Paul Fernando

Madawela Hewage Paul Fernando (24 November 1951 – 16 November 2020 Sinhala: පෝල් ප්‍රනාන්දු), popularly as Paul Fernando, was a Sri Lankan musician and a Baila singer.[1] Often referred to as the "Prince of Baila", Fernando became one of the most popular singers in Sri Lankan western music industry.[2] Also, he is one of the leading artists dedicated to popularizing the art of Baila in Sri Lanka.[3]

Paul Fernando
පෝල් ප්‍රනාන්දු
Born
Madawela Hewage Paul Fernando

(1951-11-24)November 24, 1951
Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
DiedNovember 16, 2020(2020-11-16) (aged 68)
Kalubowila, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationPrince of Wales' College, Moratuwa
OccupationSinger, composer
Spouse(s)Unmarried
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1970–2017
Labels
  • HMV
  • Torana

Personal life

Paul Fernando was born on 24 November 1951 in Moratuwa, Colombo, Sri Lanka. He completed education at Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa.[4]

He died on 16 November 2020 at the age of 68 at Kalubowila Hospital after undergoing treatment for an illness for a long period.[5]

Career

An amateur singing competition was held at the Buddhist House in Moratuwa in 1969. It was a time when he was looking for opportunities to sing songs. With that focus, he applied for the Talent Sixty Nine Singing Competition where he later won the competition.[6] That competition became the turning point in his musical career. During the competition, he met popular lyricist Priya Peiris who gave him several lyrics. Then Fernando practiced the song Sandapana Wage Obe Ruwa Dilisila. He managed to impress the fans with that song which brought him to the pinnacle of popularity.[7]

In 1970, he released his first album.[8] The album consisted of four songs: Sandapana Wage, Ran Samanalaya, Sudu Rosa Malak and Thoppi Velenda. He later became a permanent artist in outdoor musical stages island wide. In the same year, he took to the stage with the song Mala, Mama Oba Genama Hithala. Then in 1972, he sang the song Egoda Gode Mal Nelana Mal Ethano written by Ravi Ranasinghe and composed by Melroy Dharmaratne. Then he made the Baila hit Supun Sandak Ahase Pavuna which became very popular.[9] On the stage, he made a sign of identity, where he sang the songs moving from one place to another rhythmically.[7]

In a career spanning more than four decades, he made several popular Baila and fast tracks including: Golu Hadawatha Vivara Karanna, Ruwan Maliga, Egoda Gode Mal, Aawe Wana Bambarek Wage, Supun Sandak Ahase Pawuna, Demapiyan Kiyana Nisa, Pranandu Pranandu, Ran Kirilliye and Dona Kathirina.[7] On 13 October 2013, Fernando performed in the concert 3 Po LS (3පෝLS) along with fellow Baila singers Christopher Paul and Vincent de Paul Peiris held at Bauddha Mandiraya, Moratuwa.[10]

Filmography
YearFilmRoleRef.
1976VanarayoPlayback Singer
1983Rathu MakaraPlayback Singer
1997Apaye Thappara 84000kPlayback Singer

References
  1. "STARS of 70S' a super show". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  2. "Popular singer Paul Fernando bids adieu". Sri Lanka Mirror. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  3. "The fast rhythm disappeared". Mawrata News. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  4. "Baila singer Paul Fernando passes away". Silumina. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  5. "Popular singer Paul Fernando passes away". Ada Derana. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  6. "Here are 12 Baila Champions in Sri Lanka". lakviru. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  7. "I can't hear your singing". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  8. "Paul Fernando bids farewell to life". gossiplankanews. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  9. "8 immortal baila singers". yamu.lk. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  10. "'3 Po LS' concert on the 13th". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
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