Milton Mallawarachchi
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| Milton Mallawarachchi | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Milton Mallawarachchi |
| Born | April 7, 1945 |
| Origin | Sri Lanka |
| Died | March 10, 1998 |
| Genre(s) | Playback singing, Sri Lankan music |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Years active | 1969 – 1998 |
Milton Mallawarachchi (1945 – 1998) was a popular Sri Lankan musician. His best known songs include "Thaniwi Sitinai", "Edha Rae" and "Sihinen Oba Mata".
Mallawarachchi has sung songs by Karunaratne Abeysekera, K. D. K. Dharmawardena, Premakirthi de Alwis, Clarence Wijewardena, Upali Danawalawithana, Dharmasiri Gamage, Ajantha Ransinghe, Shelton Weeraratne, Kularatne Ariyawansa, Ananda Padmasiri, Vernon Perera, Chitrananda Abeysekera, Bandara Wijetunga and Vijaya Ramanayake.
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[edit] Life and career
[edit] Early life and career
Mallawarachchi completed his early education at Ananda Sastralaya Kotte.[1] He was a member of a short lived group called the Sakyans[2] and subsquently the La Ceylonians. Mallawarachchi's vocals on the latter group's "Daha Duke Vidyahala" and "Mal Ravamal" led to his discovery by producer Patrick Corea. Kurera offered to record the young vocalist on four songs "Oruwaka Pawena," "Ran Kuduwak Oba Sadu," "Sansare Sewanale" and "Mangale Neth Mangale." The songs were released on the Exvee label as a 78 rpm record in 1969 and gave Mallawarachchi his first popular hit with "Oruwaka Pawena."
[edit] Music
In 1974 renown musician Clarence Wijewardena composed the songs "Sena Andura," "Eda Rae," "Oba Mae Bahutade" and "Maga Thotadhii" for a Mallawarachchi EP release on Gemstone. Wijewardena would also write "Awasara Natha Mata," "Sulange Pawe," "Thaniwi Sitinai," and "Prem Raja Thahane" for Milton.
One of Mallawarachchi's most successful songs was "Mai Gaha Yata" done under the production of Melroy Dharmaratne in 1976. It was released on the Silverline label as an EP backed with "Ran Mudu" and two songs ("Andanne Epa" and "Ma Samanalayak") by Shiromie Fernando.
Mallawarachchi released one of the first music audio cassette's in Sri Lanka under the guidance of Wijewardene in 1978. It was titled Anytime-Anywhere and was on the Tharanga label.
Mallawarachchi debuted as a playback singer in the 1971 film, Poojithayo. In 1984, he was honored with a best playback singer award at the Sarasawiya Awards for "Kendan Yannam," a song from Sena Samarasinghe's Aethin Aethat.
Mallawarchchi was a popular live attraction; at a time when there was no TV in Sri Lanka, his appearances at variety shows sponsored by the Ceylon Tobacco Company drew huge crowds.[3] Mallawarachchi appeared alongside the Super Golden Chimes at the Super Concert 101/102 organized by Wijewardene.
[edit] Personal life
Mallawarachchi was married to Swarna Mallawarchchi, and had four children: Ranil, Harshini, Nadija, and Tharaka.[4] Ranil, the eldest, continues in his father's tradition.
[edit] Discography
| Album information | ||
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| Oruwaka Pawena | Songs
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| Sane Andura | Songs
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| Kese Kiyannada | Songs
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| Awasara Natha Mata | Songs
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| Mai Gaha Yata | Songs
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| Anusuth We Natha | Songs
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| Prem Raja Danaya | Songs
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| Kalak Aweemane | Songs
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| Anytime - Anywhere | Songs
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[edit] References
- ^ Ananda Sastralaya Kotte celebrates 115 years. Sunday Observer (2005). Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
- ^ Herbert was a man of many parts. Sunday Times (2001). Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
- ^ That voice, those songs. SundayTimes (1998). Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
- ^ a b 7 Year Death Anniversary of Milton Mallawarachchi. Sinhala Jukebox (2005). Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
