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priya-peiris

Cowboy Ranch

Plantation Songs

August 17, 2017 by admin
Black American slave songs, Plantation Songs, Priya, Priya Peiris

‘Plantation songs’ as referred in common parlance are Black American slave songs that emerged during the 18th and 19th centuries during the times when predominantly cotton, corn along with, sugar cane, tobacco and potato plantation in America prospered and thrived.

History  

Cotton was the predominant cash crop in America until the end of the 19th century. The south west region extending from Texas to Virginia encompassing Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Mississippi and Florida was regarded as the plantation belt or the ‘cotton belt’. As at date the vast cotton lands have diminished, though still in existence.

The land owners of such a plantation were rich white – skinned aristocrat masters known as their ‘masa’ – meaning ‘master’ to the work force that comprised of – slaves imported from west Africa due to want of cheap and manageable labor, so that the ‘masses’ could always have a domineering iron hand over them.

The American masters engineered the ‘slave trade’ for this purpose and many thousands of hapless slaves were made to work in these plantations for a meager earning under extreme conditions. Very often the masters punished the slaves, including women by tying them to trees and whipping them mercilessly, even to the point of death.

Most of these Christian slaves brought with them their cultural and native lifestyles which included music, church singing, drums, dancing etc.

As time passed by in the plantations, many chants and songs evolved.  These were all work related, mainly to keep their flagging spirits high, to lessen the agony and monotony of work.  Songs of their lamentations – longing for freedom from slavery were born as a result.  They asked for spiritual deliverance in prayer and chanting – thus giving birth to many   gospel songs and songs for freedom. Some of them are called Negro spirituals. But most of them with a plantation related background came to be referred to as plantation songs.

Plantation Songs  

Many are the songs that emerged during these times.  What we mostly know now, are songs composed during that period portraying the plantations and signifying the lives of the slaves. Perhaps the best known composer of such songs was Steven Collins Foster (1826 to 1864) responsible for evergreen plantation hits such as Old Folks at Home (also known as Swanne River), Carry Me Back to Old Virginny, Massa’s in the Cold, Cold Ground,  Old Black Joe,  Beautiful Dreamer, My Old Kentucky Home and many more. He also composed other black based songs such as Campton Ladies Sing this Song’, Oh Susanna, etc.

Due to the passage of time, these songs became traditionally American folk music. Apart from being an integral part of American culture, they became international all-time hits.  In Sri Lanka, these songs are venerated by old favorite lovers and they are a virtual ‘must’ at all vintage singsong get together and sing-along gatherings.

Note: Since the abolishing of the slave trade in the 1860s, the latter day plantation workers got more freedom with some of them eventually becoming stakeholders in these lands.

***********************

On a personal note, I am indebted to my parents for nurturing me music wise in a background of such songs rich in artistic value and meaning. I know for certain (though never an academic wizard!) that these songs rich with culture and meaning has molded me and given inspiration to the little bit of music I had done and in my day to day life.

 

Priya Peiris

American Plantation House

Cowboys and Cowboy Songs

August 17, 2017 by admin
American Plantation and Cowboy Songs, Cowboy Songs, Cowboys, Plantation Songs, Priya, Priya Peiris

American Plantation and Cowboy Songs

There are many different categories and genres of popular songs coming from the bygone era having endured the test of time as all time favorites. These ever popular songs are referred to by us as ‘vintage songs ‘, ‘standards’, ‘evergreens’, ‘golden oldies’, ‘old favorites’, etc.

In Sri Lanka, the folk cultured in a western environment love these old songs. They could be further classified to different segments – such as cowboy favorites, plantation songs, Dixieland hits, Negro spirituals, calypsos, songs from the British isles, war time hits, barber shop songs, international standards etc. All such songs basically fit into the common idiom of old favorites or golden oldies.

At this moment I am sharing a few facts about two of the above-mentioned categories of songs – namely cowboy songs and plantation songs – two of the popular genres of music and song.

Cowboys and Cowboy Songs

Most of us have heard about cowboys. I recall as a young schoolboy how excited and fascinated we were to hear about cowboys or see them in the movies. Both cowboy songs and movies were very popular then, and its charm has certainly never dwindled but gained immense popularity and acclaim all around the world ever since. In Sri Lanka, these songs are loved, adored and venerated especially by the older folk, who grew up in the midst of these songs and movies.

