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Ranjith's
Reeves saga Now carrying
an Australian passport, the one-time journalist, is a regular face
in the extensive club network across the vast continent Down Under,
working under his first name. The visit to
Texas, at the invitation of the Reeves Family, no doubt ranks as
the highlight of Ranjit's career - even dwarfing dream-time stints
as support act for other legendary entertainers of the modern era,
such as Engelbert Humperdinck, Barry Manilow, Glen Campbell, Helen
Reddy and the man who took his name from a wolf - Lobo - on their
tours of Southeast Asia. "It was
an awesome experience singing to such an audience . . . every man
and woman sitting out there was near and dear to Jim in one way
or another," said Ranjit, shortly after he was accorded a long
standing ovation at the Panola College's magnificent QM Martin auditorium
at Jim's birth place, Carthage - about three hours by road northeast
of Houston. "I was
virtually shivering in my boots when introduced by the MC (Scott
Reeves, a great nephew of Jim) but as the drums started beating
for my opening number, the distant drums, I settled in and doing
the rest of my repertoire was a piece of cake' Ranjith said in a
special mail to Sunday Times. "Mind
you, I was virtually an intruder here. This was Jim Reeves country.
To come here, more than any other place in the world, and be accorded
such a reception is an experience I'll never forget." he admitted. "Gentleman
Jim is still a legend all over the world after all these years,
but in this patch he is almost god. Hence, the nervousness before
I walked on stage," said Ranjit. James Travis
Reeves, who was born in Galloway, a little village just down the
road from Carthage, would have turned 80 on August 20 this year.
He was three
weeks short of his 41st birthday, when the single-engined plane
he was in control of, crashed during a wild storm not far from his
modest home in Nashville, Tennessee, on July 31, 1964.The only other
person on board was Jim's pianist, Dean Manuel. Jim Reeves
is still the highest selling Country Artiste for RCA records and
the 11th in all genres The annual
Jim Reeves Country music jamboree is held each spring, and has strictly
been a Texan affair. Proud of its Country music heritage, only entertainers
from within the vast American state had previously been invited
to be on the show. "To be
invited to a gig of this magnitude is an experience that can never
be surpassed," said Ranjit. "Yeah, I'm so proud to be
the first to be imported from outside Texas." Obviously,
the star of the show was John Rex Reeves, the only member of the
Reeves Clan to pursue a career under the spotlights. But, by the
time Jim's nephew hit the stage, it was pretty obvious Ranjit had
stolen his thunder. "I had
goose bumps as I walked off stage. Man, I stood in front of 14,000-plus
people at a stadium in Manila on the night I opened for Engelbert
some years ago." "I thought
that was some experience of a life time, but this simply outshone
it . . . it was awesome!". What happened
on stage weren't the only memorable moments for Ranjit that night. Ranjit worked
for the now defunct Sun and the Weekend Newspapers and also spent
10 years as a senior journalist with the Bangkok Post in Thailand
before migrating to Australia with his wife, son, Andrew, and daughter,
Rebecca, in 1988. Seven years
later he turned his back on a 30-year career with the fourth estate
to give his vocal cords another go in front of audiences. "The show was produced by then popular radio man and close friend, Vijaya Corea" he said 'Miss
All American Beauty' On Swarnavahini on Monday at 10.00 p.m. Fast
Lane on ITN It's like V.I.P.
without Pamela Anderson. Wait! Come back! There's still plenty of
juicy stuff to gawk at when hip Charlie's Angels director McG helms
this cheesy serving of action, hot girls and fast cars. Starring: Peter
Facinelli, Bill Bellamy and Tiffani Thiessen 0n Every Tuesday at 10 00 pm on ITN 'Sarfarosh'
on Sirasa TV Sarfarosh tells
the story of a honest young man Ajay, played by Amir Khan whose
life is never the same after an encounter with terrorists leaving
in it wake - a dead brother and a paraplegic father. Despite the
odds, this young man finds A REASON TO LIVE. Though the
canvas is vast, the narration of the film is fast paced and dramatic.
Sonali Bendre is refreshing as she brings in the romance and the
comic moments. Naseeruddin Shah's brilliance can be seen as a ghazal
singer where his performance is soft and yet remarkable in its intensity.
Amir Khan stands apart, assaying a role that is credible, taught
with a restrained violence and power that is devastating. Brace yourself
for this gripping story that will keep you engrossed. Starring Amir
Khan and Sonali Bendre On Sunday, May 4 at 8.00 pm on Sirasa TV 'The
Wedding Dress' The grieving
girl's only wish is that someday this lovely dress will be worn
by someone with a love as deep as her own. Fifty-five years later,
Hannah ships the cherished dress to her nephew Travis for his wedding,
who is a talented freelance photographer, has proposed marriage
to a striking fashion model named Cass. The problem, though, is
that Travis has chosen the wrong bride. Zoey, Travis's
indispensable assistant is the women he truly loves, but he does
not realize this until she disappears from his life. On the very
same day that Zoey leaves, Travis's car is stolen and his aunt's
treasured wedding gown also vanishes. On Sunday, May 4 at 9.00 p.m. on Dynavision 'Judging Amy' 'Judging Amy'
on ETV on Monday, May 5 at 8.00 p.m. |
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