Wilfy Rebimbus

Hailing from a Mangalorean Catholic family, Wilfy was born on 2 April 1942 to Landeline Rebimbus and Magdeline Mendonca in Mangalore. His father was from Kanhangad, Kerala and mother was from Goa.

Wilfy had his primary and high school education at Milagres High School in Mangalore, currently Mangaluru. Later, he did a mechanical course before joining St Joseph's Workshop as an apprentice.{{Cite web|title=Wilfy Rebimbus - Profile|url=http://www.wilfyrebimbus.com/index.php/about/profile|access-date=2021-05-26|website=www.wilfyrebimbus.com}}

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He was a talented singer right since his student days, as was evident from the numerous prizes he had won in various singing events.

He had started composing Konkani songs at the age of 14 and authored his first drama Poixeancho Sonvsar (The World of Money) when he was 15 and staged it through the St. Joseph's Natak Sangh.

He founded the musical group called United Youngsters Music Party in 1959 when he was just 17. It is now known as United Youngsters Cultural Association.

Apart from singing, Wilfy was also a good athlete and also a Kabaddi player during his school days.{{cite news | title = Konkani Musician, Lyricist and Singer Wilfy Rebimbus passes away | date = 9 March 2010 |work=Mangalore Today | url = http://www.mangaloretoday.com/mt/index.php?action=mn&type=655| accessdate =29 August 2010}}

He was credited for taking modern Konkani music to new heights with his unique compositions and singing style. He wrote songs for numerous occasions and situations. In a career spanning about four decades, Wilfy wrote thousands of songs and staged a total of 248 Wilfy Nites.

He released some forty albums, six devotional albums and at least one instrumental album.

His poetry works comprise Vinchnar Podam (nine volumes), Kogull Gaita (two volumes), and audio cassettes and albums (47 in all).{{Cite web|title=Wilfy Rebimbus|url=http://www.kavitaa.com/poetPoem.aspx?pID=47|access-date=2021-01-16|website=www.kavitaa.com}}

On his 60th birthday in 2002, a third edition of a collection of songs written by Wilfy Rebimbus, called Kogul Gautha (The Koel Sings) was scheduled for release, together with a special edition of Poinnari, a weekly that dedicated an issue to Rebimbus.{{Cite web|agency=TNN|date=Apr 2, 2002|title=Konkani poet Wilfy Rebimbus turns 60 today {{!}} Bengaluru News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Konkani-poet-Wilfy-Rebimbus-turns-60-today/articleshow/5498520.cms|access-date=2021-01-17|website=The Times of India|language=en}} The singer composed his first song in 1952, wrote a stage play in 1958, and performed his first music show in 1971. His 100th show came about in 1989 and his 200th in 199. He was credited with having written 2500 songs, produced 33 audio cassettes, and six volumes of devotional songs, besides composing music and songs for Konkani movies, as of 2002. He wrote nine plays, some of which were broadcast over All India Radio's Mangalore station.

He was given the title Konkan Kogul by the Bishop of Mangalore at that time, the Late Basil Salvadore D'Souza on 26 September 1971.{{Cite web|title=Late Singer Wilfy Rebimbus honoured with Papal honour {{!}} Mega Media News English|date=20 June 2010 |url=https://megamedianews.com/index.php/821/late-singer-wilfy-rebimbus-honoured-with-papal-honour/|access-date=2021-01-17}}

Mandd Sobhann, a Mangalore-based Konkani cultural organisation, announced in 2009, that it would confer the Konkani music lifetime achievement award to Rebimbus "for his unparalleled contribution to Konkani music."{{Cite web|agency=TNN|date=Apr 11, 2009|title=Lifetime award for Wilfy Rebimbus {{!}} Mangaluru News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/Lifetime-award-for-Wilfy-Rebimbus/articleshow/4389874.cms|access-date=2021-01-17|website=The Times of India|language=en}}

Former Karnataka chief minister and ex-union minister Veerappa Moily has described Rebimbus thus: "His talent is uncomparable; his legacy is unparallel[ed]. Rebimbus is undoubtedly an epochmaker."{{Cite web|date=2010-03-22|title='Wilfy Rebimbus was an epochmaker'|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/59524/wilfy-rebimbus-epochmaker.html|access-date=2021-01-17|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}

A singing contest has been held in his name, including in the year 2013.{{Cite web|last=admin|title=Mangalore: Wilfy Rebimbus Singing Contest on Nov 3 & 17 {{!}} Bangalore First|date=7 November 2013|url=https://www.bangalorefirst.in/?p=7522|access-date=2021-01-17|language=en-US}}

Antony Mavrel Lobo of Christ University, Bangalore, has done a thesis in July 2019 on Representation of Konkani music and culture through the works of Wilfy Rebimbus.{{Cite web|title=Representation of Konkani music and culture through the works of Wilfy Rebimbus {{!}} Request PDF|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334361445|access-date=2021-01-16|website=ResearchGate|language=en}} In it, he argues that "according to the research conducted by Konkani Sahithya Academy, in Mangalore there are 42 dialects of Konkani, where people speak the same language using a few different words in the state of Karnataka."