Cowboys in Reality   

It is important to bear in mind that the cowboy story is two-fold. There are

(a) the real cowboys, and
(b) the fantasy cowboys in the movies.

The real American cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle in the ranches of the prairie grasslands of North America – traditionally on horseback. The cowboy culture still exists in Texas (known to be the cowboy capital of the world), Kansas, Utah, Iowa, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Florida and Louisiana. These cowboys are physically able-bodied adolescents with a knack for smart colorful clothes, girlfriends, and gun culture etc. just as the movies depict!

The golden era of cowboys is considered as the period between 1866 to 1886 which is regarded as the era of the ‘open ranch’ or the ‘cattle drive’ era, when cattle had to be moved in great numbers as one herd to distant railheads to be taken for shipment, by the cowboys on horseback, due to the turbulence of the civil war.

Cowboys in the Movies  

The real life cowboy story is agricultural in nature and of American heritage. Therefore, cowboys that we are talking about now are the film idols who portrayed the life style of the real ones – of course, with fiction and a lot of drama thrown in, to keep the movie goer in suspense…. and how well they succeeded in doing this!

Inspiration for Filmmaking  

The cowboy culture was so appealing and magnetic that it is amazing how it inspired moviemakers to use it to their liking.  Outlaws, bandits, drunkards, ambushes, vendettas, rattle-snakes, cattle, robbery, horse-riding, gun culture, love and women, storms, lonely nights, campfires, music and song of real cowboy life projected and provided an ideal setting and background for successful and exciting movie scripts. As a result, movie legends and many hundreds of cowboy songs were gifted to the world.

Cowboy Singers and Songs

Cowboy movies and songs became one of the most popular genres of music and arts   around the world. They were the rage during the 1950/60 period.

The best-known cowboy film idol and singer (among a galaxy of other legendary stars) was Roy Rogers known as the ‘King of the Cowboys’. He was the idol and hero to every youngster all around the world (more about him at a later date).

Don’t Fence Me In, Home on the Range, Cattle Call, Red River Valley, My Rifle, My Pony and Me, Rose of San Antone, Roll Along Blue Shadows, Happy Trails, Lonely River are a few of the all time cowboy favorites.

Apart from Roy Rogers, perhaps the other best known cowboy film idol and singer was Gene Autry. We have also heard of other cowboy singers such as Jimmy Rogers, Tex Ritter and latterly Hank Snow, Eddie Arnold, and Marty Robbins among others.

In conclusion

Due to the wide coverage and treatment the cowboy culture received in fiction and in films, the cowboy has become the iconic image of the American west.

 

Priya Peiris

Read Plantation Songs

Roy Rogers and Trigger

ROY ROGERS – ‘KING OF THE COWBOYS’

July 18, 2017 by admin
Cowboys, King of the Cowboys, Plantation Songs, Priya Peiris, Roy Rogers

Roy Rogers was the world’s most popular hero of every youngster from the 1930s to 1950s period. He was an American film idol, guitarist and singer – known as the ‘King of the Cowboys’.

****************

 Nostalgia  

During mid 1950s, my early school days, he was the craze of every kid and teenager. Those of you in my age group would remember him while playing ‘cowboys and crooks’ (quite similar to ‘hora police’, as referred to by some), as a matter of routine, school interval pranks!

Although the older generation would remember him, it is important for the nowadays youngsters to know about the good old days, and especially about the ‘King of the Cowboys’.

Career and Details  

Roy Rogers (1911 – 1998) was born and raised in Portsmouth, Ohio, USA, and worked as a peach picker and truck driver as a youngster. His birth name was Leonard Slye. After giving up his jobs and encountering many ups and downs, he got into singing and made his mark with unbelievable success in many movies and TV serials, including the famous ‘Roy Rogers Show’.

His sidekick was his faithful palomino (horse) Trigger, always featured alongside him both on TV and movies. Trigger was reckoned as the most intelligent and smartest horse in the silver screen. Roy’s dog, a German shepherd named Bullet was also a great star, always at hand and alive to warn of any impending dangers.

‘Sons of the Pioneers’ was the name of Roy’s famous music band. They too were featured in many movies. Some of the cowboy films that featured Roy Rogers were, Hollywood Canteen, Sunset in Eldorado, San Fernando Valley, Underneath the Western Stars, Arizona Kid, The Golden Stallion, Cowboy and the Senorita.

