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| Sunday, 11 May 2003 |
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At sixteen years when he started his musical career at restaurants, pianist Peter Prins had no idea whatsoever that his artistry would be a recognised force in the music industry. He loved music and he played for the immense pleasure it gave him, for in the early years it was an accepted norm to be a professional in your teens with no thought of big money. In a span of 53 years in the music biz, and he still is a regular performer, Peter's pianist career moved swiftly from being a solo pianist to a band leader of a dance Combo that was foremost in show biz in our country with a special Peter Prins sound. It was only last year he moved out of the dance band scene to revert as a solo pianist. The Sunday Observer in recognition of his invaluable contribution to the Western music industry honoured him with the Golden Clef Award 2002. What does it feel like to win the Golden Clef Award? "I'm happy and appreciate the gesture of recognition and I'm glad the Golden Clef was revived. In our time we were disciplined to be dedicated musicians so quite naturally our contribution has been constant. It is a good motivation for the youth to be in the forefront with their creativity. Yet I think that there should be seminars and workshops to guide our young musicians in the various aspects of the music industry. They may not like it but the fact is it is important if they wish to sustain their career through the years." Peter's career as the leader of his renowned dance band 'The Peter Prins Combo' began way back in 1971 with musicians who were names in the music scene then. There was Randy Pieris sax, Basil Paiva - bass, Telles Anandappa - drums and Theonie Koelman - vocals. "Before I started the Peter Prins Combo I was playing with the then leading dance band 'The Harold Seneviratne Combo." I played with Harold from 1959-1970 and when Harold accepted the gig at the Oberoi in New Delhi, I stayed behind and Patrick Nelson replaced me. That's when I put the Peter Prins Combo together" Peter interrupts our trends of thought. Determined to acquire a big band sound to his combo Peter included power blowing trumpeters Dallas Achilles, Tom Menezes and Denzil Lazarus, which gave that added thrust to his band. On a nostalgic trip and with that characteristic Prins smile on his face Peter recalls "The Combo started off in '71 at the Akasa Kade playing every day of the week! Then I moved over to the Renuka with the same group, played at the Blue Leopard, GOH and was booked by the Supper Club Oberoi when they initially opened this night spot in 1974. I played there for eight and a half years and went back twice to the Supper Club from '91-'93. I think working as a dance band has more potential in our music scene. I enjoyed playing for the National Ballroom and Latin American Championships with foreign judges for six consecutive years. This was a kind of a challenge where you had to play in strict tempo and precise timing, in duration." Acknowledged musicians who played over the years with Peter in his renowned dance Combo include singer Antoinette de Alwis, the late Jewel Goonetilleke - sax, Anil Samarawickreme - guitar, Revel Crake - guitar, Anton Fernando - trumpet, Christopher Prins - drums, Nilantha Ariyaratne - bass, Raj Emmanuel - drums, Neville Gunawardena and Ranjan Dissanayake - baila specialists. that special Peter Prins dance sound took the band overseas as well, courtesy Sri Lankan Airways. "We were in Dubai thrice,played in Australia twice, in Oman twice, France and Belgium and I was amazed at the response - happy that I was able to make others happy on the dance floor." Peter's great success as a popular dance band was his ability to read the audience, mood and give them the right song at that right time. How come? "When I played with Harold Seneviratne I learnt this aspect of reading the mind of the audience and I developed on this intrinsic ability to judge the mood of the audience and to get the best from my musicians who always co-operated with me on stage and I thank them for it. We never used effects or programming as they call it now. I planned the sets when I sat at the piano and the dance began!" pat comes the reply. Now as a solo pianist you can catch Peter Prins at the London Grill, Colombo Plaza on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7.30 pm onwards and currently at the Hilton Lounge, sitting in for Beverley Rodrigo, on Sundays and Tuesdays from 6 pm to 7.30 pm. |
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