Ivor Dennis and His Master's Voice

He was Sunil Shantha's much favoured disciple. He not only was able to follow his guru's vision and mission but replicate is voice. Veteran musician and singer Ivor Dennis has completed fifty golden years in his service to Sri Lankan music which to his master gave an identity.

Coinciding with his 75th birthday, Ivor released a compact disc with 15 of his new songs and a launch of a book titled 'Apa Dutu Ivor Dennis' edited by Chandra Keerthi Kularatne at a felicitation ceremony organised with a musical titled 'Uthurana Kiri Kalasa Vilasin' at the Elphinstone Theatre last week.

Ivor's life took a different turn when Patrick Denipitiya brought the good news in 1951 that he is wanted by Sunil Shantha, who was a hero for him then and became this young man's mentor later. This was after the greatest musician and singer who was impressed by Ivor's voice, having heard him sing one of his songs over the radio, invited him to sing in his chorus. It was when Ivor was still schooling and took part in a programme for amateur singers on the radio. The song he sang was Sunil Santha's "Waren Heensare, Redee Walawe". If not for a slight hitch in his singing, Sunil Shantha would have had thought that he was hearing his own voice.

And he sent Patrick to Seeduwa to pick the young man who matched his voice identically. In fact, Sunil Santha who was in Ja-ela, used to pick him up and bring him for classes in Colombo. Ever since, Ivor was besides his master and has been his faithful follower,".

Starting a professional singing career in 1956, Ivor Dennis recalls 1986 as a memorable year in his life, for it was in this year that he won first place in an international singing competition organized by the Asian Broadcasting Union in New Zealand. For his service to the country and his guru, the cultural Ministry awarded Ivor with a special 'Desha Nethru' award for his contribution.

Following in the footsteps of his guru, Ivor never used his talent to profit for himself. He used it for others, for the country and to God. He was in charge of the music section of "Pubuduwa"-Catholic Renewal Movement and he was one of the leading lay artistes who changed the trend of inserting words into popular song to use in worship. Further his tunes had an eastern flavour and he played a pivotal role in localising church singing.

"Sunil Shantha was the greatest artiste born in this land and sacrificed his life for the principles he believed. By joining him in his journey, Ivor did great service to the country and its music," Rev. Fr. Oscar Abeyratne, the head of 'Pubuduwa' said. "Like his mentor, Ivor Denis never let himself be sold to wealth, money or any other worldly gain," Fr, Abeyratne said.