Patrick Denipitiya the music maestro, icon, the musician who has contributed most to native Sri Lankan music having revolutionised our music for over three decades – by Sunil Thenabadu
Patrick Denipitiya was born into a family with ten children in Kotahena. His parents were Coronalis Denipitiya, a railway station master and Mary Simona ,née Fernando housewife. His siblings were named Sunny, Benedict, Paul, Andrew, Anne, Edward, Anton, Bertram, and Milton. Patrick had studied at St Benedict’s College, Colombo initially and finally at St. Aloysius’ College in Galle as his father was stationed in Galle. While at St Benedict’s College been a very bright student had even taught junior students in mathematics under a ‘banyan’ tree within the school location. Patrick had been a very bright student in class his father had wanted him to become a doctor, had even gained admission to the medical college having bought him all compulsory equipment’s like dissecting sets , stethoscope etc but as he disobeyed through sheer anger he had thrown all equipments to the sea. Patrick had disobeyed and disappointed his beloved father to tall unprecedented elevations by joining ‘radical’ Sunil Shantha’s music classes following his elder brother Bertram, as his passion was music was greater possessing abundance of innate talent. Usually for anyone to possess talent in any field , they should originate via hereditary affiliations but in the case of Patrick it was purely via inborn talent .He has had his first music lessons from Sunil Santha who continued to give him free lessons having featured him in his recordings as a guitarist. Sunil Shantha had been so impressed with the talent of Patrick to overwhelming dimensions such that he had even visited home to take him for practices. Sunil Shantha had ordered him to teach music to students without a charge. Patrick had risen to unparalleled heights in his music attributes to be described as the teacher of the Sri Lanka’s pop music who initially revolutionised the then music by introducing the electric Hawaiian guitar which was much effective delivering music to much larger magnitudes .Partrick was initially known as only an instrumentalist but later after proving his wider skills and expertise with the electric Hawaiian guitar was soon known to be labelled as an abundantly inspired musician.
He was a major part of the crusade that brought western music culture to Sri Lanka in the late 1950’s and the 1960s.In year 1959 Patrick Denipitiya recorded a duet by Rupa Indumathi and Jayatissa Hettiarachchi “Ruwan Ambara Pemara Salana” lyrics of Lionel C de Silva, which was sung live at the Studio Wally’s Dehiwala stage during Vesak when annually a Sinhalese Jathaka story is performed on a stage along Galle Road patronised by huge audiences.Later on the song was sung by Latha Dissanayake who had a conflict saying it was her song which was squashed by Patrick. He was morally instrumental as the pioneer in introducing the electric Hawaiian guitar into Sri Lankan Sinhala music industry and was responsible for many new musical compositions, arrangements, music direction and performance of many Sinhala songs and film songs from the late 1950s to 1997.Prior to Patrick’s intervention to western type Sinhalese music it was PLA Somapala who dominated the musical arena who was even named as “Pittala Sangeethakaraya’ as he had initially introduced many western musical instruments to native Sri Lanka, which totally changed the music culture in Sri Lanka when music was delivered by only unplugged eastern instruments.
He had a unique ability whereby he could write music scores without using an instrument in both Eastern and Western notation quickly than anyone else. He was able to do this for an entire orchestra that utilized both eastern and western instruments. He directed music for a lot of songs written by Karunaratne Abeysekera, George Leslie Ranasinghe, Cyril A Seelawimala , Premakeerthi De Alwis, KDK Dharmawardene, Fr. Mercelyn Jayakody, f The music composition of song ‘Srinivibushitha’ sung by Kalasuri Latha Walpola in year1977 had to be made abruptly as it was ordered to be sung at a wedding by Ranasinghe Premadasa the then Prime Minister written by Hemashri De Alwis. The lyrics of the song “Pere Diga Muthu Etayai me” was also composed by the same lyricist Hemashri de Alwis earlier on, remembering that song Patrick had impeccably composed by Patrick. During a television program the presenter had contacted Kalasuri Latha Walpola who praised Patrick Denipitiya to unparalleled magnitudes saying he was the most competent musician, a maestro, a giant, ’dakshaya’ an exclusive musician, she had come across as he could easily back instantly performing his whistling, one who never refuses to back for any song. When Patrick composed music for the “Srivibushana” song he had got the violinist Turin Jayaratne to include a rare pause when he notified to make the music in the song very exclusive.
Patrick after the demise of Mohammed Ghouse, BS Perera had taken the brunt of our music been, the Music Director for many original songs sung by C.T. Fernando, Milton Mallawarachchi, C.D. Fonseka, Susil Premaratne, Anjalene Gunathileke née Lanerole, Sydney Attygalle, Mallika Kahawita, Maurice Dahanayake, Christopher Paul, H R Jothipala, Kanthi Wakwella, Henry Caldera, Latha Walpola, Sujatha Attanayake, Indrani Perera, Rupa Indhumathie, M.S. Fernando, Irene de Alwis, Camilus Anton Peiris, Freddie Silva, Ivor Dennis, Jayatissa Hettiarachchi and many others,also for many calypso groups such as The ‘J’ brothers, ‘Samanalayo’, Grain Leornados etc. Patrick had reproduced many songs for instance of CT Fernando recorded at the SLBC earlier adding more spice with his electric Hawaiian guitar accompanying by his ‘Patrick Denipitiya Combo’ meaning composition, which consisted mostly Partick on his electric Hawaiian guitar and another musician playing the piano accordion.In an era when piano and guitars were prohibited inside the recording studios at the SLBC, Patrick Denipitiya had taken his electric Hawaiian guitar for recordings sans any fear.
