Report
By Channa Wickremasekera
Pics - Vernon Tissera (SNNI) Melbourne
Music
lovers in Melbourne came together on 7th of September to celebrate
the career of one of the most accomplished and prolific singers
and song writers in their midst – Desmond Kelly. Des, whose
music career spans six decades was a pioneer in Sri Lankan music,
playing a significant role in introducing the fast-paced “baila”
music to Sri Lanka. Learning his ropes from such giants of the
Sinhala baila sene as Wally Bastian, Des later went on to make
a name for himself as a singer in his own right. His career continued
after he migrated to Australia, where his deep, resonant voice
entertained young and old alike across cultures. Having the uncanny
ability to sing in both Sinhala and English, he is still the consummate
entertainer knowing how to please a crowd.
The
event on Friday as organised by Aus Audio Visual Arts Association,
an organisation dedicated to promoting local talent in music,
art and cinema. The event featured several songs by Des and brought
together many of his fans and well-wishers. The Sri Lankan band
“Playback” provided music along with the “Music
Man”, DJ Errol. The crowd was treated to a tasty meal of
hoppers and curries, the night ending with a rollicking balia
session where Des came into his own, giving the young singers
of the band a good run for their money with his own brand of baila. |