End of a great singer/entertainer

Popular singer/entertainer, Desmond De Silva, passed away, in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday (09) at 6.00 pm (Australian time). He was 77.

Born in Matara, in 1944, Desmond launched his singing career, in 1963, as the lead vocalist of the then popular group, The Fireflies.

He also performed with several other leading local pop groups, including the Spitfires, Gabo and the Breakaways, and the Jetliners.

With his poluarity soaring as a frontline vocalist, and entertainer, in 1976 Desmond decided to form his own band, Desmond and the Clan.

They were much in demand in the scene here, as well as overseas, which saw them perform in several countries, entertaining Sri Lankans domiciled abroad.

Known for his popular renditions of Sri Lankan ‘baila’ music, Desmond celebrated 40 years in show business, in 2019,

He has had a string of baila hits, including ‘Polkatu Hande,’ ‘ Yaman Bando’ (Wally Bastiansz), ‘Chuda Manike,’ ‘Mamma No,’ ‘Miss Sri Lanka,’ ‘Hai Hui Babi Achchi’ (Wally Bastiansz), ‘Rajasangabo’ ‘Komali Pane.’

He is also known for a whole range of ‘Party Time’ non-stop baila music.

He has performed his hits in several major cities around the world, including Los Angeles, New York, London, Auckland, Dubai, Bahrain, New Delhi, Singapore and Melbourne.

The late Desmond was based in New South Wales, Australia.