Ronnie Leitch
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{short description|Sri Lankan singer and comedian (1953–2018)}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Ronnie Leitch
රොනී ලීච්
|image =
|image_size =
|alt =
|caption =
|birth_name = Ronnie Luke Leitch
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1953|10|19}}
|birth_place = Dehiwela, Sri Lanka
|death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|10|01|1953|10|19|df=y}}
|death_place = Perth, Western Australia, Australia
|resting_place =
|nationality = Sri Lankan
|other_names = Thattaya
|education =
|occupation = Dramatist, actor, singer, comedian, television presenter
|years_active = 1972–2018
|party =
|spouse = {{marriage|Yvette Leitch|1986}}
|children = Keshan Leitch
Keshia Leitch
|awards =
|website = https://ronnie-leitch.webs.com
|signature =
|footnotes =
}}
Ronnie Luke Leitch ({{langx|si|රොනී ලීච්}}; 19 October 1953 – 1 October 2018),{{cite web | url=https://colombogazette.com/2018/10/01/popular-singer-comedian-ronnie-leach-has-died/ | title=Popular singer, comedian Ronnie Leitch has died | publisher=Colombo Gazette | access-date=2 October 2018}} better known as Ronni Leitch and Thattaya ({{langx|si|තට්ටයා|lit=Baldy}}), was a Sri Lankan actor,{{cite web | url=http://www.nfc.gov.lk/artist/ronnie-leitch-277/ | title=Ronnie Leitch - Actor | publisher=National Film Corporation Of Sri Lanka | access-date=2 October 2018}} comedian, singer, presenter and social activist. Largely popularized as a comedian, Leitch also gained fame for singing over 350 songs,{{cite web | url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2018/10/01/popular-singer-ronnie-leach-has-passed-away/ | title=Popular singer Ronnie Leitch has passed away | publisher=News First | access-date=2 October 2018}} most notably "Thattaya" and "Kauda Bole Alice".{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2017/08/24/?fn=sa17082427 |title=Comedians of Sinhala Cinema |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=26 August 2017}}
Family
Leitch was born on 19 October 1953 in Dehiwela. His father died on 26 December 2017 and the funeral took place on 27 December at 4:00 PM at the Mount Lavinia Cemetery.{{cite web | url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2017/12/26/local/138273/death-ronnie-leitch’s-father | title=Death of Ronnie Leitch's father | work=Daily News | access-date=2 October 2018}}
He married his childhood sweetheart Yvette in 1986, and is the father of daughter Keshia and son Keshan.{{cite web | url=http://mirrorcitizen.dailymirror.lk/2018/10/02/ronnie-leitch-passes-away/ | title=Ronnie Leitch passes away | publisher=Daily Mirror-mirrorcitizen | access-date=2 October 2018}} Leitch met Yvette first in 1974 in Bellanvila, when their homes were situated in close proximity to each other. They married on 7 June 1986. Their first child, Keshia, was born on 17 September 1989.{{cite web | url=http://colombogazette.com/2012/06/11/keshiya-from-the-daughter-of-thataya-to-a-rising-star/ | title=Keshiya: From the daughter of 'thataya' to a rising star | publisher=colombogazette | access-date=2 October 2018}} Keshia married on 8 June 2017.{{cite web | url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2017/07/10/features/121353/no-laughing-matter | title=No laughing matter! | work=Daily News | access-date=2 October 2018}} Keshia is a past pupil of Bishop's College, Colombo and Keshan is an old boy of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia.He has a sister called Cheryl. {{cite web | url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2007/03/17/fea20.asp | title=Old songs in danger - Ronnie | work=Daily News | access-date=2 October 2018}}
Career
Since the age of eight, Leitch made his foray into the entertainment industry by participating in an All Island Talent Contest.{{cite web | url=http://www.pulse.lk/news/superstar-ronnie-leitch-passes-away/ | title=All-round Superstar Ronnie Leitch passes away | publisher=Pulse | access-date=2 October 2018}} He also worked in the Defense Ministry for six years at the time of his daughter's birth.
Before entering acting, Leitch performed as a singer in many outdoor and indoor musical shows.{{cite web | url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=176461 | title=Big surprise for Mirage! | publisher=The Island | access-date=2 October 2018}} He engaged with many musical bands in the early 1980s,{{cite web | url=https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/sunday-times-sri-lanka/20180715/284099207237794 | title=Family Nite with Annesleys | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=2 October 2018}} such as Pioneers, Haze, Super Golden Chimes and Super Stars.{{cite web | url=https://www.amazon.com/Jeewithayama-awulgodai/dp/B008J0469Y | title=Album Tharu wessa | publisher=amazon | access-date=2 October 2018}} He had his first overseas tour in 1986 with Super Stars. In 1989, he rose to prominence by singing his most famous solo, "Thattaya". He performed the song by invitation of The Gypsies band leaders Sunil Perera and Piyal Perera.{{cite web | url=http://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2006/12/10/spe06.asp | title=The Generations show: Never before on stage | publisher=Sunday Observer | access-date=2 October 2018}} With the huge popularity of the song, he decided to bald his head.
Leitch performed in many duets with Corrine Almeida and Mariazelle Gunathilake, which became popular hits such as "Atha Mita Kasi Panam".{{cite web | url=http://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2008/10/05/spe05.asp | title=Mariazelle's 40 Bash unfolds today | publisher=Sunday Observer | access-date=2 October 2018}}
Apart from acting and singing, Leitch entered television hosting with the children's program Poddange Weda which was telecasted by Sirasa TV in 2016.
