Henry Caldera
Henry Caldera | |
---|---|
හෙන්රි කල්දේරා | |
Born | (1937-08-19)19 August 1937 Maradana, Sri Lanka |
Died | 11 October 2006(2006-10-11) (aged 69) Seeduwa, Sri Lanka |
Resting place | Bandarawatte Cemetery |
Nationality | Sri Lankan |
Education | Seeduwa Deaf and Blind School |
Occupation | Singer |
Years active | 1968–2006 |
Children | 4 Children |
Awards | Kala Bhushana, The Mother |
Henry Caldera (Sinhala: හෙන්රි කල්දේරා) (19 August 1937 – 11 October 2006) was a Sri Lankan singer, songwriter, and musician.
Early life and education
Caldera was born on 19 August 1937. Completely blind at the age of 14, he attended the Seeduwa Deaf and Blind School. There, Caldera studied under maestro Sunil Shantha, who conducted classes for blind students. After leaving school, Caldera continued to learn from Shantha at his house in Dehiyagatha, Ja-Ela.
Career
Caldera became a radio artist in 1968 and recorded his first hit song Thara Petia in 1972. He subsequently released a four-song album in 1977. During his lifetime he released three audio cassettes and two compact discs. Most his songs were solos, and children's songs; it is said that Caldera often sang for his own children and grandchildren.
Honors
In 1979, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranasinghe Premadasa, donated a house for Caldera to live. In 1993, Caldera received a Kala Bhushana award (the second highest award granted by the state to performing artists). Student bodies at several universities and non-governmental organizations honored him in appreciation of his service to folk music.
Personal life, and death
Caldera firmly believed that art is art and nothing could buy an artist; he held on to this belief until he died.[1]
Caldera had four children with his wife, who was also blind. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2004 and died on 11 October 2006. Caldera's second son, Chaminda, sings in his memory.
Discography
Some of his top songs include:[2]
- Thara Patiya
- Penuna Suwa Dasun
- Midule Sudu Weli Thalaye
- Eeye Udaye
- Lanka Mage Lanka
- Mokada Nago (Duet)
- Pemin Bandennai
- Oba Pewa Hasarella
- Sisila Sendaewe
- Kana Widina Wele
- Mal Natu Weni
- Andannepa Amme
- Samanala Siripa
- Melowa Thibena
- Suhadiniye
- Kanda Udin (Duet)
- Mage somi sanda
- Deva Meniyane
- Nahawa rasa kiri powa
- Hinaweyan sudu saman male
- Gayakayanani
- Mawage malagama
- Malli (Duet)
- Sanahase sihil nille (Duet)
- Budu Piye
- Etha Hime Ran Samanala Kanda Naginna
- Anna Duwe Handa Mama
- Hitha Ridunado Priye
- Sanda Aran Evilla
- Ninda Soya
- Sahayata Bhawa Saharawe
- Sihina Sandalle
- Mudu Sumudu Kumuda
- Dinindu Negi
References
- v
- t
- e
- Sinhala language
- Music of Sri Lanka
- Abeywardena Balasuriya
- Ajith Bandara
- Allen Ratnayake
- Amarasiri Peiris
- Annesley Malewana
- Anton Jones
- C. T. Fernando
- Chandra Kumara Kandanarachchi
- Chandrasena Hettiarachchi
- Chitral Somapala
- Clarence Wijewardena
- Cliff Foenander
- Dasun Madushan
- Dayan Witharana
