Nissanka Wimalasuriya
Beddeliyanage Don Nissanka Dayaseela Wimalasuriya (September 23, 1937) is a Sinhalese musician and musical director. Although he was an electronics engineer (Biomedical Technologist) by profession however he is more popular as a versatile musician with the ability to play several musical instruments both western and oriental.[1] Nissanka Wimalasuriya is said to have started the first Dance Band to play strict tempo Ballroom Dance Music with string instruments.
Nissanka Wimalasuriya | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Beddeliyanage Don Nissanka Dayaseela Wimalasuriya |
| Born | 23 September 1937 Panadura, Sri Lanka |
| Genres | Country, calypso, Hawaiian folk, dance |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, music Director, biomedical technologist |
| Instruments | Piano, Keyboards, Saxophone, Violin, Harmonica, Hawaiian Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar, Dubro, Banjo |
| Years active | 1947—present |
| Associated acts | Wheels Combo, Glow Worm, Orange Blossoms Special, Los Flamingos |
Biography
Nissanka Dayaseela Wimalasuriya of Moratuwa who started playing the violin at the age of six in 1943. His first teacher in violin was Tennyson Rodrigo. He enjoyed the rare privilege of presenting his debut live violin solo broadcast in classical oriental music at the age of ten over the airwaves of then Ceylon Broadcasting Station at Cotta Road, Borella in 1947.[1] He excelled himself as a boy violinist taking part in school concerts and even public performances then onwards.
At the age of 15, Nissanka Wimalasuriya mastered the chromatic harmonica, button accordion, electric Hawaiian and Spanish guitars, piano and church organ by 1952.
Then he taught music to students at school. While studying for the SSC at Moratu Vidyalaya, Nissanka started a School Orchestra and a Piano Accordion Trio and repeated the same while studying for the HSC examination at Sri Sumangala College Panadura in 1956.
He also played instrumental music for film recordings, which were taking place regularly during that period.
Nissanka Wimalasuriya is said to have started the first Dance Band to play strict tempo Ballroom Dance Music with string instruments. A highlight in this venture is that he did not use either the piano, saxophone, trumpet or clarinet.
As a member of the Radio Ceylon Orchestra, he has taken part in many musical programmes conducted in indoor studios and those conducted live with packed audiences.
In 1958 he started the band, Wheels Combo with Ossie Perera, Elsworth Alwis, drummer Tilak Wijedasa and Vernon Perera. Under the patronage of Vivil de Kauwe he has played music for dances too.
He was a regular player at Sun Down dances on Sundays at Vivil de Kauwe's dance school and for Sunday morning dances at Beach Club, Mount Lavinia. He has also composed and directed music in the original recordings of Kalu Kelle, Ahasata Pimbina, Seegiri Komaliya and Kaju Kella for the Los Flamingos group.
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