Clarence Wijewardana (August 3, 1943 –
December 13, 1996) was a Sri Lankan musician who pioneered the use of electric
guitar in Sinhala music. He is said to have revolutionized Sri Lankan music in
the 1960s and is often named as the father of Sri Lankan pop music - having
influenced performers in ranging from W D Amaradewa, Premasiri Kemadasa to
Athula Adhikari. His music is often characterized by simple melodies built
around a melody that features the electric guitar - this style may be best
illustrated by the song Malata Bambaraku Se (Translated: Like a Bee To a
Flower)
Biography - Early life
Clarence Wijewardena was born on August
3, 1943, in Matale, Sri Lanka, to an estate medical practitioner. His family
moved to Batugedara, Ratnapura, and abandoned a budding planting career to
pursue music full time. He is married to Sheela Wijewardana and they have one
daughter Amila Wijewardana.
Moonstones
Wijewardena formed the Moonstones at the
age of 21 with Annesley Malewana as lead vocalist. Managed by a advertising
icon, Sri Sangabo Corea, the group recorded several songs to be aired on the
Saturday Star program in 1966. The young musicians were mentored by Sri Sangabo
Corea together with veteran Radio Ceylon/SLBC broadcasters Vernon Corea and
Vijaya Corea. Their 1968 debut EP Mango Nanda was released on the JVPC007
Philips label selling up to 5000 copies. It included the songs "Mango
Nanda," "Ruwan Puraya," "Seetha Ude" and
"Menike." The sophomore release More Hits by the Moonstones came out
November that year on the Sooriya label and included the hits "Kalu
Mama", "Rosa male", "Ramani" and "Goyam
Kapanawa." "Mango Nanda" was selected the best Sinhala song by
the Hit Parade program on Radio Ceylon. In 1969 the Moonstones welcomed female
vocalist Indrani Perera who sang lead on the best selling "Dilhani."
Wijewardena himself only sang lead on "Dileepa Podi Puthu," an
adaptation of a poem written by Karunarathne Abesekara to his son.
During the 'Moonstones' era, Wijewardena,
who performed as a composer and music director, became a singer. Wijewardena
took the initiative to start a three-man band, he was only the finest
self-taught guitarist, and as yet unknown. However, later the 'Moonstones' were
formed with Annesley Malawana playing the key role as lead singer. Since then
this exceptional man and his music dominated the Sinhala pop music industry. He
is regarded by many as a pioneering Sri Lankan musician in the realms of
Sinhala popular music.
After he left the Moonstones in 1970, he
held a musical show in Moratuwa with Shanaka Perera and Wijith Peiris and the
show was named as "Breakaways from the Moonstones".
Golden Chimes
Wijewardena departed the Moonstones and
formed a new music group called the Golden Chimes, with ex-Moonstones bassist
Chanaka Perera and Lankika Perera in January 1971. Their first release included
"Kimade Nawe", "Mage pelpathe", "Sihin Sinawai"
and "Samanalayo." Subsequently English language vocalist Anil Bharati
joined. The second EP on Philips label contained "Malai Velai",
"Sihil Nuwan", "Surangana Vesvala" and "Mage
Viyowen" and third EP contained "Iru Dina", "Sandai Tharui",
"Muhudu Rella" and "Thakkita Tharikita."
At this time Wijewardena found a
professional lead guitarist at a wedding. He was the maestro Dixon Gunaratne.
When Christmas bells chime this man is
never forgotten with the breeze in December. The Sinhala channels take the lead
with the popular Christmas hit "Bethlehempure". He is none other than
the popular man who emerged from another Wijewardena group "Golden Chimes"
– Anil Bharati. Clarence is a man who found new talent into Sinhala pop scene.
Anil was one of them.
After evaluating Anil's performance for
one year, Wijewardena decided to enter him into the Sinhala pop music scene.
