Entertainment

A rare singer

by Mahes Perera

The blurbs in Perth describe him as a singer who knows how to deliver a song "with the punch, gusto and feeling of any international performer".

And the singer is none other than the Sri Lankan Malcolm de Kauwe who before he left our shores was a popular personality with the Harold Seneviratne Combo - a leading dance band then.

Today in Perth, he is billed as the Sensational No. 1 Cabaret Band with his group Midnight Sun, and ad crowded schedule behind him. Midnight Sun as Malcolm tells us is a five piece band comprising Sherwin Peiris - bass, George Pillay with Sri Lankan ancestry - on guitar, Wayne Antioch - drums and Mario Anamalee - keyboards.

Malcolm performs during weekends at the Hyde Park Hotel, Perth entertaining packed audiences and proudly claims that he is the longest performing entertainer at the hotel, having performed continuously for the past 27 years and is happy that the hotel extends his stay yearly.

With a repertoire that includes the 70's R & B, pop, soul, ballroom, rock'n roll, latin, in fact an elastic stretch, has resulted in him making many guest appearances across Australian stages.

The Sri Lanka Society of Queensland was full of praise for his performance recently. His fabulous singing voice kept the audience with him, the whole night at the Society's dance. He received many accolades for his guest appearance at the Sheraton Miraj with Australia's number one recording vocal group Human Nature.

Malcolm had his moments when he performed in New Jersey for the Sri Lankan Medical Dinner and Dance and when he made a return to New York for the Royal College Old Boys' Association celebrations - both events turned out to be overwhelming successes. Malcolm is booked to perform in Los Angeles for the Sri Lankan Foundation and he is looking forward to that event.

Music runs in the family. His daughter young Amanda who sings with the band Soothe - an r&b, soul and Motown rhythm group, is planning a concert of Diana Ross' songs which is surely going to be something coming from a young singer. We hope both Malcolm and Amanda will be able to perform here in Sri Lanka - that would certainly be a treat.

Spitfires - Re Union Concert

Making music history will be the members of the one time leading band in Sri Lanka, the Spitfires who will come together for two scintillating Re-Union Concerts at the BMICH on March 23 and March 24. The concerts will be presented by D. K. Promotions who had a successful presentation with the Cliff Richard concert and the media sponsors are Sunday Observer and Daily News.

The Spitfires who created a new generation of sounds in the early 1970's come together after 30 years to bring back nostalgic memories of music ont only in Sri Lanka but also overseas.

The guys and gals who will be seen live at the BMICH will be Priyanthi, Raja Jaladeen, Noeline Honter, Desmond de Silva, Darleen Conrad de Silva, Maxie Rosairo, Claude Fernando, Budrin Musafer, Ronnie, Chinti and Laurensz. The tickets will be on sale from March 7, so hurry, reservations are in full swing. Box plan at Galadari Hotel.

A celebration concert

To celebrate eighteen years in the music scene Rasangi de Mel staged a musical show recently at the C. W. W. Kannangara Maha Vidyalaya, Maharagama. Her programme for the evening contained many new originals as well as her popular songs.

Musical direction at the concert was by Piyal Fernando and Bandu S. Kannangara. A teacher at the Maha Vidyalaya, Rasangi started her music career at a young age singing for Lama Pitiya produced by Nanda Malani and rose to become an 'A' grade singer.

She learnt her music under the late singer Malani Bulathsinghala and intends releasing a debut CD soon, containing her popular songs. In the meantime she is scheduled to perform again at the Moratuwa Bauddha Mandiraya and at the Eliphinstone Theatre, Maradana.

Marvel Melodies

The fabulous 'Gypsies' will be featured at the Mega Show Marvel Melodies to be held on March 10 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium commencing 7.00 p.m.

Marvel Melodies is organised by the Old Boys' Union, Welfare Society and the Teachers Guild of St. Benedict's College, Colombo 13 to raise funds for the Proposed College Sports Hostel and the Teachers Guild Fund.