His famous cowboy songs include Happy Trails, Don’t Fence Me In, Home on the Range, Roll Along Blue Shadows; I’m back in the Saddle Again, Red River Valley, and I’ve Sold My Saddle for an Old Guitar.

His Popularity  

Roy Rogers was married thrice and with his third wife Dale Evans they endured a successful movie and singing career which lasted their lifetime.  Roy’s theme song, Happy Trails was composed by Dale and sung by them as a beautiful duet. Roy Rogers’ popularity was such that his pin-up pictures were available everywhere. His comics (cartoon character books) were the craze of all youngsters throughout the world. Many Roy Rogers pictures adorned sweets and bubble-gum wrappers and stickers, adventure novels, comic books, play-sets, and a variety of marketing successes.

He was second only to Walt Disney creations such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs etc. In the numbers of items featuring his name.

On an average he used to receive around eighty thousand fan mail every month (would you believe that!). The incomparable Roy Rogers was inducted to the country music hall of fame twice – first as a member of his band, Sons Of The Pioneers in 1980, and yet again as an individual in 1988.

Although his movie roles depicted him with a gun, in reality he vehemently opposed gun culture publicly. He and his loving wife were both deep rooted Christians and they founded many children’s charities and adopted four children.

His Death and Legacy  

Roy Rogers died in 1998 aged 87. His wife Dale Evans also passed away a few years later. They were buried side by side at Apple Valley, Sunset Hills Memorial Park, San Bernardino County, California, in a beautiful western location close by to their home.

The Roy Rogers – Dale Evans museum in Branson, Missouri houses interesting memorabilia, including handprints of Roy Rogers and hoof prints of Trigger, hats, belts, boots, guns, guitars, rings, badges, etc.  It also houses the happy trails theater where Roy’s music is performed by his son Roy ‘Dusty’ Rogers Jr., twice a day, five days of the week.

Roy Rogers was an incomparable star – a legend and an icon like no other!

********************************

Note: If interested, you are welcome to listen to his songs and watch his movies on YouTube and gather more information about him.

Priya Peiris  

La Bambas

My Reflections and Experiences of the Sooriya Show

May 4, 2017 by admin
La Bambas, Priya Peiris, Sooriya Records, sooriya show

Having performed at all live SOORIYA SHOWS during the mid-60s and 70s era as a member of the La Bambas, I carry fond and vivid memories including personal experiences about them, although I must confess some interesting happenings and anecdotes could be forgotten by me due to the passage of time.  

The star spangled SOORIYA SHOW – that’s how these stage shows were introduced by the debonair compere Mr. Vijaya Corea (latterly, Dr. Vijaya). I believe that around two SOORIYA Shows were organized annually, featuring the galaxy of singing stars that included Darlene Arnolda, Noeliine Mendis, Sam Nathan, Desmond de Silva, M.S. Fernando in addition to the 70s groups such as Moonstones, Three Sisters, Los Flamencos, La Bambas, Dharmaratne Brothers with Shiromie Fernando, Paul Fernando and Victor Silva who had all recorded on the SOORIYA record label during those halcyon and tranquil days.

Most of the shows were held in Colombo at the Nawarangahala and the Ramakrishna Mission hall in Wellawatte – prime venues at that time. The shows were well planned – never too long and boring like certain nowadays programs and were around 3 hour’s duration at the most. The program would start on time and finish likewise. Most importantly, the music which was all performed on stage (not ‘programmed’ the easy way out like nowadays, with technology rather than talent) was very listenable and not unbearable and loud!

A Personal Experience

I recall that the La Bambas required six microphones on stage for our performance – unlike the individual artistes and certain others, as the six of us had to blend our vocal harmonies in a balanced manner while at the same time our unplugged acoustic guitar playing plus the percussion sounds also had to be carried via the sound system and heard by the audience to their liking. All of this ‘balancing act’ was a tricky and a frightening experience! Due to this technical difficulty, at our behest, we were slotted to perform at these shows soon after the halfway intermission. This gave us the opportunity to organize ourselves on stage while the curtain was closed and none in the audience would observe the halabaloo going on behind the stage from where they are seated! 

