Clarence Wijewardena facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clarence Wijewardena
ක්ලැරන්ස් විජේවර්ධන |
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Vithana Kuruppu Arachchilage Clarence Arthur Somasinghe Wijewardena
3 August 1943 Brampton Estate Haputale, British Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)
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| Died | 13 December 1996 (aged 53) |
| Resting place | Kanatte Cemetery |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Education | Highland College Hatton Mahasen College Yatawatta |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, music director |
| Years active | 1965–1996 |
| Spouse(s) | Sheela Ramadasa |
| Children | 1 |
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Vithana Kuruppu Arachchilage Clarence Arthur Somasinghe Wijewardena (ක්ලැරන්ස් විජේවර්ධන ; 3 August 1943 – 13 December 1996) was a famous Sri Lankan singer, composer, and musician. He is known for changing Sri Lankan Sinhala Pop Music. In the 1960s, he started using the electric guitar in Sinhala music. Because of his big impact, many people call him the father of Sri Lankan pop music.
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About Clarence Wijewardena
Clarence Wijewardena was born on 3 August 1943, in Haputale, Sri Lanka. His father was a doctor on an estate. Later, his family moved to Batugedara, Ratnapura. Clarence decided to leave a career in planting to focus fully on music. He studied at Hatton Highland College and Mahasen College in Yatawatta.
He married Sheela Ramadasa. They had one daughter named Amila Priyadarshani. Clarence Wijewardena passed away on 13 December 1996, in Sri Lanka. He was 53 years old.
His Music Journey
Clarence Wijewardena was a very creative musician. He formed several popular bands and introduced new sounds to Sri Lankan music.
The Moonstones Band
When he was 21, Clarence formed a band called the Moonstones. Annesley Malewana was the main singer. An advertising expert named Sri Sangabo Corea helped manage the group. In 1966, their songs started playing on the radio show "Saturday Star."
Their first record, "Mango Nanda," came out in 1968. It sold about 5,000 copies! This record had popular songs like Mango Nanda, Ruwan Puraya, Seetha Ude, and Menike. Later, Mango Nanda was even chosen as the best Sinhala song by a radio program. In 1969, a female singer named Indrani Perera joined the Moonstones. She sang the hit song Dilhani. Clarence himself sang the song Dileepa Podi Puthu. This song was based on a poem by Karunaratne Abeysekera.
Clarence was mostly a composer and music director for the Moonstones. But he also started singing. He left the Moonstones in 1970.
Golden Chimes Band
In January 1971, Clarence started a new band called the Golden Chimes. He formed it with Chanaka Perera and Lankika Perera, who were also from the Moonstones. Their first songs included Kimade Nawe, Mage Pelpathe, Sihin Sinawai, and Samanalayo.
Later, a singer named Anil Bharati joined the Golden Chimes. Clarence wrote many hit songs for Anil Bharati. These included Ada Wei Iru Dina, the Christmas song Bethlehempure, and Maa Adarai Nangiye. He also wrote Tikirimalee and other popular songs for him.
The Super Golden Chimes
In 1972, Clarence and Dixon Gunaratne left the Golden Chimes. They started a new band called the Super Golden Chimes. Annesley Malewana joined them again in 1973. This band was very successful in Sri Lanka. They often reached the top of the music charts. The Super Golden Chimes were known as Sri Lanka's best band in the 1970s and 1980s. After three years, Clarence decided to start a solo career.
New Sounds in Music
Clarence Wijewardena loved trying new things with music. He was very innovative!
- He used the sitar in some Moonstones songs.
- He was the first in Sri Lanka to use a guitar wah wah pedal for a song called Pemkathwawa.
- The song Sigiriya was the first in Sri Lanka to use the Bossa nova beat. He used this beat in many other songs too.
- He used two guitar players to play different parts in songs like Sumudu Mal Pipinu.
- He also introduced special guitar sounds and techniques, like the blocked guitar tone in Kusumalatha.
- He used a "Twist" dance style in his 1960s song Ma Langin.
- For Dineka Me Nadee Theere, he used a "mute guitar" technique.
Directing Music
Clarence Wijewardena was also a talented music director for films and TV shows.
For Sinhala Films
He started working in Sinhala films in 1975. His first film was Sikuruliya. The Golden Chimes provided the music for this movie. Clarence used both Western and Eastern musical instruments. He also composed music for the 1978 film Apeksha.
For Television Shows
Clarence directed music for popular TV shows like Susima and Nidikumba Mal. He wrote all six songs for the Susima TV show. One famous song was Desa Piyagath Kala. He also composed music for the famous musician W. D. Amaradeva for the song Sasara Gewa Yana. This song was in the show Nidikumba Mal.
When the famous elephant Raja from the Temple of Tooth Relic passed away, Clarence wrote a song about him. It was called Kandu Sikarin Wata Senkadagala Pura.
Special Songs and Jingles
Clarence wrote many songs for his friends' children. He wrote Piyaneni to remember Reverend Canon Ivan Corea. This song became very popular. He also wrote Viran Bilindhu Puthe for Vijaya Corea's son. Later, he changed it to Kiri Muhuda Kalabala. He also wrote Sihina Pathum Wimane for Chanaka and Lankika Perera's children.
Clarence also worked as the General Manager at Sing Lanka Ltd. This was the first recording studio in Sri Lanka with many tracks. He helped introduce this new technology. He directed music for many artists there.
He showed his amazing music skills at big events. He composed Maha Balwathune for the Non-Aligned Movement conference in Sri Lanka in 1975. He also wrote a song for the SAARC Conference. He even sang Duwani Sirima for former Prime Minister Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
Clarence was voted the most popular composer in Sri Lanka in 1974 and 1976. His song Kataragama was named the best song in 1974.
Clarence was also famous for his catchy jingles. These were short songs for advertisements played on the radio. Some of his famous jingles were for brands like Elasto, Bata, Astra Margarine, Singer, and Edna Chocolate. He also formed a band called "Madhara" in 1985.
His music was played on BBC Radio London, introducing him to new audiences in London. He often toured the United Kingdom in the 1980s, playing for large crowds.
Beyond Music
When the Sri Lankan cricket team became a Test cricket nation in 1982, Clarence made an album. It was called Test Cricket Souvenir. The song Thana Nilla Dige became very popular during cricket season.
His Lasting Impact
Many of Clarence Wijewardena's songs are still loved today. They are played often on Sri Lankan TV and radio. Songs like Rasa Pirunu Katha, Geeyakin Kese, and Eatha Ran Wiman Yowun Sihina Loke are still very popular. This shows how talented he was at creating music that lasts.
In 2017, a concert called "Unforgettable Melodies of Clarence Live in Concert" was held in Colombo to celebrate his music.