Wijewardena composed "Ada Wei Iru Dina" for Anil which became an all
time hit followed by the lovely Christmas song "Bethlehempure" and
"Maa Adarai Nangiye". Clarence offered him another all time hit
"Tikirimalee" with "Ma Mulin Liyu Pem Pathe", "Desa
Vidala", "Bambaraku Aduna", "Sarojini" and "Iru
Dina Pamanak".
In 1972, Wijewardena and Dixon Gunaratne
left the Golden Chimes and they both formed a new band known as Super Golden
Chimes also with the support of Annesley Malawana in 1973.
The Super Golden Chimes
Wijewardena formed the "Super Golden
Chimes" back in the company of his lifelong friend Annesley Malawana. It
was one of the most productive music groups in Sri Lanka and together they hit
the number one slot in the Sri Lankan music charts on both the Sinhala and English
Services of Radio Ceylon and subsequently the Sri Lanka Broadcasting
Corporation. For many years they enjoyed the reputation as Sri Lanka's number
one group in the 1970s and 1980s. After three years Wijewardena decided to go
solo when Annesley Malewana announced his plans for marriage. The late Mike
Gunesekere took over the Super Golden Chimes after Clarence left the group.
Super Golden Chimes
Super Golden Chimes LP label
Experiments in Music
Wijewardena, like the Beatles,
experimented with sitar music and introduced the sitar to some of the songs of
the 'Moonstones.' Wijewardena was a musician's musician. He had the ability to
grasp new trends in modern popular music. For the first time (for a recording)
he used a guitar wah wah pedal for the song 'Pemkathwawa.' Also the song
'Sigiriya' was the first Bossa nova beat song in Sri Lanka & later he used
this beat for the songs Piyaneni, Mage Palpathe, Muhudu Rella, Renin Piyabanna,
Maliniye, Ramya (Previously sung by Wijewardena in 4/4 beat), Ran Monarun (Winslow
Six), Lalitha Kala (Chithra Somapala) etc. Also he used two guitar players to
play lead parts & counter parts of songs such as Sumudu Mal Pipinu, Dileepa
Podi Puthu etc. For the first time in Sri Lanka he used the blocked guitar tone
for the song 'Kusumalatha'. Wijewardena introduced some of the guitar
techniques through his songs via a single guitar harmony style in the
introduction of "Dellepa podi puthu" and arpeggio styles in
"Sihina Lowak" and "Malata Bambareku Se".
"The Twist" was a dance in the
1960s, inspired by rock and roll music of the West. It became a worldwide
craze, enjoying immense popularity among young people and drawing fire from
critics who felt it was too provocative. Wijewardena composed a song Ma langin
for this style and released the song in "Ugayen ugayata" cassette in
1989.
For "Dineka me nadee thira" he
used mute guitar technique for the introduction. Some of the guitar techniques
Clarence used in his songs are alternate picking, Chicken picking, Carter
Family picking, Cross picking, Flat picking, Golpe, Hammer-on, legato, Pick
tapping, Pinch harmonic, Pull-off, Slide guitar, Sweep picking and tap
harmonic.
Tribute songs
Wijewardena has composed and directed
music for a number of songs for the daughters and sons of his friends and
relatives. He composed 'Piyaneni' in memory of the late Reverend Canon Ivan
Corea who was the father of Radio Ceylon broadcaster, Vernon Corea. Wijewardena
had met Corea in Maha Nuge Gardens in the 1960s during his visits to meet with
Vernon Corea. The song became an instant hit in South Asia and to this day it
is sung by Annesley Malewana on his world tours.
Wijewardena composed a song for the son
of Mr and Mrs. Vijaya Corea and it was titled as "Viran Bilindhu
Puthe" After that Wijewardena changed the chorus part of the song and sang
that songs as "Kiri Muhuda Kalabala" Also Wijewardena composed a
songs for the son of Chanaka and Lankika Perera and it was titled as
"Sihina Pathum Wimane" Also the song "Bethlehempure" which
was written by Sri Lanka's famed lyricist, Mr Karunaratne Abeysekera, became an
instant hit on the island. It was one of many songs capturing the Christmas
spirit and the birth of Jesus. Wijewardena also composed 'Naththal Seeya' in
the early 1970s.
