Desmond Kelly
Encyclopedia
Desmond Kelly is a Ceylonese musician who has entertained in Sri Lanka and in Australia. He was born in Colombo
in 1936.
, now the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
. Radio Ceylon gave him a platform for his songs and legendary announcers Vernon Corea
and Christopher Greet
played his compositions on their music programs - Radio Ceylon made him into a household name - not only in Sri Lanka but also in the Indian sub-continent. His pop hit 'Dream World' was in the hit parades in both Ceylon and India
. He has also been featured in the top entertainment column, EMCEE, published in the Ceylon Daily News in the 1960s.
, Australia
in 1962 where he made a name for himself as a talented entertainer. Kelly also took to acting and appeared on TV shows such as Homicide and Hunter for Crawford Productions and as a solo entertainer on some of the top television shows in Australia, such as In Melbourne
Tonight, the Delo & Daly show and Reg Lindsay's Country Hour which was produced in Adelaide
, Australia. He is also known for a road safety song in Australia titled 'It's You.'
He has collaborated with fellow Australian musician Robin Foenander on a range of pop songs. Des Kelly has also released CDs which include the popular Sri Lankan baila
music and calypso
songs.
Des Kelly is now semi-retired although he is still in demand in Melbourne as an entertainer.
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
in 1936.
Songs on Radio Ceylon
Kelly was one of a group of musicians who was discovered by Radio CeylonRadio Ceylon
Radio Ceylon is the oldest radio station in Asia. Broadcasting was started on an experimental basis in Ceylon by the Telegraph Department in 1923, just three years after the inauguration of broadcasting in Europe.- Edward Harper :...
, now the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation came into existence on January 5, 1967 when Radio Ceylon became a public corporation. Dudley Senanayake who was the Prime Minister of Ceylon in 1967 ceremonially opened the newly established Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation along with Minister Ranasinghe...
. Radio Ceylon gave him a platform for his songs and legendary announcers Vernon Corea
Vernon Corea
Vernon Corea was a pioneer radio broadcaster with 45 years of public service broadcasting both in Sri Lanka and the UK. He joined Radio Ceylon, South Asia's oldest radio station, in 1956 and later the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation...
and Christopher Greet
Christopher Greet
Christopher Greet was a hugely popular announcer and presenter of radio programs with Radio Ceylon, the oldest radio station in South Asia. Chris Greet enjoyed iconic status alongside other announcers of Radio Ceylon. Millions tuned into the radio station....
played his compositions on their music programs - Radio Ceylon made him into a household name - not only in Sri Lanka but also in the Indian sub-continent. His pop hit 'Dream World' was in the hit parades in both Ceylon and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He has also been featured in the top entertainment column, EMCEE, published in the Ceylon Daily News in the 1960s.
Acting Career in Australia
Des Kelly is best known for such pop hits such as 'Dream World' 'Cha Cha Baby' and 'The Reason Being.' He migrated with his family to MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1962 where he made a name for himself as a talented entertainer. Kelly also took to acting and appeared on TV shows such as Homicide and Hunter for Crawford Productions and as a solo entertainer on some of the top television shows in Australia, such as In Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
Tonight, the Delo & Daly show and Reg Lindsay's Country Hour which was produced in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, Australia. He is also known for a road safety song in Australia titled 'It's You.'
He has collaborated with fellow Australian musician Robin Foenander on a range of pop songs. Des Kelly has also released CDs which include the popular Sri Lankan baila
Baila
Baila is a form of dance music popular on the island of Sri Lanka. The genre originated centuries ago among the 'kaffir' or Afro-Sinhalese communities and was later amalgamated with European instruments and eastern and western rhythms, especially rhythms found in Spain and northern European folk...
music and calypso
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
songs.
Des Kelly is now semi-retired although he is still in demand in Melbourne as an entertainer.