Honoring the LEGEND – Desmond de Silva – by Mariazelle Goonetilleke
What a night that was …
His contemporaries and colleagues came from many parts of the world with only one thought and that was to remember Des the legend and tribute to him through song and music.
The Paravilla Function Center Sydney was the venue selected for the night and from the moment you entered the foyer – you felt as though Des himself was there – because you walked into his personal belongings – suits, pictures, awards, and memoirs – all of these for his fans and friends to witness first hand.
The Srilankan entourage consisted of Sohan Weerasinghe, Melantha Perera, Corrine Almeida, Trevine Joseph, and myself. We were so moved we would be on the program that we all stood up to be counted. Our only request was the visa, air ticket, accommodation, and domestic travel.
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Once in Sydney, our task was made so much lighter because Des’s band – The Impressions – had done their homework to the letter and all of us could look forward to smooth performances on stage. Thank you Puncha, and the rest of the gang for taking on this thankless job and making us feel there was no difference from the musos back home. It’s no wonder Des chose all of you guys to work with. The selected music consisted of work each one of us had performed with Des sometime in the past and also a couple of our own originals or favorite covers.
Everyone who attended the tribute that night came out of sheer love for this world-class entertainer who had impacted all of us in his life through his music and personal space. This was evident from the cries of ‘one more’ and those who were almost refusing to accept that the night had indeed come to an end.
Through all of this one just cannot ignore the hard work put in by Phyllis Van Houton de Silva – Des’s wife – who had worked tirelessly for many months to put this show on the road for the legend. That was a humongous task and I definitely raise a glass to her for her commitment, dedication, and planning … Well Done Phyllis – I’m sure Des was there cheering you on … Mela, Sohan, and I were given an all-inclusive vacation AND the option of sourcing other work by this lady, and in fact, she facilitated several events for us herself. Thank you, Phyllis.
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Back home, my mind is still fresh with memories of that evening, the energy in the room, and the outpouring of love for this irreplaceable entertainer par excellence!
Until next time Des …..
Mariazelle Goonetilleke
