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| Sunday, 23 April 2006 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Happenings / People Nostalgic and sentimental by Mahes Perera
In Guinn Ragel's life come what may, music will always play a major role. And that is why he recently released his second CD 'Love Needs a Hand' in Sydney. Sri Lankan born Guinn was very much in the music scene here before his family decided to migrate to Australia. Despite the stiff competition in the music industry in Sydney, he determinedly and doggedly stuck to achieving his ambition of being recognised as a soloist singer. This he achieved in time. He began performing in and around Sydney and his popularity increased. His first CD containing pop songs gave him a favourable response and now this second CD 'Love Needs a Hand', according to him, is "nostalgic, sentimental and memorable". The CD was produced and arranged by pianist Raddy Ferreira who headed the popular band The Raddy Ferreira Combo in Sri Lanka in the 60s, and in Sydney he was the music director of the orchestra at the Sydney Hilton. In the music arrangements of the songs recorded, the artistry of Raddy is refreshing. The title track Love Needs a Hand is based on the song Love Really Needs a Helping Hand which carries a great melody and strong lyrics composed by talented pianist/song writer Brian Gesell. Other tracks sung by Guinn are the standards When I Fall in Love, Autumn Leaves, the pop hit Walk Through This World With Me, I Believe, which features sax solos by the Australian jazz legend Errol Buddle and a sentimental ballad Goodbye which Guinn says is a special dedication to his late mother who "was a courageous, loving and caring human being and who will always be missed". Vocal backing was by guests Abigail Grimsel and Erin Wood and Raddy was ably assisted by a well-known recording engineer in Sydney, Luke Gerard-Webb. Reaching out for success
No longer are they waiting in the wings for their opportunity to shine. The band Fame have moved into the limelight and are now working regular gigs on Saturdays and Mondays at the Galadari Hotel. Led by the youthful Ranga Perera, a bassist and vocalist, Fame have undergone a change of personnel since they started off under the late Cumar Pieris' who was their manager. "We miss him, as he helped us tremendously in the arrangements of the music in our repertoire, and we are determined not to let him down but carry on the good work we learnt from him. The changes in our band are Sumith Jayarathna who plays guitar and handles vocals, and Thushara is our new keyboardist/vocalist. Of course Chami Mendis our drummer/vocalist is a pioneer member and I'm happy with the overall sound of the band", expresses Ranga who is serious about his music career. Their repertoire is basically music of the 60s, 70s and 80s and they enjoy playing the hits of Kool and the Gang, Earth Wind and Fire, the blues of Joe Cocker, and like other bands have a wide selection of standards, swing and Sri Lankan pop. Fame have been fortunate in making appearances at corporate functions, weddings and dances, too. Taking to the bass was no problem at all for Ranga Perera because he had a formal education in Oriental music and is quite adept at playing the violin and the sitar. Since the Oriental scene, according to him, is highly competitive, he thought it was better to move into the Western music scene and achieve his ambition of leading a band. With a natural flair for friendly public relations, Ranga keeps his team together with ease. This is reflected in their performances, as the boys jell together smoothly and make music that is entertaining of an evening. So catch their performance on Mondays and Saturdays at the Galadari Hotel. MP Super Stars sing for fund raiser
The Super Stars will be backed by the famous Mahesh Denipitiya and his band who were the backing band for the finals of the talent search. A dance troupe will provide extra colour to the show which will be compered by the heart throb of the Sinhala cinema Kamal Addaraarachchi. The show will commence at 6.30 p.m. and entertainment of a high standard is assured. Proceeds from the show will go towards the proposed Junior Computer Lab for the college. |
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| Produced by Lake House |
Music lovers in Negombo will no doubt go ga-ga when the Super Stars who
recently captured the hearts of many Sri Lankans will be centre stage on
Friday, April 28. The venue will be the indoor stadium of Maris Stella
College and the show by the Sirasa Superstars will be a fund-raiser
organised by the Old Boys' Association of the College. 
