Amapola's music career began when she sang the love theme "Guihigugma Ko Ikaw" for the Azucena Pictures film
Utlanan. The song "Kapantay Ay Langit" sung by Amapola and composed by
George Canseco, won the Manila Film Festival "Gabi Ng Parangal" (
Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Award) song of the year award. It was later popularized by singer
Pilita Corrales, which eventually became her
signature song. Amapola was awarded the key to
Cebu City by then-Governor
Manuel Cuenco to celebrate her work as Toy Orchestra Conductor, making her the youngest person ever to receive the honor. The event was held at Cebu City's
DYRC-Radio, attended by Cebu Normal School (now
Cebu Normal University) Military Toy Orchestra, conductor Amapola and director Coronada Pingol, the CNS Toy Orchestra creator. Since the 1970s, Amapola has performed jazz and popular music. She has headlined in venues such as the
Sahara Hotel and the
Union Plaza Hotel in
Las Vegas,
Stern Grove in
San Francisco,
The Town Hall in New York, the Grand Hotel in
Washington DC, and the
Shrine Auditorium in
Los Angeles. In 1979, Amapola's band, Amy and the Sounds, featuring her father, Mahnee Cabase on the keyboards, were commissioned as the house band at the
Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. In the 1980s, Amapola won several awards for her music, including the
Awit Award for Best Female Singer and Best Vocal Performance. In 1984, she was inducted into the Tinig Awards Hall of Fame for her contributions to the Filipino entertainment industry in the Philippines and abroad, appearing in numerous local presentations in California for the Filipino community.
Songs and Amapola Amapola's first compilation album,
Songs and Amapola, was released under the Pioneer label of
Vicor Music Corporation and included all of Amapola's 1971–72 hit songs. All tracks were written and performed by D'Amarillo and His Orchestra. The vocal coach was Philip Maninang. The album's back cover featured
George Canseco's poem "Ode to Amapola". ==Discography==