DESMOND KELLY

“POWER OUTRAGES” – By Des Kelly Everyone in Australia KNOWS that, from time to unfortunate time, this Country faces temperatures that soar into the 50 degree mark, making it almost impossible for Humans AND Animals to bear. With the “climate changes” already upon us, (it would take only a complete fool to refute these claims), these very hot spells seem to get worse with each passing year. It is now the end of January, 2019, and the temperature later, today, in Melbourne, Friday the 25th, is forecast to rise to 44 degrees Celsius. Who in hell knows what it will be in 2020 ?.  Speaking for myself, as I generally do, it would not matter so much, because, even right now, I am in, what is termed  “the departure lounge” & may not have to worry about it. I will be “upstairs” (hopefully), but even then, will be worrying about ...

Read More →

“ALL BALLS” By Des Kelly Craig Andrew Foster beware,                    An East Indian Commentator, there,                    Does not miss, as he recalls                    The matches that involve “all balls”.        This is Soccer we are talking about here. However, all balls are different. Aussie footballs are brown and oval. Soccer balls are round, in black and white. Leather Cricket balls are smaller, rounder, harder, even multi-coloured.  I am not even going to mention the “pink ones”,used in the last Test between Sri Lanka & Australia. We are not USED to pink balls, in Sri Lanka. This is the only reason that I can see, for the Inning’s defeat suffered by the Lankan team, recently. Had they used red balls, like the ones suffered by ...

Read More →

 “STORIES IN SONG” SERIES 2019”  –   “BACK IN YOUR ARMS AGAIN” – By Des Kelly If ever there was a band that fully understood what the term “Entertainment Enchants”, mean’t it would be very difficult to pass-by this free-spirited group who call themselves The Mavericks. I was introduced to them via one of their original cassettes, many years ago, by a very pretty lady, who loved their music and hadn’t the slightest doubt that I would also become one of their top “fans”.The lead singer of the group, Raul Malo is quite a talented vocalist/songwriter who can take almost any song and make it his own. Raul was born in Miami, with a strong Cuban background, and as everyone should know, Cuban Music, in general, has that Latin/American rhythm that practically forces everyone within earshot to start dancing, no matter where they are, in their homes or even out on the ...

Read More →

 “STORIES IN SONG” SERIES 2019 “TIME TO REMEMBER” – By Des Kelly  When I first noticed the name Jimmy Fortune on you-tube, I have to admit that this name somehow, did not “ring any bells” for me. However, I have now found out that he was a member of the wonderful Statler Brothers, founded by brothers Don Reid, who was the lead voice, Harold, who sang bass, Phil Balsley sang baritone & Lew DeWitt sang tenor & was the guitarist for the original quartette, but illness forced him to retire and he was replaced by Jimmy Fortune in 1983.      The group originally formed in 1955. It wasn’t too long before they became well-known as a Country/Folk group who also began recording some beautiful Gospel songs. The late great Johnny Cash also had them as his back-up singers, and thery were associated with other similar groups such as The ...

Read More →

“RANGE ROVER” – By Des Kelly I am not talking about the vehicle above. Nothing wrong with the transport itself. My issue here, is with the driver of this particular R.R. What IS the matter with Prince Phillip, Her Majesty’s Consort ?. He lives at Buckingham Palace, or wherever (I am never sure where these “Royal People” actually live. Maybe they go to Buck.Palace just to dine). I am also aware that, with all these “Brexit” problems, things must be getting a bit tough for their Royalty too, but surely,  Prince Phillip should be able to afford a chauffeur to drive him wherever he wants to go ?. 98 years old, just two years away from getting a letter from his wife, congratulating him on his long life, he gets into this bloody Range Rover, drives up the Street, possibly to go down to the nearest tavern to get himself ...

Read More →

Melroy de Silva “GUITAR-JOHN” (REMEMBERED) – By Des Kelly   He was eighteen when I first met him at his Davidson Road home in Bambalapitiya. Handsome, rather chubby, as I remember him, already with the reputation of being an extremely good “guitarist”, Melroy De Silva was living right behind our little tenement home at 38, Lorenz Road, and if I remember correctly, it was his constant guitar-picking I heard, practically right over our back wooden fence, that made me want to meet this guy, so, one sunny day I decided to walk over to this house in Davidson Road and introduce myself to this guitar-picker. It was 1950, I had just turned fourteen in July of that year, played the Ukelele, and would sing to anyone who would listen, and loved music, especially what was termed “Country & Western”, in those good old days.  Found out that Melroy also loved ...

Read More →

“STORIES IN SONG” SERIES 2019 – “DIAMONDS & DIRT” – by Des Kelly Sticking with my belief that “Country Music” is still the best “Avenue” for my new 2019 Series of “Stories in Song”, each and every one of our eLanka Members & readers, will remember that a recent phrase (and song), featured a very important question. “Who’s gonna fill their shoes”?, talking about several Country Icons, Male & Female, who have now passed on, to the old Opry in the sky, may God bless them all. I certainly do not intend to start on an “Obituary Column” here, but, lets just take two of the main Idols, George Jones and Merle Haggard, certainly two of the top Country Stars, in my book, anyway, (both American), and to be fair, Slim Dusty (the Aussie “Man in the Hat”)& Reg. Lindsay, who was born, I believe in Adelaide (the City of ...

Read More →

“STORIES IN SONG” SERIES 2019. “WHO”? – By Des Kelly “Who’s gonna fixit, this bloody brexit?, No-one involved, seems to know, Will it be “hard”, or maybe quite “soft”?, Which is the best way to go.? Theresa may, and yet, she may not, She’s still the P.M., you see, Who’s gonna fixit, this bloody brexit?, Certainly not you, or not me” In England, “the brexit”, in the U.S., a “wall” Both P.M.s determined as hell, One wants to raise up the Union-Jack, The other, ring the “Liiberty-Bell”, In Oz., we don’t need any terrorist mugs, To tell us, what it’s all about, We really don’t care, where the hell they may go, If they step on these shores, KICK EM OUT”!!.    Desmond Kelly.   (Editor-in-Chief)  eLanka. ...

Read More →

  “STORIES IN SONG” SERIES 2019 – “WITHOUT YOU” – By Des Kelly  A perfect “Country” love story, if ever there was one. He was Waylon Jennings, an  “Outlaw” Country Star, famous for his rebel attitude, his drinking & “drugs” habits, yet his human compassion for his many friends in the business, his undoubted “luck” when he gave up his seat on a plane trip, to escape certain death when the plane crashed shortly after take-off, killing Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P.  (the Big Bopper. Waylon was then the bass guitar player in the famous Buddy Holly Band,  “The Crickets”. The drastic incident happened on the 3rd of February, 1959, and even though this Outlaw realized how lucky he was, at the time, this did not stop him from getting together with his good mates Willie Nelson, Kris. Kristofferson, Johnny Cash & Merle Haggard (another well known REAL Outlaw), ...

Read More →

“Gorgeously Adorable” – By Des Kelly We did not know the name of this sweetie until recently, but, if ever there was a “talent” in the making, here she is. As cute as the proverbial button, eat your heart out, Frank Sinatra, wherever you are, this little girl is paying you a tribute that no other male or female could do in a million years. “On pitch” -100%, timing, absolutely perfect, you can hear and understand every word she sings, with that cherubic “diction”, that makes you want to reach out and hug her, this tiny “star” could well go on to be a huge “Name” in the business that is preceded by the word “Show”. The eyes, the smile, the “presentation” , EVERYTHING!!, reminded me of another little girl of around the same age, accompanied by her proud mum & dad, attending a talent quest called “Search for a ...

Read More →