‘Desmondge watha gotha’ : A Tribute Song for Des by Rajiv
‘Desmondge watha gotha’ – ‘the story about Desmond’, a special tribute song for late Desmond De Silva penned by Rajiv Sebastian will be released on 13th July, the first birth commemoration after legend’s demise on 9th January, 2022. The late Desmond De Silva was born on 13th July 1944.
Though the legend passed away on 9th January in Sydney, Australia, his colleagues in the music industry who associated him closely such as Annesley Malawana, Sohan Weerasinghe (X’Periments ), Chuti Padmaperuma (Ex - Desmond and The Clan ) Piyal Perera ( Gypsies ), Vernon Perera, who penned Desmond’s hit song ‘Kirilli Ran Kirilli’ and a few others have teamed up to pay a tribute by way of a song remembering him on his birth anniversary.
‘Desmondge watha gotha’ is all about the life and time of Desmond as a musician. I got to know Desmond in year 1999, when I was performing with my band ‘Rajiv and the Clan’. Since then it was no turning back for me. He helped me in numerous ways to go on my solo career as a singer. So this is a small contribution to reminisce that great musician, singer and entertainer’ Rajiv explained about the tribute song.
‘Desmondge watha gotha’ will hit the cyber space through YouTube platform and also will be on airwaves of radio. The lyrics, melody and music arrangements are by Rajiv Sebastian who produced and arranged music for almost all the albums of Desmond De Silva
since 2000.
Desmond de Silva is a singer and entertainer, noted for his youthful voice that has changed little over four decades of performing and regarded as the ‘King of Baila’. ‘Des’, as he is known to his fans, launched his career in popular music in Colombo in 1963, he was the lead vocalist of the Fire-Flies. His music was featured widely on Radio Ceylon and subsequently the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. Des has also performed with leading Sri Lankan pop groups – ‘Spitfires’, ‘Gabo and the Breakaways’ and the ‘Jetliners’. He sang a song titled ‘Oba Nisa’ with Mignonne Fernando and the Jetliners – it was hailed as a musical masterpiece at an international song festival. In 1976 he decided to form his own band, ‘Desmond and the Clan’, which performed in various countries in Southeast Asia.
De Silva has had a string of baila hits including ‘Polkatu Hande’, ‘Yaman Bando’, ‘Chuda Manike,’ ‘Mamma No’, ‘Miss Sri Lanka,’ ‘Hai Hui baby Achchi (Wally Bastiansz),’ ‘Rajasangabo’ ‘Komali
Pane,’ as well as popular recordings of anonymous baila songs. He was also known for whole range of ‘Party Time’ nonstop baila music.
Meanwhile Rajiv celebrated his birthday on 23rd June and exactly 32 years ago in 1990, he registered his band ‘Rajiv and The Clan’, which elevated him to the stardom not only in Sri Lanka, but worldwide.
Apart from his latest creation ‘Desmondge watha gotha’, a tribute song for Des, he has penned eight new songs for Annesley Malawana, which were planned to release on his 75th birthday on 13th June.
‘But due to the prevailing situation in the country, all celebrations were postponed to October or November. All eight new songs and recreated four of Annesley’s old hits, sung by Annesley will be launched on a newly fixed date at a grand musical fiesta in Colombo’ said Rajiv.
Rajiv, Falan and Piyal Perera will join Annesley to sing new duets at the concert.