Misty – successful entertainers!
by Mahes Perera
Misty always thought of
themselves as a band of the future. It was important to them to keep
learning and expanding themselves. They appreciate the opportunities
they’ve had so far and have had made a musical contribution to the scene
in Sri Lanka with a great deal of success. When you look back to where
they were when they started off and to what the band is now, you have to
admit that the dedication of every member has brought them thus far to
wear the cap of popularity.
When you read this on the morning of June 20, the boys must be
relaxing after a gala night organised by the Lions Club of Lynbrook
headed by the ‘dynamic Malik Zaveer’ at the Spring Vale Town Hall,
Melbourne last night (June 19).
 According to Rajitha Rupasinghe, singer/leader of Misty who had a pow-wow
with me before the band left our shores this was the first time that the
band had the opportunity to work a four state gig engagement which will
take them to Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.
“We kick off at Brisbane where we are billed to perform at the Sri
Lanka Sports Foundation celebrations on Saturday June 12 at the Greek
Auditorium and then we jet across to usher for the Lions’ Club Gala
night on June 19.
This is our fourth consecutive year with the Lions and we are
impatiently awaiting this event. From there, we move across to Sydney
for the Doctors Association Dance in New South Wales an exclusive event
at the Four Seasons Hotel on Saturday June 26. When we finish this gig
we go all guns blazing to Perth for the Dinner Dance organized by the
Western Australian Sri Lanka Association (WASLA) put together by none
other than Arith Rathnavibushana - one time keyboardist with Kings,
Friends and Rattlesnake” a happy Rajitha clues us in.
Lady luck has surely smiled on them with no clamps. Because prior to
Misty’s current gigs at Australia, the band enjoyed a successful tour of
Canada and the States. They started at Vancouver with a dance organised
by past Trinitians.
Although Sri Lankans in Vancouver are not as large as in Toronto, yet
they enjoyed themselves so much and danced their feet off! From
Vancouver to New Jersey, they entertained the Past Students of Royal
College which was an exclusive event and all tickets were sold
previously before the event at a premium price. On this stage, Misty was
joined by Sunil and the Gypsies and the past students of Royal College
had a whale of a time!
“In Toronto, we were fortunate to meet Dwight Smith one time drummer
of Engelbert Humperdinck and Tom Jones and I requested him to sit in
with us for a Lou Rawl’s hit ‘You’re Gonna Miss My Lovin’ he obliged and
it was memorable for us,” Rajitha tells us with pride.
Misty was featured at other gigs as well before they returned home
and any wonder that Sri Lankans living abroad are hooked on their
artistry and music rapport which has resulted in many returns by Misty
to wherever our Sri Lankans are domiciled.
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