{"id":76517,"date":"2021-10-27T17:44:07","date_gmt":"2021-10-27T17:44:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=76517"},"modified":"2021-10-27T17:44:07","modified_gmt":"2021-10-27T17:44:07","slug":"origins-of-the-colombo-music-scene-reflections-over-50-years-by-ajit-jayetileke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/origins-of-the-colombo-music-scene-reflections-over-50-years-by-ajit-jayetileke\/","title":{"rendered":"Origins of the Colombo Music Scene \u2013 Reflections over 50 Years-By Ajit Jayetileke"},"content":{"rendered":"

Origins of the Colombo Music Scene \u2013 Reflections over 50 Years-By Ajit Jayetileke<\/span><\/h1>\n

\"Yohani<\/p>\n

Source:<\/span><\/strong>Timesonline<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

This has been quite an eventful year for Sri Lankan Music.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the plus side, Sri Lankan Rap artist\u00a0Yohani\u00a0<\/em>gained global recognition this year for her cover of\u00a0“Manike Mage Hithe”.\u00a0<\/em>On the flip side, famed singer\u00a0Sunil Perera<\/em>, a true veteran of the Sri Lankan music industry and a much-loved figure among artistes and fans alike, passed away with Covid related complications. Sunil Perera and his brothers were part of the \u2018Gypsies\u2019, a group that had their first hit song \u201cLinda Langa Sangamaya\u201d in 1972.<\/span><\/p>\n

These two events motivated me to reflect on the entertainment scene in the first half of the 1970s, about 50 years ago – when the youth of Colombo were second to none in the music revolution taking place globally.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Prior to 1970, Sri Lankan artists were inspired by great international acts of the day. The big-band sounds of the Glenn Miller orchestra and Pepe Jaramillo gave rise to local bands such as the Harold Seneviratne Combo, Peter Prins, the Esquire Set and Sam the Man.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Harold<\/span><\/p>\n

However, it was arguably the formation of the\u00a0Jetliners<\/em>, inspired by Elvis, Cliff and the Shadows, that really took Sri Lankan Western music to another level. The Jetliners started initially as an instrumental group in line with the Shadows in 1961. The original line-up was Lucien Perera (Lead) F\u00e9lix Fernando (Bass) Anton Gunawijeya (Rhythm) and Harris Jurangpathy (Drums). The first male vocalist was Ishan Bahar with a female vocalist Wilma Squirling on some gigs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Harris<\/span><\/p>\n

However, it was in 1965, when\u00a0Mignonne Ratnam<\/em>\u00a0joined the group, that the Jetliners became a major force in the local music scene.\u00a0Radio Ceylon<\/em>\u00a0introduced her music not only to a local audience but across South Asia. During the early years of the group, the Jetliners enjoyed star billing at the\u00a0Coconut Grove<\/em>\u00a0nightclub situated in the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo. In 1969, Mignonne became the first Sri Lankan to be signed up by EMI Records UK, and KPM London which\u00a0released \u2018Mangala Mohotha\u2019<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Desmond<\/span><\/p>\n

The Jetliners have had other singers, both male and female joining Mignonne on stage: Loretta Koch, Sohan Pieris, Conrad de Silva, Desmond de Silva and Alston Koch to name a few. These vocalists often joined rival bands that followed the Jetliners such as the\u00a0Spitfires\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Gabo and the Breakaways.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By 1970 the live band, or \u2018groups\u2019 as they were then called, were often performing in night clubs such as the \u2018Coconut Grove\u2019 and the \u2018Mascarilla\u2019; and at Hotel dances especially on New Year\u2019s Eve. The only mood-lighting was some stationary-coloured spotlights aimed at a \u2018mirror-ball\u2019 that slowly turned.<\/span><\/p>\n

These groups also did \u2018beat shows\u2019 for teenagers at school halls and other public venues. These were essentially stage performances with very little atmosphere except for the pulsating music. The stage was lit with some basic lighting, and the audience was kept in the dark.<\/span><\/p>\n

All that changed with the introduction of the first-ever\u00a0\u2018Discotheque\u2019<\/em>\u00a0in Sri Lanka in 1970. This was organised by two cousins,\u00a0Janek and Kavan Ratnatunga<\/em>\u00a0under the auspices of the Royal College Interact Club. This was a unique event. It was all about music and lighting, with strobes, ultra-violets and lights that danced to the music. The participants had to take their shoes off at the entrance and sit on mats and cushions. There were hundreds of slogans in ultra-violet paint hanging from the rafters. From memory, there was a pungent weedy aroma that wafted around the dance floor!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Cover of Escape from Reality Souvenir<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Artwork: Hiran Thenabadu<\/span><\/p>\n

