The band ‘BeatBox’ is the newest outfit to bang into action in the local music scene.
The BeatBox , led by versatile singer Corrine Almeida, was launched on the 20 October last year.
I was really determined to start a band with my brother Kevin, but since he was busy with different outfits for I have to shelve my idea for many years. But finally I started it last October without him’ Corrine explained the origin of The BeatBox.
But to her surprise, Kevin has change his mind and joined the band from December. They went into action on New Year Eve straight away. ‘I am so happy about the move. To form a band with Kevin was one of my dreams. Now it has come to reality and with the other boys we are working hard towards our goals’ she said.
The band consists of seven members lead by singing sensation Corrine Almeida along with her brother Kevin on guitar and keyboards. The rest of the BeatBox comprises of Nadeesha Fernando on drums, Vipula Fernando on bass guitar, M. Sheriff on guitar, Sanjeeva Uyanahewa and Anton Fernando on keyboards.
‘All members are good vocalists and work together to bring out a diverse range of singing talent’ she added.
The BeatBox currently performs a weekly gig at Clancy’s while catering to other gigs such as dinner dances, corporate functions, weddings, cocktails etc.
Corrine & The BeatBox boasts a musical repertoire of variety such as country, blues, pop, soul, funk, retro and modern contemporary.
Senaka de Silva unwinds on ‘Celeb Chat’
Senaka de Silva is a man of many parts – craft designer, couturier, costume designer, choreographer, interior designer etc etc etc all rolled into one.
Listen to him unwind and relate his many stories on ‘Celeb Chat’ …… from classes at Cora Abraham’s Melbourne Art School and classical ballet at the Oosha Garten of Western Ballet … to mastering the art of hand-painted batiks and tie and die fabrics … from drawing inspiration from the myriad colours around him and rigorously training models for the catwalk … to taking his brand of Sri Lankan ‘haute couture’ to the world.
His current passion is working with craftsmen and master weavers from all of Sri Lanka’s provinces, and this has given birth to his dream - to set up a “Crafts Village” in Kalpitiya, and one day, live there in retirement.
Catch Senaka de Silva at 09.30 pm on Monday, 2 May on CSN.
The repeat programme will be on Tuesday at 8.00 AM.
You can also catch the live streaming on www.primetv.lk
Joey Lewis at the Margarita Blue
Sri Lanka born singer/songwriter Joey Lewis, will be performing at the Margarita Blue of the Galadari Hotel from the 7 May.
Visiting his mum, for her birthday after 15 years, the famous Jazz Singer, Myfanwy Pompeus-de Silva, popularly known as Joey Lewis will come into action with the band Sri Mirage on 7th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 19th, 20th and 21st May.
Joey who will be stopping over in Colombo on his way back to the UK, after performing in Australia at a charity show organised by Sri Lankan promoter Bertie Ekanaike, will be performing with Sri Mirage. Two of the members of the band, Benjy and Donald were founder members, with him and Tony Silva, of the pop/rock band ‘Amazing Grace’ which is a group that has left a lasting footprint in the western music industry of the Country.
Joey is an unwitting Neil Diamond sound-alike and is a big draw when he does his ‘Neil Diamond’ shows. It was his manager in the UK in the early 80’s who pushed him to acknowledge and exploit this talent and he soon became one of the highest paid performers in the club circuits there at that time, singing the music of the great man. It is said that, after hearing him sing at an industry party, Sheila Ferguson of the ‘Three Degrees’ had said that he was nothing short of fabulous and that Neil Diamond had written a whole lot of good songs for Joey to sing.
It was of course a very courteous gesture of kindness, Joey always hastens to add. The late Leslie Crowther, a legendary TV personality and the father in law of ‘Thin Lizzy’s’ Phil Lynott said that it was an extraordinary experience to listen to Joey sing, as if you did not see him you would expect no one else but Neil Diamond to be up there on the stage.
What of course was really significant about all this, is that all this happened before sound-alike’s and lookalikes came to be a business, so it is possible that Joey was one of the pioneers of that side of the music business, which is now a huge industry in its own right.
Joey has been associated with some of the great names in the music and television business in the UK and is very proud of the success of his once keyboard player, who he nurtured in the UK. Eric Caudieux, who went from strength to strength, working with Trevor Horn from the ‘Buggles’ to Guns ‘n Roses is now with the legendary Joe Satriani.
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