I remember the sound engineer – the amiable Tissa’s role during the interval to ensure that all microphones were placed and balanced accordingly. Once the curtain opened and we began to perform, we would very carefully but feverishly listen to what is heard over the speakers to the best of our ability and adjust our volume and positions with the microphones as quickly as possible during the act itself. This was a nightmare that many other singers did not experience, as an unbalanced result would have been disaster for us! 

The SOORIYA SHOW also took us to Kandy a couple of times. I also remember the C.T. SOORIYA SHOW executed as a joint effort along with Mr. C.T. Fernando at the Sugathadasa indoor stadium, when compere Vijaya Corea had to rush out somewhere no sooner the show began – and believe me, I had to compere the entire show wearing someone else’s coat! (Therefore I believe I am the only person other than Dr. Vijaya Corea to compere a SOORIYA SHOW perhaps by default!).

Each SOORIYA SHOW drew a capacity crowd. They were all family oriented programs. Although there were friends and buddies who planned and came for the show, it was more of an intimate affair where family members thronged to witness these shows in great numbers…

Calypso 1

Calypso

May 4, 2017 by admin
Baila, Calypso, Priya Peiris

What is Calypso?

Misconceptions are rampant and galore in Sri Lanka about ‘Calypso music’. But factually, a Calypso is a song from the Caribbean Islands (The West Indies) which gained popularity in the 1950s and thereafter. They are generally happy-go-lucky lighthearted renditions that tells the story about humor, bravery and anything connected to one’s personal lifestyle.

It could perhaps also be, that in order to win political rights and equality, the oppressed people had taken to the streets shouting slogans and banging saucepans, barrels etc. in protest, also contributing to the steel band sound concept popular in Caribbean music and Calypsos. Likewise, the trade in the 17th and 18th century saw many African slaves being sent to the Caribbean and US, forced to work in sugar cane, tobacco and cotton plantations for a meagre stipend. 

Their arrival with their own religious music also contributed. The drum culture (Conga drums came from Congo in Africa) eventually became a part of Caribbean life. The history is much long and interesting.

Caribbean Islands

The Caribbean islands located in the Gulf of Mexico comprise of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados and many smaller islands. Many are unaware that Guyana belonging to the West Indies is situated in the mainland of South America, close to Venezuela! While most of the islanders are mixed with African (vastly the negros clan), Indian, Chinese, British, French ancestry, most of the Guyanese people are Asian and Aaryan in appearance (cricketers Chaderpaul, Sarawan, Rohan Kanhai are Guyanese – all this is more of history than music, you may say!)

Misconceptions about ‘Calypsos’

Also please bear in mind that just because you wear a batik dress with a straw hat, or pose by the seaside with a boat and a palm tree background with a guitar by your side, you are NOT a Calypso singer. Remember that there are NO CALYPSOS OUTSIDE THE CARRIBEAN. The group songs of the 70s are therefore NOT Calypsos.

Just as Scotch whiskey is exclusively from Scotland and Cognac from France, Calypsos are essentially from the West Indies.

The ‘Calypso tag’ has been wrongfully introduced in Sri Lanka mainly by the hotel industry and certain record producers and show biz men for their own benefit and profitability.

So do watch out for the article about Latin American group songs. Once you read it you will have a better idea of how group songs came into being in Sri Lanka.

It is however sad (and sort of funny), that many supposed to be ‘Calypso Bands’ doing the round themselves do not know what a Calypso is and what it represents. When requested to sing Calypso they end up with a group song or a Jothipala hit!

Latin American link to Sri Lankan group songs of the 70s.

Well known Latin American groups

During the mid-1950s and 1960s many musical groups singing in captivating 3 and 4 part harmony emerged in Central and South America – meaning from Mexico, down to the southern-most tip of South America which is now known as Latin America.

Perhaps the best known such group, ‘Trio Los Paraguayos’ led by Luis Alberto Del Parana emerged from Paraguay. There were other popular Latin American groups such as ‘Los Indios’, ‘Los Panchos’, ‘Los Machucambos’ as well.

How South America became ‘Latin America’

A bit of history is important to explain the story. During the early 1490-1500 era, Spain and Portugal, both neighbouring countries signed a treaty and ‘invaded’ South America – in the guise of exploration. Navigators Christopher Columbus from Spain, Vasco Da Gama, Alveras Cabraal from Portugal are some such famous explorers. They sailed across the Atlantic to South America. Columbus did so via the Caribbean islands on more than one occasion.

