Desmond will reign for decades to come
Popularly known as ‘King of Baila’, Desmond de Silva, the singing sensation for more than five decades bid adieu on January 9 in Australia. Desmond was a singer and an entertainer par excellence and he was one of the most sought-after entertainers for concerts, dances and shows throughout his singing career in Sri Lanka and down under.
A simple Sri Lankan party without a song of Desmond de Silva would not have been a completed gig especially in Sri Lanka. Desmond’s songs with simple words and tuneful melodies were attracted not only to the Sinhala community, but other ethnicities as well. In a way Desmond was a cultural ambassador with popular music.
Instead of traditional songs on the beauty of Sri Lanka, Desmond shared the beauty of the country with joyful melody singing ‘Yanna Rata Wate’ which was an overnight hit. Singing with his unique voice Desmond popularised some of Wally Bastiansz’ hits such as ‘Yaman Bando’, ‘Hai Hui babi Archchi’ and many more. Desmond offered tribute to Bastiansz making a tribute song ‘Lankawata Baila gena Wally Bastiansz’.
Hailing from Matara Desmond was the eldest of the family with younger brother and a sister. His father Clement Arnold de Silva was a Public Health Inspector (PHI) and mother Olga Correa was a teacher from Chilaw. Both were lovers of music and the couple in fact had formed a small band where they would play household parties in Matara area. Young Desmond who accompanied his parents would have been inspired by this influence and experience.
Born on July 13, 1944, Desmond who was fondly called by his friends and fans as ‘Des’, started his singing career in Colombo in 1963 as the lead vocalist of the Fire-Flies. His songs were very much on demand on Radio Ceylon, and then on Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation too. Having worked with several musical groups like – ‘Spitfires’, ‘Gabo and the Breakaways’, Des formed his own band ‘Desmond and the Clan’ in 1976. That was the turning point of his life. The hidden star in Desmond was started to rise to the maximum. He went around the world playing in hotels and at public events. Desmond represented Sri Lanka at the 5th Olympiad of Songs in Athens, Greece in 1979 and at the Yamaha Festival of Song in Tokyo, Japan.
The large collection of his Baila songs like ‘Polkatu Hande’, ‘Chuda Manike’, ‘Mamma No Pappa No’, ‘Miss Sri Lanka’, ‘Rajasangabo’, ‘Kollupitiya Junction’, ‘Sumihiri Pane’, ‘Nilwan Muhudu’, ‘Kirilli Ran Kirilli’, ‘Panamure’, ‘Dompe Aya’ and ‘Komali Pane’ inspired the second generation musicians and musical bands. But none could beat his inimitable voice that was unique to his music and songs.
Desmond was not only just a singer but a social activist who championed the cause of autism. In 2005 he appealed on behalf of autistic children and people with autism.
De Silva’s music and easy going nature inspired many generations of local musicians through which his musical legacy will live on for decades to come.
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