This is what the Observer carried as a review of the Discotheque.<\/span><\/p>\n

Groovy at Wendt (by Kenneth – The Pop Scene)<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCongratulations to the boys of Royal College Interact Club for a very good effort that helped them to raise as much as Rs 4,000 for flood relief work. We are referring to \u201cEscape From Reality\u201d, the groovy discotheque that took place last week at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Jointly organised by co-chairmen Janek and Kavan Ratnatunga the discotheque proved quite a success with those turned up for the \u2018happening crowd of modsters who were in their glad rags\u2019\u201d!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Rhythms hot and sizzling were served up by the Rolling Stones, The Cream, The Beatles, The Soul Finders, The Ventures, Tom Jones, Bob Dylan, Wilson Pickett and a host of others. There was also a session of excerpts from the hippy musical \u2018Hair\u2019\u201d.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The Interact Club of Colombo<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A year later, in 1971, many from the Royal College Interact club went on the form the\u00a0Colombo Interact Club.<\/em>\u00a0This time the club was also open to those from other schools – including girls from leading schools in Colombo. This interested me greatly, and I joined \u2013 along with Thomains, Peterites and other Josephians like me. The girls were from Visakha, Ladies, Bishops, HFC and St. Bridget\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the Colombo Interact Club the two Ratnatunga cousins, Janek and Kavan, went on to organise \u2018CLIMAX 71\u2019 the first Ceylonese \u2018Beatcotheque\u2019 exactly 50-years ago on November 1, 1971. A \u2018Beatcotheque\u2019 was a unique concept, probably the first of its kind in the world. Essentially, a kaleidoscope of lights was not only aimed at the stage, but also on the audience.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Cover of CLIMAX 71 Souvenir<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Artwork: Hiranthi Jayasingha<\/span><\/p>\n

These are excerpts from some of the reviews a week after in the newspapers:<\/span><\/p>\n

Beatcotheque \u2013 Straight out of\u201d Woodstock\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0(A review by Robert Crusz)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps the most memorable part of Climax 71 was its audience. It was a treat to watch all those youngsters pouring into the Navarangahala, excitingly clad, from the definitely outrageous to the decidedly elegant.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

There were guys straight out of \u201cWoodstock\u201d with heads swathed in bandages and the rest of the body lost in a mass of multi colour plastic, leather and silk<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

At the other extreme were the girls, some of whom looked chic and elegant in their maxi\u2019s with that ice look we see more often in \u201cVogue\u201d.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

They were chilling yet thrilling! What was most satisfying was the enthusiasm and exuberance of these youngsters?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

They participated in the beatcotheque with vigour. They were there to have fun and they had it.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Climax -71 – A Truly Soul \u2013 Stirring Trip. (A review by Shya)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Navarangahala was transformed into something out of his world. Incense enshrouded the spacious hall. Lights of every shade blinked and flashed. Ultraviolet rays pierced the atmosphere, bringing out the white \u2013 the pure, Music! Hard rock \u2013 with its vibrating rhythms and variations glorified the buoyancy of youth and life under the expert manipulation of the two very popular groups Sri Lanka\u2019s own \u201cGabo and the Breakaways and the \u201cSpitfires\u201d.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Above all, there were the kids \u2013 the youth, ornamented with breath-taking clothes of all types. Bringing out their individualities and dreams but all signifying a craving and passion of the world that is not- the neo-age, away from the world which not wanting to pulsate with today\u2019s youth fails to bridge the gap between youth and age. While the elders themselves fall into a chasm of hopeless, needless wars \u2013 be they cold or bloody…<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

And at the height of \u201cClimax\u201d when the Spitfires began one of the \u201chymns\u201d from Woodstock and invited the moved audience to really participate by going up to the stage and doing whatever they wanted, they came\u2026\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

From all sides they trooped, leaving their elevated seas. Their hands stretched high above their heads, their bodies straight and tall and with such a depth of feeling and emotion in their young faces. Down, down, down to participate to their fullest, their souls, their inner selves.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Everyone was brother and sister, where the music spoke to their own world, their ambitions, their dreams. A world which spoke of victory over war, misery and grief about which they understood and shared with the others of their own, the youth.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Bravo Interact Club of Colombo who moulded this happening in a truly soul stirring and meaningful one.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The line-up for\u00a0Gabo and the Breakaways<\/em>\u00a0that night was Desmond Shocman (Bass), Alpho Paiva (lead); Milroy Fernando (organ and Sax) Tony Samaranayake (organ, guitar and vocals); Sohan Weerasinghe and Priyanthi Mannamperi (vocals) and Gabo on Drums.<\/span><\/p>\n

The line-up for\u00a0the Spitfires\u00a0<\/em>was Felix Fernando (Bass), Rajah Jalaldeen (lead), Nihal Basnayaka (Organ), Chinthi Perera (drums); Heather Jansz, Condrad De Silva and Maxie Rosairo (vocals).<\/span><\/p>\n