Wijewardena's first solo is 'Dileepa podi
puthu' was written by Radio Ceylon broadcaster, Karunaratne Abeysekera for his
own son. Wijewardena appreciated the work of Karu and wrote an instant song
Seetha Pawan to express his gratitude on the day of the funeral of Karunaratne
Abeysekera.
Film music
Wijewardena entered the film music
industry at that time. The first film with music directed by Wijewardena was
'Sikuruliya' and the sound track was supplied by the Golden Chimes - the film
includes a scene where Wijewardena and the Golden Chimes perform at a party.
Also for the music of the songs of Sikuruliya film, Wijewardena used western
musical instruments as well as eastern musical instruments. The song
'Wasanthaye Mal Kekulay' which was composed by Wijewardena was the first song
that consists of five lines in the chorus part of the song. He directed music
for the films in a different and unique style of his own.
Outstanding skills
Clarence in early 1980
Wijewardena showed his outstanding music
skills during this time. He composed and directed music a song named as
"Maha Balwathune" for the conference of the Non-Aligned Movement held
in 1975 in Sri Lanka. He composed and directed music a song for the SAARC
Conference as well. At the same time he sang the song "Duwani Sirima"
when Hon. Former Prime Minister Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike arrived as the chief
guest for the opening ceremony of Ceramic Cooperation. Also Super Golden Chimes
supplied music for that opening ceremony. Wijewardane certificated as the most
popular composer in Sri Lanka for the years 1974 and 1976 by a pop poll
conducted by Pop and Teen Fanfare. The song "Kataragama" which was
composed by Wijewardane also certificated as the best song in Sri Lanka for the
year 1974 by a pop poll conducted by Pop and Teen Fanfare. Wijewardena composed
most number of songs for Kataragama God.
In the early 1970s, Wijewardena invited
Radio Ceylon broadcaster, Vernon Corea who had mentored him from the start to
write the notes on a Lotus LP sleeve. Vernon Corea wrote: "We have all
shared the treat of your lovely Lyrics, your tuneful compositions, your
friendly presentation and your spontaneous sense of sharing with your
followers, your treasury of talent. Keep going, keep growing, keep
glowing".[1] In 1976, when Vernon Corea was invited to present the first
Asian radio programme in English on BBC Radio London called 'London Sounds
Eastern' he played the music of Wijewardena and Annesley Malewana, introducing
them to a whole new audience in London.
Wijewardena started to sing for the
Sinhala films under other music directors. Subsequently a cassette tape known
as "Any Time Any Where" was released in Colombo. In 1979, Wijewardena
left the Super Golden Chimes and started a solo career.
Cricket fan
When the Sri Lankan cricket team entered
the world of test cricket in 1982, Wijewardena produced a cassette tape that
contains songs regarding cricket. Also Nihal Nelson, Vernon Perera, Mariazelle
Gunathilake, Freddie Silva, Saman De Silva and Wijewardena vocalized this
cassette tape. "Thana nilla dige" of Saman De Silva became a super
hit during the season of test matches and every big match in Colombo.
Wijewardena was very worried and made a
statement to 'Sathsara"(an art magazine in Sri Lanka) regarding the song
"Thana nilla dige" and its singer Saman De Silva for not giving the
due credit for the ownership of the song.
New career
Wijewardena joined Sing Lanka Ltd. and
acted as the General Manager. Sing Lanka recording studio was the first
recording studio in Sri Lanka with multi tracks and Wijewardena was the pioneer
to introduce this recording studio. During that time he directed music for a
number of artists in Sri Lanka. He also produced a cassette tape named
"Clarence with the Rising Stars".