- Dayarathna Ranatunga
- Deepal Silva
- Desmond de Silva
- Dhanapala Udawaththa
- Dharmaratne Brothers
- Dinesh Kanagaratnam
- Edward Jayakody
- Freddie Silva
- Gamini Susiriwardana
- Gratien Ananda
- Gunadasa Kapuge
- H. R. Jothipala
- Henry Caldera
- Indrachapa Liyanage
- Ivor Dennis
- J. A. Milton Perera
- J. P. Chandrababu
- Jagath Wickramasinghe
- Jaya Sri
- Kamal Addararachchi
- Karunarathna Divulgane
- Kasun Kalhara
- Keerthi Pasquel
- Lahiru Perera
- Lakshman Wijesekara
- Lionel Ranwala
- M. S. Fernando
- Madhumadhawa Aravinda
- Mervin Perera
- Milton Mallawarachchi
- Mohideen Baig
- Morris Wijesinghe
- Nadeeka Guruge
- Nalin Jayawardena
- Namal Udugama
- Narada Disasekara
- Nihal Nelson
- Nihal Samarasinghe
- P. L. A. Somapala
- Paul Fernando
- Pradeep Rangana
- Prince Udaya Priyantha
- Priya Suriyasena
- Punsiri Soysa
- R. A. Chandrasena
- R. Muttusamy
- Rookantha Gunathilake
- Rukshan Perera
- Sadiris Master
- Saman Lenin
- Sanath Nandasiri
- Sathish Perera
- Senaka Batagoda
- Shelton Perera
- Shihan Mihiranga Bennet
- Shirley Waijayantha
- Sisira Senaratne
- Somasiri Medagedara
- Suneera Sumanga
- Sunil Edirisinghe
- Sunil Perera
- Sunil Santha
- T. M. Jayaratne
- Tharanga Goonetilleke
- Upali Kannangara
- Victor Rathnayake
- Vijaya Kumaranatunga
- W. D. Amaradeva
- W. D. Ariyasinghe
- Amara Ranatunga
- Angeline Gunathilake
- Chandralekha Perera
- Chandrika Siriwardena
- Charitha Priyadarshani
- Deepika Priyadarshani
- G. S. B. Rani
- Indrani Perera
- Indrani Wijebandara
- Latha Walpola
- Leela Asoka
- Madhavee Wathsala
- Malani Bulathsinhala
- Mariazelle Goonetilleke
- Mercy Edirisinghe
- Mignonne Fernando
- Nanda Malini
- Neela Wickramasinghe
- Nirosha Virajini
- Nuwandhika Senarathne
- Pradeepa Dharmadasa
- Priyani Jayasinghe
- Rukmani Devi
- Saheli Rochana Gamage
- Sashika Nisansala
- Sujatha Aththanayaka
- Umaria Sinhawansa
- Uresha Ravihari
- Wasantha Sandanayake
- Allen Ratnayake
- W. D. Amaradeva
- Ananda Samarakoon
- Bibiladeniye Mahanama
- R. A. Chandrasena
- Clarence Wijewardena
- Dilup Gabadamudalige
- Dinesh Subasinghe
- Gunadasa Kapuge
- H. M. Jayawardena
- Kasun Kalhara
- Lakshman Joseph de Saram
- Lionel Algama
- Lionel Ranwala
- Marcelline Jayakody
- Mohammed Gauss
- Nanda Malini
- Patrick Denipitiya
- P. L. A. Somapala
- Premasiri Khemadasa
- R. Muttusamy
- Rohana Weerasinghe
- Rookantha Gunathilake
- Sarath Dassanayake
- Shelton Perera
- Shihan Mihiranga Bennet
- Somapala Rathnayake
- Stanley Peiris
- Sunil Santha
- Thilan Wijesinghe
- Victor Rathnayake
- W.B. Makuloluwa
- Ajantha Ranasinghe
- Arisen Ahubudu
- Bandara Wijethunga
- Carlo Fonseka
- Cliff Foenander
- D. T. Fernando
- Dharmasiri Gamage
- Herbert M. Seneviratne
- Karunaratne Abeysekera
- Kumaratunga Munidasa
- Lucien Bulathsinhala
- Madawala S. Rathnayake
- Mahagama Sekara
- Marcelline Jayakody
- Nalin Jayawardena
- Premakeerthi de Alwis
- Saman Chandranath Weerasinghe
- Senaka Batagoda
- Sydney Chandrasekara
- Vicumpriya Perera
- Wasantha Dukgannarala
- W.B. Makuloluwa