Clarence Wijewardena
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| Clarence Wijewardane | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 3, 1943 |
| Origin | Haputhale, Sri Lanka |
| Died | December 13, 1996 (aged 53) |
| Genre(s) | Playback singing, Sri Lankan music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer |
| Years active | 1965–1996 |
Clarence Wijewardane (August 3, 1943 – December 13, 1996) is a legendary Sri Lankan musician, who pioneered the use of electric guitar in Sinhala music. He is said to have revolutionized Sri Lankan music in the 1960s and is often named as the father of Sri Lankan pop music - having influenced performers in ranging from Annesley Malewana to Pahan Silu. His music is often characterized by simple melodies built around a melody that features the electric guitar - this style may be best illustrated by the song Malata Bambaraku Se (Translated: Like a Bee To a Flower).
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life and the Moonstones
Wijewardene was born on August 3, 1943, in Haputale, Sri Lanka, to an estate medical doctor. His family moved to Batugedara, Ratnapura in 1964, where Wijewardene eloped with the daughter of a local landlord, and abandoned a budding planting career to pursue music full time.
Wijewardena formed the Moonstones at the age of 21 with Annesley Malewana as lead vocalist. Managed by Vijaya Corea the group recorded several songs to be aired on the Saturday Star program in 1966. Their 1968 debut EP Mango Nenda was released on the JVPC007 Philips label selling up to 5000 copies. It included the songs "Mango Nenda," "Ruwan Puraya," "Seetha Ude" and "Menike." The sophomore release More Hits by the Moonstones came out november that year on the Sooriya label and included the hits "Kalu Mama", "Rosa male", "Ramani" and "Goyam Kapanawa." "Mango Nenda" was selected the best Sinhala song by the Hit Parade program on Radio Ceylon. In 1969 the Moonstones welcomed female vocalist Indrani Perera who sang lead on the best selling "Dilhani." Wijewardena himself only sang lead on "Dileepa Podi Puthu," an adaptation of a poem written by band member Upali Abesekara to his son.
[edit] Golden Chimes and Super Golden Chimes
Wijewardena departed the Moonstones and formed the Golden Chimes with ex-Moonstones bassist Chanaka Perera and Lankika Perera in January 1971. Their first release included "Kimade Nawe", "Mage pelpathe", "Sihin Sinawai" and "Samanalayo." Subsquently English language vocalist Anil Bharati joined. Second EP on Philips label contained "Malai Velai", "Sihil Nuwan", "Surangana Vesvala" and "Mage Viyowen" and third EP contained "Iru Dina", "Sandai Tharui", "Muhudu Rella" and "Thakkita Tharikita."
In the mid-'70s Wijewardena scored the H.D. Premaratne film Sikuruliya with backing by the Golden Chimes. He also produced and wrote two songs for H. R. Jothipala. Soon after Wijewardena left the Golden Chimes and formed the Super Golden Chimes with Malewana. The Super Golden Chimes first release contained the hits "Kanda Surinduni", "Seetha Sulanga", "Pena Bubulai" and "Sathuta Senasuma." The group lasted till 1978 when Malewana left music.
In addition to Sikurliya, Wijewardena provided songs for the films Mangala, Apeksha, Chathumadura, Chalitharangali and Chandi Shama and Sihasuna, Kolamba Sanniya, Janaka saha Manju and Siuranga Sena in the late-'70s.
[edit] Later career
In 1982 Wijewardena formed a third group Madara with Rookantha Goonatillake (keyboards), Mariyazel Gunathilake (vocalist/keyboards), Raju Bandara (lead guitar), Kenet Silva (bass guitar), Ajantha Dampaha Gamage (drums) and Prabhath Bandara (lead guitar). It broke up sometime later.
Wijewardena passed away on December 13, 1996, at the age of 53, in Sri Lanka after a brief bout with cirrhosis of the liver. Many of his songs are considered classics, and continue to enjoy ample airtime on Sri Lankan television and radio broadcasts.
[edit] Controversy
Due, however, to the popularity of his songs (which has grown since his death), they have also become the subject of a lawsuit over illegally recorded renditions sampled by other Sri lankan artists including singer Rajiv Sebastien. Clarence's widow recent filed suit against Sebastian[1], hoping to recover a portion of the income earned through the use of her late husband's work.
[edit] Music
In the course of his career, Clarence wrote several songs that became classics in his own time - among these; Gamen Liyumak (Translated: A Letter From the Village), Hiruge Lowedi (Translated: In the World of the Sun), Kanda Surinduni ("O Lord God of the Mountain") and Malata Bambaraku Se (Translated: Like a Bee To a Flower)
He also composed soundtracks for several Sri Lankan films, including Sikuruliya; as well as teledramas such as Suseema and Nidhikumba Mal.
He is often credited as having influenced the music of Pahan Silu.
