WE ARE A MARGINALISED LOT: IVOR

Veteran musician and singer Ivor Dennis will be featured in his musical concert “Kurulu Paradeesaye’ at the BMICH on Nov. 28 at 6 pm to coincide with Ivor’s 80th birthday and his 60th year in music.

Kolitha Banu Dissanayake will deliver the keynote address while Navaratne Gamage will handle the music orchestration of the show organised by Lanka Santha and the Sunil Santha Society together with Bandara Eheliyagoda.

Speaking to Impulse, Ivor lamented that though he had several new songs and his originals, radio stations never played them.

“Today radios don’t play even songs of Sunil Santha, Ananda Samarakoon, C. T. Fernando and others. We can’t even find sponsors to hold solo musical events though the new generation are able to do so largely due to their contacts and marketing strategies. I am impressed by some young generation singers but I insist that they study music. Most young singers tend to imitate other singers instead of creating a unique voice. Once Sunil Santha identified my talents he insisted that I studied music which I did. Some ask me if it has been a disadvantage for me because I sang songs of Sunil Santha. No, it has always stood my advantage. Sunil Santha’s death was a big blow to the country’s music and personally to me. But unfortunately the people of this country are not given a chance to listen to these songs now. Many people ask me if I don’t sing new songs. What’s the big point in creating new songs if they are not aired on radio?,” he asked.