DESMOND KELLY

Little Known Facts – by Desmond Kelly Star of eLanka As we go through life, we sometimes seem to “miss” certain important events that either took place, or were taking place right below our noses. The reasons for this were wide & varied. Quite possibly, we were too young to worry about “World Events”, especially in Lanka, there were far more fascinating things to do, like spending our weekends at the glorious beaches, having a thosai-feed at the “Saraswathi-Lodge”, or going to the “Majestic Theatre” to see “pictures” starring people such as Robert Taylor & Ava Gardner, sitting in the ” Gallery-seats”, craning our necks upward as the “bugs” kept biting the bottoms of our thighs, because most of us guys wore “shorts” at the time. Another reason for missing World news, apart from what was “shown” on the theatre-screen before the film came on(after the interval), was the fact ...

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“Goodbye to a rock n roll legend” FATS DOMINO by Desmond Kelly And so we say “goodbye” to another rock n roll legend, Fats Domino, born Feb.26,1928 & died on Oct.25th 2017, aged 89 years. A pianist, singer, song-writer, of New Orleans-style music, he will be remembered for many songs, one of the best being Blueberry Hill. His full name was Antoine Domino Jnr., affectionately nicknamed “Fats” because of his chubby look, he would sit down at a piano, play & sing in his own inimitable style, either “backing” dozens of other vocalists or doing his “solo” rock numbers with a flair, all of his own. He reminded me very much of another piano-legend of Lanka by the name of Gerry Crake. Legends such as these, make for “original rock & roll music”, who could play any other type of music as well, making the old “piano” talk.Fats had a ...

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YOU TOO, THREE & FOUR by Desmond Kelly Sexual harrassment toward women (mainly), cannot possibly be an Oscar winning “performance” for H.W. ( lets use his initials only because lately, he’s been getting so much publicity for his “bad behavior”,it now. makes one wonder if THIS is what you have to do to become a “Movie-Magnate”).Let us look at first things first. Ladies, before “you too”, were harrassed, either by H.W.or anybody else, there would have been “three & four” HUNDRED (at a minimum), good-looking women sexually harrassed by MANY men holding positions akin to H.W. Since Hollywood began, there have been “Producers, Directors, Film-makers, Scouts & the like, by the dozen, who would want to “bed”any good-looking woman (wannabe actress), even though most of these budding actresses could not act their way out of a paper bag. It was the name of the game. To quote the edited lyrics of ...

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“STORIES OF ANCIENT CEYLON”(Series) by Desmond Kelly Around the middle of the twelfth century, a prince of great physical & mental vigor came into power at an area once known as Pulatthi, now much better known as Polonnaruwa, about sixteen miles south-east of another famous old area named Minneriya. Parakrama Bahu (A.D.1153-1186) was born in Ruhuna, (the south of the Island), where the Sinhalese had retreated to, after being thoroughly weakened by repeated “invasions” by the Southern Indians who obviously wanted to add this little jewel into the crown of Mother-India. Even as a boy, young Parakrama was not satisfied that Kings of “his people” had to live on the borders of their own kingdom. How many times were they going to give-in to other conquerers and take second place in a Country that was their own. He couldn’t understand this, and being a prince himself, determined to do something ...

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“Angel In Disguise” Desmond Kelly You were an angel in disguise, And when I looked into your eyes, I thought I saw a glimpse of heaven, I felt I ‘d really won a prize. Cause, whenever you were near, All my cares would disappear, In my arms, you used to linger, Whispering words I loved to hear. Sweetheart, I need you, More & more, every day, So may God speed.you, Back, forever, to stay, Then, you took me.by surprise, And though you told me only lies, I know I’ll always keep on longing, For my angel in dusguise. Lyrics & Music by, Desmond Kelly. ...

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“Again & Yet Again” (L&M) by Desmond Kelly I stood at that same bus-stop, Where, many years ago, I’d waited for a girl I’d known, So many years, before, Yes, she was in that same bus, As toward me now it came, She smiled, when I now called her out, by name. Chorus :- Again & yet again, We’d walk on, side by side, Again & yet again, Till she became my blushing bride, Then, this same girl had left me, Cos, I played a foolish game, My own regret, again & yet again. I climbed aboard & sat down, In that double-decker bus, The memories came flooding back, Those memories of us, She sat with him, this lucky man, I did’nt know his name, Still, I might have been that picture in the frame. Chorus :- Again & yet again, We’d walk on, side by side, Again & yet ...

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A “Drover’s Dream” (L&M) by Desmond Kelly As the shadows of twilight are falling, And the long, dark night, is near, How I wish you were with me, my darling, And, my song, just for you, is now clear. As the tired herd of cattle are grazing, On this paddock, so broad & so blue, Now, as night falls, my camp-fire is blazing, And, I’m thinking,my sweetheart, of you. So, while I’m away, please wait there for me, I’ll be back in your arms someday, soon, Together with you, once more, darling, Just making sweet love,neath the moon. Lyrics & Music by, Desmond Kelly. ...

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“A Country Anniversary” (L&M) by Desmond Kelly Another day has come and gone, Since the day our love was born, Though to me, it seems, not very long ago, We’ve had good times, we’ve had bad, Sometimes happy, sometimes sad, But through every passing day, I’ve loved you so. There were many bitter tears, There were many sudden fears, So many times, we thought our love could never be, But, through every joy and tear, Fate has made it pretty clear, All this means, that you were only mean’t for me. There were times we had to part, And.it made the teardrops start, Thete were times when we were close, yet far away, But these were just a few bad dreams, And right now, to me, it seems, You are in my heart, and there, you’ll always stay. Lyrics & Music by, Desmond Kelly. ...

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VALE – BONG SU by Desmond Kelly Further to the story on the “putting-down” of this beautiful elephant, by my good friend & co-member of eLanka, Victor Melder, which, hopefully, he sent in, c w photographs, and which has already been read by thousands of Lankan/Aussies, everywhere, I would simply like to add my condolences to all the caring Melbourne Zoo Staff who would be feeling the loss of this beloved bull-elephant who has been a “pet” resident of our superb Zoological Gardens since 1977. I will not go into the details of the sad story, which all my readers will know about via eLanka & all the newspapers around Australia. Suffice to say that so soon, after the death of another old resident of the Zoo, Harare, the Lion, this happens. If it was “old-age”, I suppose, it wouldn’t be so bad. Everyone & everything must die at sometime. ...

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COUNTRY SINGERS/SONGWRITERS – BY Desmond Kelly Genres of “history” matter very much to historians, and likewise, genres of “music” matter to musicians. My “tastes” in music are extremely “catholic”. I love all types, came into this World with music already seething through my veins, my dear mother, already having won prizes for “singing” at school and dad, a fairly good “baritone” although not professionally. Even as a very young baby, a very frail one, at that, nothing could soothe me more than music. I don’t think that a single day has passed through my life, honestly, without some sort of music enhancing some part of it. How could I explain this better ?. Plants seem to “grow better” with music around them. ...

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