M. S. Fernando

Fernando was born on 4 March 1936 in Moratuwa to Laron Fernando and Lilee Gomes as the eldest child of the family.{{Cite web |title=I learned bongo from a sugarball bottle: Walter |url=https://www.deshaya.lk/article/52/හදසර/14891/බොංගෝව-ඉගෙන-ගත්තේ-සීනිබෝල--බෝතලෙන් |access-date=2021-04-12 |website=Deshaya}} He attended St. Anthony's College, Wattala and Christ Church College, Dehiwela.{{Cite web |title=18th Commemoration Day of MS Fernando |url=https://www.divaina.com/2012/04/06/cineart03.html |access-date=2021-04-12 |website=Divaina}} He had three younger sisters and one younger brother.

Fernando was married to Tulin Fernando and had 7 Children: Susil, Telina, Shantha, Sarath, Sujitha, Sujeewa and Sunimal. Fernando also has 17 Grandchildren.

Fernando studied under veteran musician J. A. Sathyadasa. He debuted as a singer with the duet, "Malak Kada Konde Gasala," done with Pushparani Ariyaratne. It was written by Karunaratne Abeysekera. The song became popular and allowed Fernando to become a playback singer.{{Cite web |title=MS who sang at home |url=https://www.deshaya.lk/article/51/හරබර/13411/ගෙදර-දොරට-ගසා-ගී-තනු-හැදූ-එම්-එස්- |access-date=2021-04-12 |website=Deshaya}} His first song in the field, "Sili Siliye Nava Suvandak," for the 1964 film Sasaraka Hati, sang with was also a success.{{Cite web |title=M S Fernando and the sound of baila |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2017/03/08/features/109685/m-s-fernando-and-sound-baila |access-date=2021-04-12 |website=Daily News}} Fernando would eventually lend his voice to over 150 films. He also pursued an acting career appearing in over 25 films and several teledramas, most notably Udagira. He made duets with Angeline Gunathilake in several films such as: Geetha, Hathara Denama Surayo, Edath Adath Suraya, Sujeewa, Ava Soya Adare and Sergeant Nallathambi.{{Cite web |title=M.S-Angeline duet songs who brought laughter to the silver screen |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/story/2018/12/21/1772/රිදී-තිරයට-සිනහ-රසය-කැන්දූ-එම්-එස්-ඇන්ජලින්-යුග-ගී |access-date=2021-04-12 |website=Sarasaviya}}

While singing M.S Fernando also was working at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka at a middle class position.

Fernando received many accolades in his long career including the Golden Lotus Award presented by Sri Lankan President William Gopallawa in 1973 and over 159 silver trophies in various Baila contests he entered. He was able to sing in five languages and incorporated dancing into his act. Fernando performed in England, France, Australia, Canada, Singapore and Middle East to Sri Lankan audiences.{{cite news| title =Remembering M.S.| publisher =Sunday Observer, Colombo, Sri Lanka| date =2004-05-30| url =https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2004/05/30/mag01.html| access-date =2007-11-12| url-status =live| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20060222215941/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2004/05/30/mag01.html| archive-date =2006-02-22}}

After 23 days of treatment at the hospital, he later made playback in the film Maruwa Samaga Vase directed by Titus Thotawatte and film Sasara by K.A.W. Perera. Meanwhile, he has acted in more than 25 films especially with supportive roles. In 1972, he sang the song "Punchi Panchi Kale" for the film Hithaka Pipunu Mal, which shows another level of his singing ability. In 1974, he sang the popular song "Rosa Kekula Rosa" along with H. R. Jothipala for the film Lasanda. In 1975, Fernando made the song "Dili Dili Dilisena Eliyak" for the film Sikuru Liya under the music by Clarence Wijewardena. For the film Nedeyo in 1976, he made vocals with Latha Walpola for the song "A Rankanda Pemkanda", composed by George Leslie.{{Cite web |title=Exploring the music of MS Fernando |url=https://www.dinamina.lk/2018/06/12/විශේෂාංග/55049/ඔබට-තිබෙන-ආදරෙ-මම-කියාල-දෙන්න-ගසක-තිබෙන-තල්-කොළ-මදි-ලියාල-දෙන්න |access-date=2021-04-12 |website=Dinamina}}

The Sinhala Baila song Pissu Vikare (Dagena Polkatu Male) by H. R. Jothipala, Milton Perera, M. S. Fernando is a cover version of the Tamil song Dingiri Dingale (Meenachi) from the 1958 Tamil film Anbu Engey. And it was covered again in Sinhala as a folk song named Digisi/Digiri Digare (Kussiye Badu).

In solo singing, the majority of the songs sung by Fernando showcased his experience drawn from rural or urban life or the news of life, including the popular song Mama Taxikaraya. In the morning of his date of death, he attended a musical concert in the Jawatte, Colombo.

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Category:1936 births

Category:1994 deaths

Category:20th-century Sri Lankan male singers

Category:Sinhalese singers