Clarence Wijewardena

Vithana Kuruppu Arachchilage Clarence Arthur Somasinghe Wijewardena JP (ක්ලැරන්ස් විජේවර්ධන, கிளாரன்ஸ் விஜேவர்தன; 3 August 1943 – 13 December 1996), known professionally as Clarence Wijewardena, was a Sri Lankan singer, composer and musician.

Clarence Wijewardena was born on 3 August 1943, in Haputale, Sri Lanka, to an estate medical practitioner.

His family moved to Batugedara, Ratnapura, and Clarence abandoned a budding career as a planter to pursue music full-time.

He completed education from Weeraparakrama College, Yatawatta and Hatton Highland College.

He married Sheela Ramadasa and they had one daughter, Amila Priyadarshani.

Considered one of the most respected musicians in Sri Lanka, Wijewardena revolutionized Sri Lankan Sinhala Pop Music with the use of the electric guitar in Sinhala music, in the 1960s.

Due to his influence on Sinhala pop music, he is often named as the "father of Sri Lankan pop music".

Managed by an advertising icon, Sri Sangabo Corea, the group recorded several songs, which aired on the Saturday Star program in 1966.

The young musicians were mentored by Sri Sangabo Corea, together with veteran Radio Ceylon/SLBC broadcasters Vernon Corea and Vijaya Corea.

Their 1968 debut EP "Mango Nanda" was released on the JVPC007 Philips label selling up to 5,000 copies.

It included the songs Mango Nanda, Ruwan Puraya, Seetha Ude and Menike.

Their second release "More Hits by the Moonstones" came out in November that year, on the Sooriya label and included the hits Kalu Mama, Rosa Male, Ramani and Goyam Kapanawa.

Later the song Mango Nanda was selected the best Sinhala song by the Hit Parade program on Radio Ceylon as well.

In 1969, the Moonstones welcomed female vocalist Indrani Perera who sang lead on the best selling hit Dilhani.

Wijewardena himself only sang lead on Dileepa Podi Puthu an adaptation of a poem written by Karunaratne Abeysekera to his son.

During the 'Moonstones' era, Wijewardena, who performed as a composer and music director, became a singer.

Wijewardena took the initiative to start a three-member band, he was a self taught guitarist.

However, later the 'Moonstones' were formed with Annesley playing the key role as lead singer.

After he left the Moonstones in 1970, he held a musical show in Moratuwa with Shanaka Perera and Wijith Peiris and the show was named as "Breakaways from the Moonstones".

The late Mike Goonesekera took over the reins of the Moonstones after the departure of Clarence.

For many years they enjoyed the reputation as Sri Lanka's number one group in the 1970s and 1980s.

After three years Wijewardena decided to go solo when Annesley announced his plans for marriage.

Wijewardena experimented with sitar music and introduced the sitar to some of the songs of the 'Moonstones.

For the first time in Sri Lanka, he used a guitar wah wah pedal for the song Pemkathwawa for a recording.

Also the song Sigiriya was the first Bossa nova beat song in Sri Lanka and later he used this beat for the songs Piyaneni, Mage Palpathe, Muhudu Rella, Renin Piyabanna, Maliniye, Ramya, Ran Monarun (Winslow Six), Lalitha Kala (Chithra Somapala).

Also he used two guitar players to play lead parts and counterparts of songs such as Sumudu Mal Pipinu and Dileepa Podi Puthu.

For the first time in Sri Lanka he used the blocked guitar tone for the song Kusumalatha.

Wijewardena departed the Moonstones and formed a new music group called the Golden Chimes, with ex-Moonstones bassist Chanaka Perera and Lankika Perera in January 1971.

Their first release included Kimade Nawe, Mage Pelpathe, Sihin Sinawai and Samanalayo.

Subsequently, the vocalist Anil Bharati joined with Golden Chimes.

The second EP on Philips label contained Malai Velai, Sihil Nuwan, Surangana Vesvala and Mage Viyowen and third EP contained Iru Dina, Sandai Tharui, Muhudu Rella and Thakkita Tharikita.

At this time Wijewardena found a professional lead guitarist Dixon Gunaratne at a wedding.

After evaluating Bharati's performance for one year, Wijewardena decided to enter him into the Sinhala pop music scene.

Wijewardena composed Ada Wei Iru Dina for Bharati which became an all-time hit followed by the lovely Christmas song Bethlehempure and Maa Adarai Nangiye.

Clarence offered him another all-time hit Tikirimalee with Ma Mulin Liyu Pem Pathe, Desa Vidala, Bambaraku Aduna, Sarojini and Iru Dina Pamanak.

In 1972, Wijewardena and Gunaratne left the Golden Chimes and they both formed a new band known as Super Golden Chimes also with the support of Annesley in 1973.

Wijewardena formed the "Super Golden Chimes" back in the company of his lifelong friend Annesley.

It was one of the most productive music groups in Sri Lanka and together they hit the number one slot in the Sri Lankan music charts on both the Sinhala and English Services of Radio Ceylon and subsequently the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.

Wijewardena died on 13 December 1996, at the age of 53, in Sri Lanka after a long struggle against ruptured gastric ulcers and gangrene due to acute Diabetes.

Wijewardena formed the Moonstones at the age of 21 with Annesley Malewana as lead vocalist.