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| Sunday, 12 January 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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A musician/singer, composer and song writer, Raymond Fonseka was responsible for forming Samanalayo in September 1967 and proudly claims that his band was the first harmony group with Sinhala name in a scenario of groups with names such as Los Cabelleros, Los Muchachos, Amigos Romanticas, La Ceylonians and La Bambas. Samanalayo was launched over the air waves by the well-known broadcaster Leon Belleth in the weekly Radio Journal program, and the song Nalawena Mau Ukule became a major hit for Raymond Fonseka. Now thirty five years later the song continues to enjoy popularity what with singers like Mignonne, Dalreen, Corinne and Mariazelle including it in their repertoire. But the sad part of it according to Raymond is that some singers include the song on their recordings with no reference or acknowledgement to him. After recording thirteen songs Samanalayo ceased to function and Raymond joined SEAC as their keyboardist and singer, in 1971. During the twelve years he was with SEAC before he joined Serenade. Raymond recorded four songs for the SEAC label which soon became popular for him. The songs were Methaka Sita, Binaramalee, Dankutukutu and Sobana Sandave. His years with Serenade, led by the late Mike Gunasekera, performing in Switzerland, Germany, Denmark and Leichenstein were valuable in experience. According to Raymond he became more proficient in performing western music and today his repertoire has widened considerably. He still continues to record songs and recently recorded some Christmas songs for Rookantha Gunatilake and Rohana Weerasinghe. |
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| Produced by Lake House |
Playing
a solo act in the southern circuit and enjoying himself immensely singing
his originals as well as covers is keyboardist Raymond Fonseka. He tells
us that playing solo means that the problems connected with managing a
band are absent and gives him freedom to concentrate on his music.