The lights- the true stars of the night \u2013 Ultra-Violets, Light Machines, Colour Organs, Stroboscopes and multiple mirror balls- were provided by Mahinda Dias and Lal Wickremesinghe.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Interact Club girls provided their own local brand of \u2018Smoke Machines\u2019 by running up and down the aisles with \u2018katta-kumanjal\u2019. The dancing lights pieced the heavy smoke. It was an eerie atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the interact club members who were very active in the organisation of the Beatcotheque, to the best of my memory, were: Ramaeez Aboosally, Zaki Alif, Aziz Ali-Mohomed, Dinesh Ambani, Shabbir Galely, Durie Dawoodbhoy, Tilak Dissanayaka, Savitri Gunaratne, Hiranthi Jayasinghe, Delvin Lappen, Shihan Rahim, Romany & Rosanne Rasquinho, Sinha Ratnatunga, Dhanya Samarasekera, Jean Samuel, Shayamala Selvaratnam, Daki Saravanamuttu, Vijendran Watson, Inji Wijegunaratne, and Samanthi Wijetunga.<\/span><\/p>\n

After the \u2018Beatcotheque, the music scene kept on evolving, where the \u2018show\u2019 became an entire production. Kumar Navaratnam started organising of rock music festivals at Havelock Park. The \u2018Jaycee Show\u2019 became a fixture of the Colombo music circuit where many a band were given their first gig.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the noteworthy groups that emerged at the time was the \u2018Savages\u2019,\u00a0<\/em>a group inspired by the likes of the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix. Their line-up was: Raj Seneviratne, Evan Balasuriya, Mohan Wimalasuriya, Mohan Sabaratnam, Calvin van Granberg, Suriyakumar Veerasingham and Elmo Wijesundara. Another group that hit the highlights at the time was \u2018Amazing Grace\u2019<\/em>\u00a0with Reza Deane, Tony de Silva, Joey Lewis, Donald Peiris and Benji Ranabahu. They played mainly at the \u2018Little Hut\u2019. Other popular groups at the time were the\u00a0\u2018Buggs\u2019<\/em>,\u00a0\u2018Shorty and the Tall Boys\u2019<\/em>\u00a0and an all-girl band\u00a0\u2018The Speed Jets\u2019,\u00a0<\/em>with Sudasha, Dharshini and Marnique.<\/span><\/p>\n

About this time, Sinhala musicians started getting accepted by a Westernised Colombo audience. C.T. Fernando\u2019s \u2018Vana Bambaro\u2019; Indrani Perera\u2019s \u2018Dilhani Duwani\u2019 and the Moonstones with \u2018Gon Wassa\u2019 catered to a cross-over audience. It was about this time in 1972 that the\u00a0Gypsies\u00a0<\/em>started getting noticed.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Colombo Interact club went on to produce Sri Lanka\u2019s first original rock opera\u00a0\u201cLife!\u201d\u00a0<\/em>with members Nimal Gunawardena and Salinda Perera directing. Many members, including myself, practiced many a night to master the crazy movements that were required on stage. In 1975, the club produced\u00a0\u201cJesus Christ Superstar\u201d\u00a0<\/em>with a stellar cast including Amazing Grace.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, 50-years later, a number of the original Interact club members have risen to the highest positions in academia, the professions, business enterprises and journalism. Some have run companies that are household names such as Mobitel, Metropolitan and Stassens. Many of the \u201cgirls\u201d have gone to university and\/or have qualified in the professions; and have held senior appointments in international agencies. Nimal Gunawardena went on to use his creative flair in the advertising industry. Salinda Perera lives in Hollywood and produced and directed the acclaimed art house movie, \u201cDheevari\u201d (Fisherman\u2019s Daughter).<\/span><\/p>\n

In contrast, the two Ratnatunga cousins, Janek and Kavan, who gave Sri Lanka its first \u2018Discotheque\u2019 and \u2018Beatcotheque\u2019 have had quite a career change. Both became Professors, one in Finance and the other in Astrophysics, in leading universities in Australia and the USA. I am sure their students will get quite a shock to visualise them with their heads swathed in bandages, in flower-shirts and with bare feet!<\/span><\/p>\n

About the author:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Ajit Jayetileke was a Senior Prefect at St. Joseph\u2019s College when he joined as a founder member of the Interact Club of Colombo. His Interact experience prompted him to be the Founder President of the Wellawatte Jaycees.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Origins of the Colombo Music Scene \u2013 Reflections over 50 Years-By Ajit Jayetileke Source:Timesonline This has been quite an eventful year for Sri Lankan Music. On the plus side, Sri Lankan Rap artist\u00a0Yohani\u00a0gained global recognition this year for her cover of\u00a0“Manike Mage Hithe”.\u00a0On the flip side, famed singer\u00a0Sunil Perera, a true veteran of the Sri […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":76396,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"aside","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[38362,38359,36542,38361,38360,38358,38363],"class_list":{"0":"post-76517","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-aside","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-articles","8":"tag-calvin-van-granberg","9":"tag-evan-balasuriya","10":"tag-manike-mage-hithe","11":"tag-mohan-sabaratnam","12":"tag-mohan-wimalasuriya","13":"tag-raj-seneviratne","14":"tag-suriyakumar-veerasingham","15":"post_format-post-format-aside"},"yoast_head":"\nOrigins of the Colombo Music Scene \u2013 Reflections over 50 Years-By Ajit Jayetileke<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" 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