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Vincent de Paul:
A musical cord which runs through four generations:
Ruwini JAYAWARDANA
 Knowledge and skill have been known to be handed down from generation
to generation to keep the traditions alive within the family but whoever
heard of four generations of vocalists of the same family getting
together to voice the tunes of one of their own of the bygone era?
Evergreen vocalist of the Sri Padey Samanala Kanda Penei fame,
Vincent de Paul Peiris, will provide fans with the opportunity to enjoy
22 of his popular numbers from his 68 year stint in music at Namel-
Malini Punchi theater, Borella, on August 17 at 6.30 p.m.
The legendary singer will be accompanied by his children Illonka
Wahalathanthri, Anil Peiris and Dalerine Kahandawitagame, his
grandchildren Peshani Cooray, Duwaine Peiris, Lakindu Dayaratne, Shenal
Peiris, Shion Kahandawitagamage and Shioni Kahandawitagamage and his
great grandchildren Ayani Cooray and Senuja Godage.
The concert was put together by his daughter Menikanthi
Kahandawitagamage and grandson Duwaine Peiris.
Some members of the family who had been residing in UK had flown to
Sri Lanka especially for the event. Music will be provided by Ranjith
Dias and the Mount Chimes while Kumari Perera and Badrajith Saumya
Kumara will compere the event which is aptly titled ‘Siripade’, the
title of his most popular hit.
According to the Peirises this is an event that will go down in
history as such an event had never been held in the world. They held
their first concert together last year and the second is held to meet
the popular demand. Hits like Bicycale Bicycale, Dumriya Lankawe,
Shobaman Me Ude, Mihintale Poson Dine, Asokamala, Rickshaw Karaya and
many more will be sung by the veteran vocalist who had entertained
masses during his hay days with over hundreds of tracks to his name.
 An interesting aspect of his music is that most of his tracks were
set to music by him. Another unique aspect of his songs lie in the fact
that they are based on rare and unusual topics.
The lyrics of his popular hit Sri Padey Samanala Kanda Penei was
penned by Attyagelle Sarathchandra while Karunaratne Abeysekara wrote
Bicycale. Hubert Perera, Sarath Wimalaweera and many others also penned
his lyrics along with his wife Gertrud Perera (nee Silva). Though he is
a Catholic he had also sung a lot of songs based on Buddhist themes.
“I used to take part in concerts during my school days. I was the
youngest in the family and me and my two brothers held singing sessions
in the afternoons. They supplied music and I was the one elected to sing
along to their tunes,” the legendary singer, who is one of the pioneers
of the local art scene, reflected also adding that he handles the
Hawaiian guitar.
 Vincent who is a product of St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena, and De
La Salle College, Modera, started off his tuneful career as a hobby. His
debut on stage was on December 15, 1940, where he sang Sinhala, English
and Tamil numbers at a concert in aid of the war effort under the
patronage of the Mayor, A.E. Goonasinghe.
“My first number was called Mage Mawni which I sang at my first show.
I was a teenager still schooling and while I was singing the audience
threw money to show their appreciation. I collected the money and took
it home to my mother. She advised me never to sell my voice for money,”
Vincent said giving a hearty laugh as he recalled some of the
unforgettable moments of his musical venture.
Vincent was the only vocalist to host two programmes, both western
and oriental, at the Radio Ceylon during the late 1940s and he was
popularly known as the ‘Gay Yodeler’ for his Western cowboy songs.
Though he carved a niche as a vocalist his occupation was as a
Propaganda and Sales Officer at the J.L. Morrisons and later the BCC.
His career took him to places all around the island and thus he was
deprived of the opportunity to pursue his singing talents on a broader
scale. However he did churn out some cassettes and CDs while singing
under several labels such as the HMV.
He contributed as playback singer to films like Prema Tharangaya and
Podi Putha and even acted along with Sheela Peiris in and Kingsley
Jayasekara in Gambada Sundari. He had toured London, Paris and Rome in
the past and had clinched several awards for his addictive songs. He was
given the honourly Kalabooshana award in 1990 and was felicitated in
Moratuwa recently.
“None of my children were taught music. The talent to sing was in
their genes and it was handed down to their children and grandchildren,”
he opined also adding that meaningful lyrics have lost their value with
the passing of time.
 “People are not bothered with the lyrics of songs today. They pay
attention to the rhythm because they are after tracks with music that
they can dance to,” said the veteran vocalist who had also displayed his
talents as a spin bowler for the Bloomfield Cricket Club and Moratuwa
Sports Club in the late forties and early fifties.
Plans of a show to commemorate 50 years in the musical scene did not
materialise due to a personal tragedy which brought Vincent’s singing
career to a halt.
Now after lapse of silence the 86-year-old singer is back to
transport music enthusiasts to the period when legendary singers
nurtured the field of music.
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