Clarence honoured with ‘Clarence Wijewardena Mawatha’
View(s):78th birthday commemoration programmes were held at various radio stations and TV Channels last week in honour of late great Clarence Wijewardena.
Clarence Wijewardena was honoured, in a very special way, on his 78th birthday by naming the road as ‘Clarence Wijewardena Mawatha’, the road heading towards the Clarence’s original residence, at Thalapathpitiya.
This was initiated by popular singer Rajiv Sebastian and was declared open by Singer Indrani Perera. The ceremony took place on Tuesday, August 3rd, in the presence of MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, and the Mayor Tiraj Piyaratne of the Maharagama Urban Council.
Known as the father of Sinhala Pop, Clarence, with his group ‘The Moonstones’, later The Golden Chimes, and then The Super Golden Chimes, created a new trend in Sinhala music, which was aptly called Sinhala Pop.
Before long, his music zoomed to the very top in the local music scene, and Clarence kept churning out hits after hits.
Almost every song of Clarence’s became immensely popular, not only with the Sinhala audience but even with those who preferred the Western stuff and dancing music.
His hits included ‘Malata Bambareku Se’, ‘Moratuwa Moratuwa’, ‘Re Tharakawo’ ‘Ruwanpura’, ‘Sihina Lowak,’ ‘Mango Kalu Nande’, ‘Gamen Liyumak,’ ‘Udarata Niliya’, ‘Kanda Surinduni,’ ‘Dilhani’, ‘Okanda Wela’, ‘Muhudu Rella Osse’, ‘Sendha Walawan’, ‘Sandak Besa Giya’, ‘Kimada Nawe’ and ‘Wana Devuliya Thurule’ are some of his popular creations