A tribute to Peter Randolph Peiris – by Lawrence Machado

Randy Peiris, one of Sri Lanka’s best loved and flambuoyant musicians, was given an emotional and fitting farewell in Sydney on Friday, September 25.

Born Peter Randolf Peiris on January 24, 1948, Randy was known as a larrikin in every sense of the world, from his childhood and adult antics to his wonderful sense of humour and remarkable musical ability.

Randy, well known for his time with many top Sri Lankan bands, including the Fireflies, -abo and The Breakaways, The Jetliners in Sri Lanka before performng in Sydney with Rapture (his own group), Nightshift (started by fellow Peterite Guinn Ragel) and The Impressions (led by Desmond de Silva), leaves behind a colossal legacy in terms of his music and talent.

Randy Peiris.

Best of all, he will be remembered as a genuine family person and friend, able to make the most of life, even as he spent the last 20 years of his life living with leukemia.

Randy, who attended St Peter’s College, Bambalapitya – where several outstanding musicians have originated from – is survived by partner Judy, children Ramone, Daniela, Laani and sisters, Cheryl Outschoorn and Rima Peiris. His ex-wives Vera and Michelle also attended the funeral service.

Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 restrictions, many family members, including his sisters, were unable to attend.

In Australia, Randy was never out of the musical limelight, playing for various groups and at dinner dances and school reunions, hosted by his Alma Mater, or other schools and organisations.

Like his daughters mentioned during the emotional funeral service for him at Parkside Baptist Church, Edensor Park, he captivated you with his winning smile.

Eldest son Ramone, who has a more than passing resemblance to his dad, also spoke and presented a poignant poem written by Randy’s uncle Patrick Fernando, who resides in London.

In her eulogy, Daniela spoke very lovingly of her father and included some of his playful antics as a child and teenager while being an unconventional father where anything was possible.

She recalled some precious moments in Randy’s life as a Dad, uncle, mentor and musician.

Laani performed a beautiful and emotional rendition of Elvis Presley’s Love Me Tender, accompanied on guitar by her cousin Tia Peiris, both girls showing plenty of Randy’s musical talents.

Former Jetliners lead singer and Sri Lankan legend Mignonne Fernando, Randy’s cousins Larry Loos and Robin Juriansz were among the many who sent visual and audio tributes at the funeral service, run by Pastor Mathew Kuruvilla. Pastor Mathew remembered a devout Christian and a multi-talented musician who contributed to his church services.

Mignonne remembered him as someone who had a tremendous input into the enduring success of the Jetliners at the prestigious Regent Hotel in Hong Kong in the Eighties.

Mignonne praised Randy for helping to organise the hugely-successful Jetliners reunion concerts, in Sydney and Melbourne in January 1999. Another member of the original Jetliners is Felix Fernando, who lives in Melbourne.

During his tribute, where fellow entertainer and close friend, Clifford Willenberg pulled out a couple of hilarious Randy moments, involving another well-known Sydney musician, Errol Diaz, who was at the service.

Randy, an accountant by profession, emigrated to Sydney in 1984 where he linked up with fellow Peterite Guinn Ragel. He also played with many other Lankan musicians, including former his Fireflies mates, Darrell de Silva and Desmond de Silva.

Darrell de Silva and Guinn Ragel both have grand memories of their time with Randy while Ronny Pieris, a classmate of Randy’s since primary school days at St Peter’s College, remembers a cheerful and giving friend, with whom he spent many a happy hour with during and after they left college.

Randy was an exceptional musician and wonderful friend, said Darrell.

“He was a great musician – a frontline singer, brilliant sax player and a competent keyboard player – and a great and loyal friend. We used to holiday in Nuwara Eliya during the warm Sinhalese New Year period, together with Melroy De Silva and other musicians,” Darrel recounted.

Guinn says of his great friend: “Randy was a very experienced and talented musician, a good team player with an excellent sense of humour. I learnt from this master in the early days and we shared many laughs together and some great family times.”

“Being junior to me, I did not ‘know’ Randy in college but remember him seeing him around,” recalls Darrell.

“He joined the Fireflies band in 1965 after the departure of Kumar Molligoda and was with us during those halcyon days of the ‘Sundown Dances’ at the Ceylinco Ballroom.

“He left the Fireflies to join ‘Gabo and the Breakaways’.

“I lost touch with him in the late Sixties. He joined the Jetliners in Hong Kong where he had long and successful stint in the seventies and early eighties.”

Darrell, who had migrated to Melbourne, was also running his own band in Melbourne from 1975-2003.

“When I moved to Sydney in 2003, Randy and I reunited, playing with Desmond’s Impressions, Rapture, Nightshift and Gordon Rebeira’s Kopy Katz, and we also did freelance work as a duo and with other musicians.”

Darrell said he, along with fellow Peterites Randy, Ron Peiris, Charles Jennings and Desmond de Silva, used to meet for lunch at St John’s Park Bowling Club regularly, which cemented their friendship further.

“In the last few years, illness was taking its toll and sadly Randy got progressively weaker and unable to do music with the passion that he had previously,” Darrell said.

Guinn Ragel, a multi-talented musician himself, said he invited Randy to join his band, Nightshift in 1985, a year after Randy moved to Sydney.

“I didn’t know Randy at St Peter’s College, as he was a few years senior to me and since I left for Australia in 1972, I had not seen him perform in Sri Lanka although I had heard of him,” Guinn said.

“I met Randy in Sydney in the early 80’s and asked him if he would like to join my band which I was just putting together, as I had heard so much about his musical ability.

“He gladly agreed and this was the start of a friendship that grew with time.

“We played many regular gigs from Chinese restaurants to Sri Lankan dances and to entertaining at the RAAF bases around Sydney. Often, we even carried on partying after the gig to the early hours of dawn finishing with a typical Sri Lankan breakfast in one of our homes.

“Musically, what stands out in my mind during that period is Randy’s tasteful arrangement of the classic Lionel Ritchie song “Deep River Woman” which had three part harmonies. Everytime this rendition was performed by Randy, Errol Diaz and myself, we received wide acclaim.

“Another great arrangement of his was “Seven Spanish Angels” in which Randy and I shared the lead vocals. These two memorable songs that I recall in our repertoire stood the test of time.”                                                

“My dear friend Randy, I will treasure the moments we shared and the joy you brought to many through music.

“You had immense courage and strength to carry on doing what you love, playing music even with the setbacks through illness and always obliging.”

ends