Entertainment

Music is her first love

by Mahes Perera

She started off her musical career as a member of the all-girl band Red Stocking. She was their enthusiastic, energetic drummer and their vocalist. Dharshika Perera comments that she enjoyed her stay with Red Stocking, but unfortunately the band disbanded due to the fact that one by one the girls got spliced.

But that didn't deter Dharshika. She joined Talk of the Town led by Joe Jayasuriya and switched to becoming a multi-instrumentalist by being the group's pianist as well. Now with the band Lazer she's more their pianist than their drummer.

"In fact this year the band celebrates its tenth year as a dance band in the business and we've had quite a crowded schedule last year, we were on our toes filling in our playing dates" says a smiling Dharshika.

Lazer celebrate their tenth year in the music playing scene and are proud to claim that they have been constant at the Terrace Mt. Lavinia for seven years now. The band a septet can be heard weekly on Friday nights while on Sunday afternoons Dharshika is featured with Mervyn Mendis in a piano-sax duo performance.

Bernard Fernando who is the drummer and leader of the group is also a fine enjoyable vocalist and along with pianist Dharshika the duo is in the spotlight at the DBU on Wednesdays.

With an elastic repertoire that stretches from swing to standards to music of the 60's to dance music, Dharshika the spokesperson claims that music lovers choice for the old favourites hasn't changed, many of them turn up to enjoy nostalgia.

The band besides Bernard and Dharshika includes Hiran Fernando - vocals who originally started off with Misty, Upali Fernando - a free lance guitarist and vocalist, Mervyn Mendis - saxophonist and formerly of Talk of the Town.

Then theres Annesley Ferdinando - rhythm guitarist and Anton Fernando - trumpeter who played with the Peter Prins Combo.

Hailing from a musical family background Dharshika learnt the rudiments from her father, went in for formal studies under Prema Ratnayake and has gained her ATCL from the Trinity College of Music.

Besides her active band work she is a teacher of music at a leading school in Colombo, and confesses that like in the words of the song by John Miles "Music is her first love."

Graetian Ananda - a music maestro

by Nilma Dole

Graetian Ananda harnessed an inborn talent for music at the tender age of 2 years whilst playing the mouth-organ his grandfather Col. Darley Jayawardena gifted him. His musical saga has taken him 35 years into the musical industry, making over 500 songs for 250 films. He has even directed the music for 16 films.

His mother was a learned pianist and his father was a police officer, hence as a result the family was constantly shifting around. He was educated at St. Matthew's College and St. Joseph's College. He married Sirima Chandrani and has two children, Dulanjali and Mario Angelo who are both very musical minded.

Being spiritually inclined, his guiding light has been Lord Jesus his Saviour and he performed well in the church choir.

The All Saints Church in Borella was his haven and under the supervision of Rev.Father John Herath, he proved his abilities in the western orchestra. At the age of 10 years, he played the trumpet and then when he was 12, he played the guitar. He even studied the piano and sang at many musical competitions.

Ernest De Soyza saw magnificent potential in the young Ananda and asked him to play in his band, Ernest Combo. His music career saw him shine in the company of the then SLBC western music conductor Lal Perera and 'King Claude' Claude Fernando. Ananda even played for bands like 'Dreamers', 'Superset' and the more famous and nolstagic 'Fortunes'.

Film music director Sarath Dassanayake then spotted the talented musician and got him to be his assistant. In 1978, the song 'Etha Duraka Desa Pavela' was a smash hit for Ananda and his co-singer Neela Wickramasinghe sang this memorable duet with him. Kularatne Ariyawansa wrote the meaningful lyrics.

He has been at the forefront of the film music industry by not only directing music but also singing as a playback singer brilliantly. Ever since he sang the song 'Bindu Bindu Kandulu Gala' with Shyami Fonseka for the movie, 'Mal Kekulu', he has shown consistency with his amazing musical skills.

In 1994, he won the Sarasaviya Award for 'Best Male Vocalist' for the film 'Raja Daruwo'. He also won 'Best Playback Singer' for the more recent movie, 'Angalika'. He is also responsible for the most popular love song, 'Adara Senewey'. More recently, he had his own show called 'Ananda Rathriya' held in Milano and Verona where he was privileged to meet former president Silvano.

Ananda acknowledges Shan Wickremesinghe for helping him as a musician by producing 100 discs for free. He thanks Doctor Charles Fernando and Father Rufus Benedict at the Bishop's Palace for their support.

Also, the former SLBC producer now CEO of Max TV, Mahinda Ramanayake also is acknowledged for playing his first songs on SLBC radio. Sydney and Maya Rodrigo should be thanked for organising his show in Europe.

Right now, Ananda is working on directing the music and singing for a new international film called 'Julia' which is being filmed in England. Ananda's CD 'Desithaha Gee' is available for one to listen to this distinguished musician.

An evening with Cliff

by Mahes Perera

If you are one of those who is privately moaning that there's no opportunity for you to enjoy an evening of evergreens and all those songs that were hits when you were in your teens or twenties - then make your tracks to An Evening With Cliff and re-capture all the nostalgia. The event will be held on February 10 at the King's Court, Trans Asia from 7.00 p.m. onwards.

Cliff Richards a compere, singer, saxophonist and entertainer has acquired popularity swiftly in our music and entertainment scene and is now associated with wit, charm and good music.

The evening will be in theatre style and will be a two and a half hour audience interactive concert. Of course there will be a special sing-a-long segment too. The backing band will be the well-known dance band Super Pink'n Purple and Clifford will be performing many well loved duets with Mariazelle who will be the guest artiste.

Adding more colour to the show will be specially choreographed dances by Anushan and his Dance World team and also the Channa Upuli dancers.

Is this a first in the series An Evening with Cliff - in the style of a stand up entertainer?

"You can label it thus. You see the earlier shows 'Golden Memories,' I had four of them, had good responses, so I thought I'd change the title and stage it thus. I'm hoping to take the show to Kandy as well.

Part of the proceeds will go for charity - I've been doing so often. My repertoire will include songs by C. T. Fernando, Sunil Santha and other popular songs that are on everybody's lips; including the catchy bailas.

Ofcourse the well loved evergreen favourites will be there including the unforgettable songs by Elvis, Tom Jones, Englebert and Jim Reeves. I will be performing my songs as well especially 'Peeping Through The Window' for which the lyrics were written by Ananda Seneviratne and the music was by Sunil Perera.

Presently I'm laying down tracks for a new album of party time favourites that will reach out to music lovers young and old."

In the meantime however enjoy the nostalgia web that Cliff Richards will draw you into at that special evening with him.

Sri Lanka celebrations in Muscat:

Mariazelle - featured singer

Mariazelle Gunathillaka will be the featured singer at the celebrations of Sri Lanka's 60th Independence at Muscat, Oman. The event will be held at the Embassy of Sri Lanka, Muscat.

The other singers will be Malik Perera and Hassanjit with DJ Danujika. There will be a traditional cultural dance performance by the Academy of Chandana Wickremasinghe and a Sri Lankan fashion show all produced and presented by Sharmini. The event at Muscat will be held from February 4 to February 8.

The 60th Independence Day of Sri Lanka celebrations in Oman is going to be an unusual presentation all worked out by Sharmini to put Sri Lanka on the world map. The show will also be presented at the Alsawadi Beach Resort thanks to the untiring efforts of the General Manager. Gerald Fonseka who is the brains behind this event.