Versatile singer Ivor Dennis is no more

Veteran singer and musician Ivor Dennis passed away peacefully last week at the age of 86.

Ivor, who learnt music under maestro Sunil Santha, is complimented as a singer who represented three generations. He has rendered a yeoman service to Sri Lankan music for five long decades and was deemed to be the best student of Sunil Shantha. In 1952, Ivor took part in a song competition at Radio Ceylon singing Sunil Santha’s song ‘Waren heen sare ridee walave’. Sunil Santha had lis- tened to the song on the radio and made inquiries that resulted in creating the duo’s long lasting relationship that produced Ivor Dennis, the versatile singer.

‘Bambarandu Bambarandu’, ‘Amaa Shanthikara’, ‘ Naththal Naththal’ and ‘Irawata Yana’ are a few of the popular songs sung by Ivor, who carried forward the legacy of the musical giant Sunil Shantha.

Ivor was appointed an A grade singer in 1958 at Radio Ceylon. He won the Presidential Award for the best Playback Singer for the film ‘Hima Kathara’. He also received the Kala Keerthi award at the National Honours 2017 festival.

He was educated at ‘Davi Samara’, Seeduwa, Maris Stella College and Loyola College, Negombo.