Mignonne Fernando

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Mignonne Fernando
Birth name Mignonette Malathi May Rutnam
Born (1943-05-09) May 9, 1943
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Genres Soul, R&B, gospel, jazz, rock
Occupations Singer, songwriter, pianist
Instruments Singing, piano
Years active 1950 – Present
Labels EMI Records (1969–1980)

Introduction

Having won Radio Ceylon's Talent Contest at the age of seven, a year later she wrote her first music composition. Her father. Arnold Rutnam, was renowned for his mathematical skills, and her mother, Marie was a devoted and much loved teacher of music.

As a student of St. Bridget's Convent, Colombo 7, Mignonne scored First position in her class throughout, except the one term when she took ill and was placed second. She participated in Theatre Productions and played Goal for the School Netball Team with equal enthusiasm.

Her interest in Law was overtaken by her passion for Music, and thanks to her mother, she received formal training in Western Classical Music, Speech and Drama. This proved to be her greatest strength and an excellent foundation to her musical career that was to follow.

"Her firsts in the history of popular music in Sri Lanka and her many musical achievements internationally have proved that Mignonne is a rarity by any standard.” Carl Myatt - South China Morning Post

The early years

In 1965, Mignonne along with her group The Jetliners became an instant success under the excellent guidance of Manager/Husband Tony Fernando; and their popularity grew from strength to strength, wherever they performed. Radio Ceylon,introduced her music not only to a local audience but right across South Asia. During the early years Mignonne Fernando and the Jetliners enjoyed star billing at the Coconut Grove nightclub situated in the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo.

In 1969, she became the first Sri Lankan to be signed up by EMI Records UK, and Keith Prowse Music London. The Ceylonese 'Wedding Song' (Mangala Mohotha) was her first song to be copyrighted by KPM.

Her song "Love don't let me down" won the Embassy Award at the World Popular Song Festival where renowned composers and artistes the world over are invited to submit compositions. Of over 1,200 entries, only 10 were selected to be eligible for the award. Another original composition "Someday my love" won the Matsushita Award and Special Jury Award for Composer and Performer at the Festival of Song.

A Sinhala composition "Oba Nisa" was selected for the Finals of the 5th Olympiad of Song in Athens, Greece where it won the Gold Medal. "Coconut Man" made the finals of the World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo. This made her the only Woman Composer/ Performer to date to have been selected into the finals.

See also

External links

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