Clarence with Vernon Perera, Sarath
Munasinghe and Hemasiri Halpita
Directing music for tele dramas
Wijewardena directed music for the tele
dramas Susima and Nidikumba Mal. He was the composer and the music director for
all the six songs of Susima tele drama. During this time he got a special
chance. That he was able to compose and direct music for Pandit Amaradewa. That
song was Sasara Gewa Yana Diwi Gamane which contained in tele drama Nidikumba
Mal. Also he composed and music directed a song which says about child abuse
and other prohibited things happen in present society. That song was
"Daesawan Dase" which contained in the Sihiwatana II Cassette Tape.
When the royal tusker of the Temple of Tooth Relic died, Wijewardena composed
and music directed a song about the royal tusker and it was named as
"Kandu Sikarin Wata Senkadagala Pura". It was vocalized by the Ananda
Perera who was the leader of the Siha Shakthi music band.
Wijewardena became famous for his
melodious and catchy jingles aired over the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.
These jingles were Elasto, Bata, Astra Margarine, Bristol Cigarettes, Arpico,
Dot Toffee, Singer, Edna Chocolate, Thultex, Ice-Cream Soda, Development
Lottery, Dasuna Cartoon Paper, Atlas pens, Orex pens, Building Materials
Co-operation (in Sinhala and English), Keels and Health Joy Soap etc. The song
"Sigiri Ru Ladun Paradai" which he composed for the beauty queen
contest became an instant hit.
Discovering new Sri Lankan music talent
He formed the Sri Lankan band
"Madhara" in 1985 with Rookantha Gunatilake (keyboards), Mariazelle
Gunatilake (keyboards/female vocals), Raju Bandara (lead guitar), Keneth De
Silva (bass guitar), Prabath Bandara (lead guitar), Ajantha Dhampa Gamage
(drums) and rest of the other members of the group. During the 1980s, he
composed and directed music for number of songs and performed with well known
music directors in Sri Lanka.
All of Wijewardena's compositions have
been recorded at some of the island's best recording studios and under the best
producing labels in Sri Lanka. Some of the early 1960s recordings were at Augie
Ranaweera's studio in Bambalapitiya.
Later career
Wijewardena organised three musical shows
with his lifelong friend Annesley Malewana and Indrani Perera at BMICH in
Colombo.
Wijewardena proved to be quite a hit in
London when broadcaster Vernon Corea broadcast his music on BBC Radio London
206 on his popular radio programme, London Sounds Eastern. Wijewardena and
Annesley frequently toured the United Kingdom in the 1980s playing to huge
audiences in London.
Lyrics and music composition for Three
Sisters
Due, however, to the popularity of his
songs (which has grown since his death), they have also become the subject of a
lawsuit over illegally recorded renditions sampled by other Sri Lankan artists.
Wijewardena's widow recently filed suit against Sebastian , hoping to recover a
portion of the income earned through the use of her late husband's work.
Music
Sri Lanka's musician, Clarence
Wijewardena, composed and sang over 1000 of songs but 40% of them were not
released because the master recordings were under the custody of record
producers[citation needed]. Some of the songs were released to the market
without any authorized label after his death. They did not get the attention of
his fans because they were considered to be illegal and most of the FM
broadcasting channels in Sri Lanka were not aware of them. It is unfortunate
that most of these songs are not released officially and Wijewardena did not
get the due credit for them.
Wijewardena spent more of his composing
time for his fellow singers and he had never been offered the credit for them.
In the course of his career, Wijewardena
wrote several songs that became classics in his own time - among these; Gamen
Liyumak (Translated: A Letter From the Village), Hiruge Lowedi (Translated: In
the World of the Sun), Kanda Surinduni ("O Lord God of the
Mountain"),Piyaneni ("Father"), and Malata Bambaraku Se
(Translated: Like a Bee To a Flower)
Sri Lanka's 'King of Pop'
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