Veteran Sri Lankan singer and entertainer Desmond De Silva has passed away at the age of 77 in Melbourne, Australia. He had reportedly passed away due to a sudden heart attack.
Regarded by many as the “King of Baila”, the legendary singer was born in Matara in 1944, while he launched his career in popular music in 1963 as the lead vocalist of the “Fire-Flies”.
He also performed with leading Sri Lankan pop groups “Spitfires”, “Gabo and the Breakaways”, and the “Jetliners”.
In 1976, he decided to form his own band, “Desmond and the Clan”, which performed in various countries in Southeast Asia, and the Maldives.
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, and Komali Pane, as well as popular recordings of anonymous baila songs.
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, where he had been living for the past couple of years.
Baila icon Desmond de Silva takes final bow
09 Jan 2022
Baila icon Desmond de Silva takes final bow
09 Jan 2022