Leitch was an active social activist where he was involved in charity work and donations all across the country.{{cite web | url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2012/08/22/fea31.asp | title=Wonderful sounds of the 70s | work=Daily News | access-date=2 October 2018}} On 7 August 2010, he performed a musical night A Roaring Evening with Ronnie Leitch organized by The Lions Club of Athurugiriya Millennium City to raise the funds for financing community service projects.{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/100801/Magazine/sundaytimestvtimes_8.html | title='Roaring Evening' with Ronnie | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=2 October 2018}}
Leitch helped the Old Thomian Swimming Club (OTSC) of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia in all musical "happenings" for 12 consecutive years, and also at Royal-Thomian Big Match in the OTSC Tent with the band Wild Flowers.{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/181021/magazine/a-tribute-to-ronnie-leitch-a-legend-316291.html | title=A Tribute to Ronnie Leitch – A Legend | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=8 November 2018}}
Death
Ronnie Leitch died on 1 October 2018 in Perth, while on a musical tour of Australia.{{cite web | url=http://www.asianmirror.lk/news/item/28302-popular-singer-and-comedian-ronnie-lietch-passes-away-in-australia-due-to-sudden-illness | title=Popular Singer And Comedian Ronnie Leitch Passes Away In Australia Due To Sudden Illness | publisher=Asian Mirror | access-date=2 October 2018}} The cause of the death was revealed as cardiac arrest.{{cite web | url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/50379/popular-singer-ronnie-leitch-passes-away | title=Popular singer Ronnie Leitch passes away | publisher=Ada Derana | access-date=2 October 2018}} His remains were brought back to Sri Lanka on 10 October and kept at Jayaratne Florists for final rites. The body was finally buried at the Borella Cemetery on 11 October.{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2018/10/11/?fn=sa1810114 | title=Ronnie says good bye today | publisher=Ada Derana | access-date=2 October 2018}}
Filmography
Starting with Athin Athata in 1973, Leitch performed as a comedian in many films.{{cite web | url=http://www.films.lk/sinhala-cinema-artist-ronnie-leitch-282.html | title=Ronnie Leitch - රොනී ලීච් filmography | publisher=Sinhala Cinema Database | access-date=2 October 2018}} His most notable films are Re Daniel Dawal Migel and Cheriyo film series. His last film acting was in the 2018 film Yama Raja Siri, where he portrayed one of the main protagonists.
{{Pending films key}}
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable" | |
| Thattaya {{cite web | url=http://kndent.com/Home/Details/62 | title=Thattaya - Ronnie Leitch album | publisher=KND Enterprises | access-date=2 October 2018}} | |
| Tharu Wassa |
{{Track listing
| headline = Thattaya album included songs
| total_length =
| title1 = Thattaya
| note1 = Album Version
| length1 =
| title2 = Kauda Bole Alice
| note2 = Album Version
| length2 =
| title3 = Andare
| note3 = Album Version
| length3 =
| title4 = Bill Clinton
| note4 = Album Version
| length4 =
| title5 = Api Katada Baya
| note5 = Album Version
| length5 =
| title6 = Ai Api Kaluda
| note6 = Album Version
| length6 =
| title7 = Bothale
| note7 = Album Version
| length7 =
| title8 = Thatta Some
| note8 = Album Version
| length8 =
| title9 = Sri Lanka Australia
| note9 = Album Version
| length9 =
| title10 = Sudu Kelle
| note10 = Album Version
| length10 =
| title11 = Bad Boy
| note11 = Album Version
| length11 =
| title12 = Wechcha De
| note12 = Album Version
| length12 =
| title13 = Man Giya Apaye
| note13 = Album Version
| length13 =
| title14 = Paan
| note14 = Album Version
| length14 =
| title15 = Ice Cream
| note15 = Album Version
| length15 =
| title16 = Rae Mama
| note16 = Album Version
| length16 =
| title17 = Nenda Maama
| note17 = Album Version
| length17 =
}}
=Solo Tracks=
{{Track listing
| headline =
| total_length =
| title1 = Siseeliya
| note1 = with Rajiv Sebastian (2002 Baila Sessions in Sri Lanka album)
| length1 =
| title2 = Srini Ape Lankawe
| note2 = 2002 Pop Hits of Sri Lanka Vol. 3 album
| length2 =
| title3 = Atha Mita Kasi Panam
| note3 = With Corrine Almeida
| length3 =
| title4 = Nidimatha Mehe Na
| note4 = With Corrine Almeida
| length4 =
| title5 = Adda Lanuwa
| note5 =
| length5 =
| title6 = Deege Ada Wage
| note6 =
| length6 =
| title7 = Lissala Yanne
| note7 =
| length7 =
| title8 = Nonage Aale
| note8 =
| length8 =
| title9 = Waada Baila
| note9 =
| length9 =
| title10 = Darling My Love
| note10 =
| length10 =
| title11 = Loka Shoorayo
| note11 =
| length11 =
| title12 = Tikiri Malee
| note12 = with Sashini Iddamalgoda
| length12 =
| title13 = Ah Ha Warella
| note13 = with Rodney Warnakula
| length13 =
| title14 = Mage Hithe Tiyena
| note14 = with Kalawathi
| length14 =
}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|nm0500618}}
- [http://sarigama.lk/artist/rony-leech/815d4d0c-d394-4c4a-90e5-6b39b0e58059 Rony Leech songs at Sarigama]
- [http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2018/10/04/?fn=sa18100426 ඒ සිනහව අද කඳුළකටහැර වූ රොනී]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leitch, Ronnie}}