As time went by, the Spanish and the Portuguese settled down in South America and mixed with the local populace. These countries naturally acquired all Spanish and Portuguese cultures, including the Roman Catholic religion, music, church harmony singing and other habits and names – through mixed marriages. This is the reason for many South American people to have Spanish and Portuguese names such as Peiris, Mendes, Silva, Gomes, Cabraal, Fernando, Alphonso, Miguel, Xaivier, Rogrigo, Mirando etc.

Since both Spanish and Portuguese languages had evolved from Latin (ancient Roman), these South American countries later came to be known as Latin America.

What happened to Sri Lanka, historically?

The exact sequence of event that happened in South America happened in Sri Lanka as well. After the Portuguese invasion in 1505. Hence the ‘Fernando’, ‘Peiris’… etc. clan and Roman Catholism evolved here too. Not to mention the wine drinking and playing of the banjo, guitar as well.

Early influence of Spanish songs in our country

Radio Ceylon being the solitary media available at that time, often played these Spanish records on the English commercial service and relished by a section of avid listeners. Apparently these pleasant harmony sounds and guitar playing captivated musicians such as Neville Fernando, Merril Fernando etc. who took the opportunity to start similar groups in our country with their own musical talent. ‘Feranando Trio’, ‘Los Cabelleros’, ‘Amigos Romanticas’, ‘Los Muchachos’ and others emerged as a result.

Los Cabelleros

The 6/8 beat – or the ‘Baila Rhythm’ (as popularly known)

You will observe that many such Spanish songs performed by the Latin American groups had the much loved magical Portugese Kaffirinnga ‘baila’ rhythm as well.

From all this it is evident that our ‘Kandayam Gee’ evolved and was inspired by the charisma of Spanish songs sung by Latin American groups.

Since music is a universal language, all types of it are essentially inter-connected. Hence, Calypso music could be regarded as a ‘distant cousin’. But Latin American group songs are ‘virtual siblings’, ever so much closer to Sri Lankan group songs of the 70s.

Beach At Bali Bali

Attention Music Lovers!

May 4, 2017 by admin
Bill Forbes, Music, Priya Peiris

Did you know the history and the origin about “Pun Sanda Paaya” and “Hai Hooi Bubby Achchi”: Two of the most popular old songs in the country? Maybe not! So here it is….

 

“Pun Sanda Paaya” is derived directly from the song titled “Beach at Bali Bali” composed in the 1930s and sung by various artistes. This is not ‘breaking news’ material and is common knowledge to the folk who follow old favourites (or vintage songs). I remember my parents and my aunt singing this song during my childhood days. Latterly I found the ‘Grand Old Brigade’ of my club; Catamarans Sports Club or simply ‘Cats’ (most of whom have gone beyond the sunset), singing this song with much gusto.

Repaz Band March

But in that era, music lovers re-arranged such songs with Sinhala lyrics to sing at parties etc. for their own pleasure. They did so purely for the love of the original song and not as to ‘copy’ as such, unlike the dirty musical trend nowadays.

Beach At Bali Bali 2

Somewhat similarly, Bubby Achchi too was transposed from the ‘Repasz Band March’. The Repasz Band was founded in 1831 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA. The march was composed by Charles C. Sweeley, as I gather via the internet.

The late great ‘Baila King’ Wally Bastiansz, with his background in the field of music and as a Police serviceman had obviously been inspired by the magnetism of the original ‘Rapasz March’ to compose his famous baila music.

So, the above could now give lie to the common belief that, Bill Forbes also known as Kal Kaan composed his hit song “Atcha England” inspired by Wally!

I was informed about the ‘Repasz Band March’ – ‘Bubby Achchi’ connection by Jude Goonewardene domiciled in London and also doing research about songs and music. You will notice that the beginning few lines of both original songs carry the identical melody of the Sinhala versions.

Many versions of both above songs could be viewed on YouTube by any interested party to gather information first hand.

More info:

http://elanka.com.au/repasz-band-march-has-international-popularity/?COLLCC=3499124079

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W8_A4Jko7k

http://repaszband.org/our-march/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgXjv-wcX_k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACL0TanOoJ8

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