It is learnt that Patrick had been listening to many genres of music like Latin American, Hindi, classical, pop. Rock etc which had helped in his music journey to compose music to diverse vocalists to enthral audiences. Pactrick Denipitya is definitely the fore runner for all group songs that were sung by many groups later.It is learnt and reported that it was Patrick Denipitya who had propagated the seeds for the development of the group songs.Patrick had been a bright student while in school particularly in mathematics, hence the music composed was scientific music combination of maths and music.Patrick was never afraid of critics ,he was bold enough to carry on regardless through his journey.Patrick was the first musician in the annals of our history to record songs on Columbia discs for vocalist Milton Mallawarachchi which was later bought over by Ms Sooriya.
Patrick Denipitiya did songs to a 4 by 4 beat which were not Baila songs but were accepted by Sri Lankans to sing at parties over the usual Baila rhythmic songs. To name a few “Sihina Lowe Sihina Mewu”, “Eththa Kadureli Simba Simba Devatila’,’Nelum Male Pethi Kadala Oruwa Sadala” a duet by MS Fernando and Angeline Gunatilleke, “Udarata Menike Manahara Kandurata Thilake” duet by CD Fonseka and MS Fernando.During Patrick Denipitiya’s tenure as a musician he had produced many instrumentalists to the music field v.i.z.,Manoj Peiris, Ranjith Perera,Keerthi Paskuel,Stanley Peiris just to name a few.
He directed music in many movies beginning with “Senghawunu Menika” in 1967, “Senakeliya” a box office hit in 1974 and “Loka Horu” 1976. He has co-directed movies including “Saudan Jema”, “Akke mata Awasara” and has directed, performed, and assisted in many ways in over 5000 commercial songs and movie song recordings. Patrick was ever willing help co musicians, was a humble musician who had assisted many with his music notations which he could write very past perhaps faster than anyone else. This ability had been observed by an Indian musician when he had visited Sri Lanka. There had been instances that many musicians had been credited for the work performed by Patrick Denipitiya to which he has had no regrets such a lavish person.In his pioneer endeavour in films v.i.z.,’Senghavunu Menika” there had been many songs that became hits one in particular was the duet of Latha and Dharmadasa Walpola, the song “Pipila Hada Wile”. Patrick Denipiya had composed music for approximately for three hundred films, apart from film songs the background music for each frame music needs to be provided to suite the appropriate scene which is somewhat of a cumbersome process.
He was the music composer in Sinhala films such as ‘Senakeliya’, ‘Sangawuna Menika’, ‘Loka Horu’ and co-directed the film music in ‘Saudan Jema’ and a few other films with P.L.A. Somapala too. He has contributed his immense innate talent to many other film recordings of other music directors such as Muththusamy having started to write music scores for Muththusamy’s ‘Prema Tharange’ song ‘Chandraya Paayala – Latha Walpola’, P.L.A Somapala, M.K. Rocksamy, T.K.Latiff, Galagedara M Haq, Mohommed Sally, Sarath Balasooriya, Many Indian music directors such as T.R. Papa and other compatriots, assisting them with his familiarity and aptitude to play many instruments. Rocksamy, Patrick and Latif were the three Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim icons genius’ cum close friends who frequently appeared and backed in most of the film background music and song recordings for nearly three decades.
He composed the first Sinhala group song ‘Udarata Menike Manahara Kandurata Thilake’ by C.D. Fonseka, Razeena Yakim, Angeline Goonethileke and Shelton Mendis as well as many other popular songs including ‘Aatha Kandurali Simba Simba’, ‘Pulun Wage Sudu Raula Digai 1958’, ‘Vishnu Devinde’ and ‘Umayanganiyo Surralaliniyo’ by Jothipala, ‘Nelum Male Pethi Kadala’ by M.S. Fernando, Angeline Goonetilleke and Nimala Atapattu, ‘Hithe Ekak Thiyan’ by Angeline Goonetilleke, ‘Iwuru Thala’, ‘Ma Nisa Oba’, ‘Sayuru Theredi’, ‘Rayak Upadda’ and ‘Ma Ha Eda’ by Milton Mallawarachchi as the music composer and ‘Shreeni Vibushitha Lanka Bebale’ by Latha Walpola. Many of C.T. Fernando’s songs such as ‘Sihina Lowe’, ‘Hela Jathika Abhimane’, ‘Aane Dingak Innako’, ‘Maa Baala Kaale’, ‘Sandawata Rantharu’, ‘Mal Loke Rani’ and ‘Punsanda Hinahenne’, among others, became hits under his unique music direction and compositions.
