Nihal Nelson

Nihal Nelson (born 9 January 1946; Sinhala:නිහාල් නෙල්සන්), is a Sri Lankan vocalist, songwriter and composer.[1] One of the most influential singers in Sri Lanka considered as the ‘The undefeated on the concert stage’,[2] Nelson holds the record for the most number of albums recorded by a Sri Lankan artist with 113 albums.[3][4]

Nihal Nelson
නිහාල් නෙල්සන්
Born (1946-01-09) 9 January 1946
Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationRawathawaththa Methodist College
Moratu Maha Vidyalaya
OccupationVocalist, Songwriter, Composer
Spouse(s)Malini Sriyalatha (m. 1974)
Children1
AwardsMoratu Puthra Abhimani
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1963–Present
LabelsDKRS, Torana, Nilwala, Tharanga

Personal life

His father was a businessman and mother was an English teacher.[5]

He started primary education from Innocent Maria Mixed School which is currently known as Rawathawaththa Methodist College.[1] After passing grade 8, he entered Moratu Maha Vidyalaya where he completed A/L in 1960.[5] That's where he got a lot of attention towards music.[2]

Nelson is married to Malini Sriyalatha, where the wedding was celebrated on 16 May 1974.[1] The couple has one son Kanchana Tharanga who was born on 18 January 1978. Kanchana works as a radio sound administrator.[2] Kanchana is married to Gayani.[6] His wife Malini died in July 2020.[7][8] Malini was the second in a family of four and had two sisters and an older brother.[9]

Career

Nelson was very popular in school stage as well as in Moratuwa as a singer. However, he had to polish his music ability to enter the music world. During this period, he met Sarath Munasinghe (currently a monk, Meegahawela Sumanashantha Thero) who wrote many songs in early days. In 1962, he met popular musician A.J.Kareem during a wedding.[10] Kareem introduced Nelson to popular composer R. A. Chandrasena. Nelson's first recording Lassanata Pipunu Wanamal wrote by Munasinghe was released on EP on March 31, 1963 under the guidance of Chandrasena. Later he joined with Kandy lake club with Chandrasena.[5][1]

He was among the first Sri Lankan vocalists to release a cassette in 1978 with Gune Ayyage Kamare. The release was on Wijaya Ramanayake's Tharanga label which introduced the format to Sri Lanka. Nelson was also among the first to release a compact disc.[11]

Nelson's hundred and tenth album Nihal 110 Dot Com came out in 2000. It was recorded at Sunflowers Studios in Mahawewa, Chilaw with conduction by Neil Warnakulasooriya and music by the Sunflowers.[11] Nelson is still singing on the concert stage for consecutive 55 years.[12]

He also worked as a playback singer for many films. His maiden playback singing came through the film Pem Kurullo with the song "Kasii Basili Na".[10] It was written by Chandradasa Fernando and the music was composed by Tony Weeratunga. Then he playback for the films Sakvithi Suwaya, Loka Horu, Rodaya, Hari Yanakota Ohoma Thamai, Sanda Wata Rantharu, Loku Thaththa, Mal Warusa, Valampuri and Diyamanthi. He also sung a song called Hitha Honda Minihage for Gamini Fonseka.[2]

On 15 March 2013, a "50 years old, Nihal Awith" concert was held at the Museus College Auditorium to celebrate his 50 years of singing career.[2][13] In 2015, Nelson was awarded the 'Moratupura Ratnavibhushana' award.[10][6]

Trivia

In January 2021, it was announced that a street will be named after the veteran singer on the evening of the 9th of the month. The third lane of his hometown, Rawathawatte, Moratuwa will be named as such.[14]

References
  1. "When I saw Mali I knew about her". Hiru FM. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  2. "Welcome here, '50 years, Nihal has come'". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  3. "Nihal Nelson in Paris". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  4. "Nihal, who climbed the other side, is still at the top of the hill". Dinamina. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  5. "Nelson with Lassanata Pipunu Wana Mal". Mirror Arts. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  6. "Ratnavibhushana Award winner Nihal Nelson". Dinamina. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  7. "Farewell to Nihal Nelson's wife". gossiplankaralla. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  8. "Death of Veteran artist Nihal Nelson's wife". Hiru FM. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  9. "My bird flew away". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  10. "50 years of Nihal Nelson's music". gossiplankahotnews. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  11. "Nihal Nelson releases 'Ransilu'". Upali Group. 2001. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
  12. "Here's why Nihal Nelson does not produce a new album". The Truth. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  13. "A Genuine Half Century from Nihal Nelson". Boondi. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  14. "Third Lane in Moratuwa named Nihal". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
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