He married Meena Gracia Rebimbus, who is also a popular singer, on 25 January 1970. She was given the title of Konkan Myna, named after another popular singing bird, by Benar Productions on 12 August 1984 for her melodious voice.

Meena has also composed few songs in Wilfy's albums namely, Nach to ka Vetha, Asha and Kuhu Kuhu which was a tribute to Wilfy after his death.

Wilfy and Meena together have two children, the elder being Veena Rebimbus Pais and the younger Vishwas Rebimbus. They also sing and compose music, and have continued their father's legacy by releasing an album in 2011 Tum Maka Hav Tuka.

On 13 June 2010, Bishop Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza conferred the title Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice awarded by Pope Benedict XVI on Konkan Kogul Wilfy Rebimbus posthumously during the Mass held at the prominent Milagres Church of Mangalore. The special honour has been given to Wilfy for his love towards Church and his extraordinary musical contributions to the Konkani community worldwide. The bishop handed over the title to Meena Rebimbus.

Wilfy was diagnosed to be suffering from lung cancer and underwent a surgery in September 2009.{{cite news | url = http://www.deccanherald.com/content/57220/konkani-singer-wilfy-rebimbus-no.html | title = Konkani singer Wilfy Rebimbus no more | accessdate =29 August 2010 |work=Deccan Herald|location=India | date = 9 March 2010}} He died of complications from lung cancer on 9 March 2010.{{cite news | url = http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=73558&n_tit=Wilfy+Rebimbus+:+The+Legend+has+Left+us+All...++ | title = Wilfy Rebimbus : The Legend has Left us All... | accessdate =29 August 2010 | last = Nandalike | first = Walter | date = 9 March 2010 | publisher = Daijiworld Media}}

After his death at the age of 67, his mortal remains were kept for public viewing at the St. Joseph's Seminary Church at Jeppu in Mangaluru on March 11, 2010.{{Cite web|title=Obituary - Wilfy Rebimbus (67), Jeppu, Mangalore|url=http://www.daijiworld.com/chan/obituaryDisplay.aspx?obituaryID=3278|access-date=2021-01-16|website=www.daijiworld.com}} He was buried at the Jeppu Cemetery. He was survived by his wife Meena, daughter Veena, son-in-law Arthur, son, Vishwas, daughter-in-law Charlene, and grandchildren Arvin and Anna.

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.konkanitube.com/tag/wilfy-rebimbus/ Wilfy Rebimbus: Songs and videos of Wilfy Rebimbus]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr0JlrANMHc&list=RDJr0JlrANMHc&start_radio=1 Adeus Moga by Wilfy Rebimbus]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ceJwbIo2ws 279th Wilfy Nite, Sukh Dukh Express, Part 1]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0aZ5ycz6t8 279th Wilfy Nite, Sukh Dukh Express, Part 2]
• [https://soundcloud.com/cyrilpinto/late-wilfy-rebimbus-shendo-she Wilfy Rebimbus, Konkani songs on SoundCloud.com]
• [https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Musician/Wilfy-Rebimbus-Music-707007242828724/ Wilfy Remimbus on Facebook]
• [https://www.hungama.com/artist/wilfy-rebimbus/all/4749339/ Wilfy Rebimbus on Humgama.Com]
• [https://chordify.net/chords/panduranga-late-mr-wilfy-rebimbus-konkani-songs-lyrics Wilfy Rebimbus on Chordify.Net]
• [https://www.coastaldigest.com/news/21460-vilfy Annual memorial in 2011]
• [https://go4quiz.com/konkan-kogul-wilfy-rebimbus-quiz/ Wilfy Rebimbus quiz]

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Category:1942 births

Category:2010 deaths

Category:Indian male folk singers

Category:Indian Roman Catholics

Category:Konkani-language singers

Category:Mangaloreans

Category:Deaths from lung cancer in India

Category:20th-century Indian singers

Category:Musicians from Mangalore

Category:Singers from Karnataka

Category:20th-century Indian male singers

Category:People from Dakshina Kannada district