seeing a Mr. Empuerto in class is even more doubtful considering Mackie has displayed some skill in acting and may want to be an actor someday, having already successfully discharged a dramatic role in the movie Bakwit Boys. When asked in a talk show to demonstrate his acting chops, Mackie was able to cry effortlessly on cue.

About Francis Concepcion

Francis is the group’s youngest, born on June 22, 2006. He hails from Zamboanga City, although some sources say he may have also spent some time in Cavite. Of the three, Francis has had the least vocal training before participating in Tawag ng Tanghalan, and has also had the most difficult personal life. A video montage of his early years gives a glimpse of his rock bottom beginnings, clearly showing him thinner, and at one point, even shirtless on the streets.

Being the fifth of a large family of 9 children, he has had to endure extreme privations at a young age. He sometimes went for days with little to nothing to eat, or had to look for odd ways to try to earn money. One online video commenter recounted how she once met Francis in a restaurant, offering to sing for a little cash, with Francis admitting to her how he did not like to beg and would rather do something in exchange for money. He has also had to periodically scavenge through trash to look for items to sell.

At the age of 9, Francis’ aunt, his father’s sister whom he calls Mama Grace, took him and his sister in and supported them so they could pursue their education. When not in school, Francis helped in his aunt’s store, packing, arranging and selling sugar, salt, coal and vegetables. It was to his aunt that Francis dedicated one of his contest performances. Now that he has started earning better as a performer, Francis has pledged to help is family as long as he’s able.

As a public figure, Francis is a study in contrasts, which strangely is what makes him even more admirable. Despite having had little past formal coaching, he is the most expansive and naturally expressive on stage and is even visibly the most confident of the trio. He is also the funniest in the group despite having had a difficult past, often dropping humorous gems in interviews and videos.

Videos

Singles & EPs

• TNT Boys Christmastime (EP – 2018)
• Sitsiritsit Alibangbang (Awit at Laro – 2018)
• Show Me A Smile (Single – 2018)

Awards

• Rawr Awards (Royal Cub Awardee – 2018)
• PPOP Young Artists Awards (Rising Pop Child Performer of the Year – 2018)
• National Customers’ Choice Annual Awards (Concert Performer of the Year – 2019)
• National Customers’ Choice Annual Awards (Concert of the Year -Listen: The Bigshot Concert – 2019)
• 50th Guillermo Mendoza Box Office Entertainment Awards (Promising Male Concert Performers of the Year – 2019)
• Push Awards (Push Music Performance of the Year – as Bee Gees – Too Much Heaven – 2019)
• Wish Music Awards: Breaking Boundaries (Breaking Boundaries Award – 2019)

Nominations

• Push Awards (Push Newcomer of the Year – 2019)

TV

• It’s Showtime (Individual contestants – Finalists – Tawag ng Tanghalan – 2017)
• Your Face Sounds Familiar (Season 2 – Grand Winner – 2018)
• The World’s Best (Top 12 – 2019)

Guestings

• Little Big Shots PH, US, UK, AUS (2018)
• President’s Charity Ball (Singapore – 2018)
• Malacanang Official Dinner (2018)
• I Can See Your Voice PH (2018)
• The Late Late Show with James Corden (2019)
• PBA Opening (2019)

Concerts

• TNT Boys Listen: The Big Shot Concert (Araneta Coliseum – 2018)
• TNT All Star Showdown (Manila – Cebu – 2018)
• TNT Boys: A Post Valentine Special (2019)
• Pinoy Hype 2019 (Dubai UAE)
• Listen the World Tour (California – Canada – 2019)

Perspective

I’ve heard it said a hundred times — these boys sound like angels, and while they do radiate an ethereal vibe, there’s something else more resounding in their tone. I hear the unmistakable sound of even more future greatness. It doesn’t matter that people have conjectured on how puberty will eventually change how they sound. These boys will shine even brighter in the years to come if they are taken care of, take care of themselves and take care of each other.

Praise for the Group

Goosebumps up and down my body!!!

– Lea Salonga
Tony Award-Winning Broadway Actress
World’s Best reaction

You possess a gift. You’re just that good!

– Drew Barrymore
American Actress/Producer/Director/Model
World’s Best – Judge

First of all, you have some serious attitude. You’re so precious and so sweet but when you were singing, you were in that song, you were like, bam!

– Faith Hill
American Country Singer/Record Producer
World’s Best – Judge

I know for a fact that you can be The World’s Best.

– Pops Fernandez
Filipina Singer/Entertainer
World’s Best – Expert Panelist

I think the TNT Boys from the Philippines are incredible. They were the guys that did Bang Bang, right? They did it better than us.

– Jessie J
English Singer/Songwriter – BBC video

Check out these lovely young lads from the Philippines. Brilliant. Great to see youngsters relating to Queen so well — and enjoying.

– Brian May
English Musician/Songwriter
Queen Lead Guitarist – Facebook post

Contact

• The TNT Boys
• facebook.com/TheTNTBoys
• twitter.com/thetntboys
• instagram.com/thetntboys
• youtube.com – TNT Boys

Bookings

• pgdizon@abs-cbn.com
• mpinocencio-ijm@abs-cbn.com
• +639395178754

Listen

• Spotify – TNT Boys
• Deezer – TNT Boys
• TNT Boys – Apple Music

Apple Music

On Instagram

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by TNTBoys (@thetntboys)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by TNTBoys (@thetntboys)

Trivia

• Mackie has excellent dance skills and, according to the boys themselves, is their best dancer.
• Keifer says he had to temporarily stop going to school. If he hadn’t stopped, he would’ve been in grade 9 at the age of 13 in 2018.
• When harmonizing, Mackie often takes the low notes, Keifer the high notes, and Francis sings the melody.
• Francis’ secret talent is twerking.
• When teasing each other, Francis is the most quickly annoyed.
• As individual contestants in Tawag ng Tanghalan (TNT), none of the members of the TNT Boys won the championship. It was Jhon Clyd Talili who was declared the champion. Sheena Belarmino, the only girl in the top five, took fourth place.
• In Talili’s Instagram account, he calls Keifer his Best Friend Forever (BFF).

Posted: March 21, 2019
Updated: April 13, 2019

Profile photo used with permission from Vincent Duke.