Patrick was the music director for many individual artists shows such as ‘Baig Geethika’ by Mohideen Baig, C.T. Fernando’s ‘Wana Bamabru’, ‘Rukmani Handa’ by Rukmani Devi and Helen Daniels, P.L.A. & Chithra Somapala’s ‘Ranwan Gee’ and ‘Sundar Geeth’ Hindi by Tudor Jayashantha. In addition to playing, he had also sung in some recordings of songs such as ‘Sihina Lowe’ with C.T. Fernando the original was a SLBC recording, ‘Ganga Yamuna Hawuna’ with Mallika Kahawita and ‘Ho Mata Ethi Sampatha’ with Christopher Paul.The music of the song “Biwwa Neda Wadakaha Sudiya”was also by Patrick sung by his brother Bertram Denipitiya and CD Fonseka but was banned from playing at SLBC.
He was the first to introduce the electric lap slide guitar to Sri Lanka’s Sinhala Music industry while also being a pioneer in introducing pop music to the Sri Lankan oriental music industry in the early 1960s. He worked in harmony with all orchestras of Sri Lanka including the Radio Ceylon Orchestra for many decades.
Patrick Denipitiya toured Europe with C.T. Fernando in 1969 as the first Sri Lankan music director to travel to Europe on a tour and had a meeting with the internationally renowned George Harrison of the Beatles, had impressed him with his vast musical knowledge. He also toured Canada and the United States with H.R. Jothipala. Patrick Denipitiya has also visited cities such as: London, UK; Zurich, Switzerland and Paris, France with Chitra Somapala and P.L.A. Somapala , also with M.S. Fernando to many other countries.
He formed his own band ‘Patrick Denipitiya Combo’ in the 60s in addition to being the band leader for the original SIAC, the band had performed at many sweep ticket lottery shows, Maliban Guwan Totilla’, the ‘Elasto Show’, the Kandy Lake Club, Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium shows, Akase Kade and Tropicana Club to name just a few. He also performed on many Television programmes. Later on with the advent of more TV channels in Sri Lanka, the “Patrick Denipitiya Combo” frequently appeared in television shows like ITN’s ‘Madhu Rasanga’, ITN’s ‘Ambhal’s Ghee Dham Mala’ which was incidentally the first amateur song contest on Sri Lankan television, Rupavahini Anniversary and ‘Musically Yours’, although there are many other television programmes on which the ‘Combo’ band has appeared.
In 1961, Patrick married Celcie Fernando,had commenced life from zero sans owning a dwelling. The duo has three children: Primus; Mahesh and Shyami. Shyami currently resides in Canada and is married to Greg Jayasundera who is an applications Consultant at a leading bank in Canada. Primus is employed as a senior airport services officer in a leading airline and was one of the pioneers of the one-man show industry in Sri Lanka in the early 1980s.
Patrick Denipitiya on the invitation of Sunanda Mahendra had attended the BBC ‘Sandeshaya’ program in UK along with CT Fernando at the Commonwealth hall as the first musician to be invited. The latter was suffering from a throat ailment was intending to take treatment during the visit.Patrick with his immense expertise had lowered two notes from the musical notations to enable CT Fernando to sing in comfort in this all important ‘Sandeshaya’ program.In a few songs of CT Fernando Patrick too had been duetting form the onset.
It is reported that Patrick had commenced life at zero.Some days he had worked the entire day all twenty four hours in order to keep the home fires burning having had to support the three children. He had never wanted the sons Primus and Mahesh to follow music but wanted them to study and to be qualified in other professions having been educated at St.Peters College.Primus had for a short time had joined the father in playing an electric Hawaiian guitar which of course is much affective than the spanish guitar. The elder Primus is in another trade while Mahesh is an accomplished musician owning his own band ,emulating the illustrious father has his own studio also do new compositions for many Sri Lankan artistes in rerecording their old songs with modern musical arrangements in the renowned Derana Studio.Though he was very much involved in his music, Patrick also worked to support his family, being employed at the Census Department in the early Fifties, then at Lake House , subsequently to Lake House bookshop lately. He also took up teaching, teaching music theory, guitar -Hawaiian , Spanish guitar , piano and keyboard to many students purely for his love and passion for music and sharing knowledge and not purely for economic gain. He was fondly remembered by eminent people like Pandith Ameradeva, former SLBC chairman Late Mr Eamon Kariyakaravana for giving children music lessons free of charge and to many other students until his migration to Canada in year 1990. He continued to teach, and was actively involved in music while living in Canada. He directed music for the first ever Sri Lankan teledrama in Canada “Ratakin Ratakata” , had also performed at events and functions, for concerts of Sri Lankan artists touring Canada.
While in Sri Lanka attending his elder son’s wedding in 1997, Patrick Denipitiya had suffered a stroke , was partially paralysed , was then taken back to Canada. Partick was lucky enough to have his wife Celcie who looked after him during the 16-year period between his stroke and his death on the 23rd March 2013 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.
Photo Source : sooriya
Sunil Thenabadu
e mail sthenabadu@hotmail.com
whatsapp 0061444533242
