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6 unusual facts about Clarence Wijewardena


Clarence Wijewardena

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

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

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

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

In 1976, when Vernon Corea was invited to present the first Asian radio programme in English on BBC Radio London called 'London Sounds Eastern' he played the music of Wijewardena and Annesley Malewana, introducing them to a whole new audience in London.

Jackson Anthony

In addition to that he worked with Clarence Wijewardena;one of the most respected Sri Lankan musicians in Sinhala music, as a supporting singer for a sinhala teledrama called "Susima"


Mariazelle Goonetilleke

She has also collaborated with some of Sri Lanka's top musicians, among them Sunil Perera of the Gypsies, M.S. Fernando, Dalreen Suby, Clarence Wijewardena, Annesley Malewana, Damian Wickramatilleke, Maxi Rozairo, Shanelle Fernando, Umara Sinhawansa, Ashanthi De Alwis and Raj Seneviratne.

Stanley Peiris

Some of his popular melodies include; Lata Walpola's Punsanda Eliyai, Milton Mallawarachchi's Amaran Hengum, Clarence Wijewardena's Duwa ma wage, Gration Amanda's Tharu yaye, Nirosha Wirajini's Sigiri geeyak Obe hadawathe.


see also

Piyaneni

In the 1960s Clarence Wijewardena was mentored by the pioneer Radio Ceylon broadcaster, Vernon Corea who helped him to reach the pinnacle of fame in the music world in Sri Lanka.