Double celebration | Daily News

Double celebration

The melody and vibrant voice of Desmond de Silva rocked the city of Colombo at the age of 75 at the Marino Beach Hotel in the eve September 7. Tapping toes and dancing, he switched on the button www.desmela.com to launch the “MelaNota” music technique, of the patent holder of Melantha Perera to globalize the music technique via satellite. The website was created by Nadun, a student of Riversheen.

This prominent musical figure was humble enough to share his views and experience to a large gathering of students and parents of Riversheen School of Music and the general public.

To many questions raised by the audience and MC Rukshan, he said, though the aim of his parents were for him to be academically qualified and be a professional, his note for his mother was “P.S. – I am paid to travel”.

His voice in 1960/70s was nothing new to the fans beyond the horizon. He was backed by Damayantha Kuruppu, who treated Desmond as a living legend and was highly inspired by his audience around the globe. He was also supported by Berty Ekanayake in Melbourne and Nimal Fonseka as they are his good friends, assisting him on whatever he launched. His wife Phyllis Adrian was refreshing change to his life. Dalreen Suby walked up to the stage to reminisce some of the good old times with him.

He mentioned that he was fired by many instrumental groups- Spitfires, Jet Liners and many more. Later he formed his own band “Desmond and the Clan” which took him to the zenith of his musical carrier.

Before all, he sang for clubs, socials, sundown dances and many a day at Akasa Kade. He was blessed with the talent of imitating most of the hierarchy singers like Elvis, Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin, Eddie Jayamanne and others in 1960s.

It was mentioned that he was the first to sing a Cafrina Song. His song “Sumihiri Pane” is still quite popular among music enthusiasts He had performed more than 150 shows all over the world including Sri Lankan stages. He was baptized as a “Baila King” and when he is up on stage singing, the fans go wild.

To be a successful singer he said “you just sing as you are – no substitutes”. Practice is the main goal and he notes that many singers must have an undisturbed sleep.

Ending his speech he asked to make use of the “MelaNota” technique.

“It helps any person at all ages to play any instrument without a teacher by following a digital system,” he noted.

He performed the first tune following the “MelaNota” system. Then cutting the 75th Birthday cake brought about a lot of nostalgia. Soon more music and dance followed. Nobody stuck to their seats. They all cheered him before the end of the last instrumental music played by the band ‘Vissio’” with the twins Eranjan and Viranjan:

Glory Glory Halleluiah

Long Live our Legendry King

Of Baila – Desmond the Great

Pictures by Sagara Lakmal de Mel


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