Lorna | |
---|---|
Born | Lorna Cordeiro 9 August 1944 |
Nationality | Indian |
Occupation | Singer |
Years active | 1960–1973; 1995–present |
Partner(s) | Chris Perry (c. 1961–1973) |
Musical career | |
Origin | Bombay, Bombay State, India |
Genres | |
Instruments | Vocals |
Labels | |
Lorna Cordeiro (born 9 August 1944), known mononymously as Lorna, is an Indian singer. Referred to as the "Nightingale of Goa", [2] [3] she performed with jazz trumpeter Chris Perry in the 1960s and 1970s. Her association with Perry ended in 1973, causing her to quit the music industry. She later came out of retirement in 1995, and still continues to perform.
Lorna Cordeiro was born in Bombay on 9 August 1944 to Cecelia and Theophilus Cordeiro who hailed from Saligao, Goa. She is the third of their six children. [1] Her family were Goan Catholics. Lorna's father encouraged his children in music and to speak Konkani at home; their immediate neighbour in Goa, recalls being very impressed by the family's singing of Konkani hymns. [4] Cordeiro recalled how as a young girl another Parsi neighbour in Mumbai would clap and gift her four Indian annas whenever he heard her sing along with the radio. [5] [6]
Lorna began her career by singing at weddings as part of a band called Bajaj and his Dance Band. [5] She was recognized by a musician [7] who first heard her sing "Where The Boys Are" on Marvé Beach. He then invited her to sing "Under the Mango Tree" from Dr. No with his band at the Bandra fair. This performance impressed musician Chris Perry, who was in the audience and had been looking for a crooner. [8] After an audition, she began singing for Perry's band at the age of 15 and continued with them until she turned 26. He thus helped her launch her career and she regards him as her guru . She became a popular jazz singer in nightclubs and star hotels in Mumbai, Calcutta, Madras, Delhi and Bangalore. [9] [10] [11]
Lorna is known mainly for singing in Konkani. Most of these songs were arranged and composed by Chris Perry. Her first song was "Bebdo" (transl. "Drunkard"), which she performed on Miramar Beach, Goa. It shocked the audience due to its explicit nature. She soon became well-known for her other songs, such as "Nachomia Kumpasar", "Pisso", "Red Rose", "Lisboa", "Adeus", "Tuzo Mog", "Noxibak Roddttam", "Abghat", "Calangute", "Aik Re Khobrankara", "Sorga Rajeant", "Pavsachea Tempar", "Amerikak Pavxi", "Sorg Tujea Dolleamni", "Tum Ani Hanv", "Ugddas" and "Mhoji Mai". As her popularity increased, the public started demanding only her solo performances from Perry, who then bound her by contract to not perform with anyone else for twenty years. She subsequently left music for a period of 23 years after a disagreement with him when she was 26 years old. [8]
In 1995, music director Ronnie Monseratte, who had been a part of Perry's band, managed to convince her to sing again. After a year of hesitation, she agreed to perform in a concert titled Hello Lorna, which was directed by Monseratte. However, on the day of the first show at Miramar Beach, on 1 December 1995, Perry came to the venue and showed the media the contract that she had signed to not sing with anyone else and threatened legal proceedings. After hiring new musicians, the concert began with Cordeiro performing "Aikat Mazo Tavlo" (transl. "Listen to my voice"). [5] The concert's songs were released in a 1996 album of the same name. [1]
In her long career, Cordeiro has sung for many great Bollywood music directors such as Bappi Lahiri, Kalyanji-Anandji, Laxmikant–Pyarelal and Rajesh Roshan. She has even sung alongside Mohammed Rafi ("Maria") and Sudesh Bhosle. After her comeback, she has performed in countries of the Middle East like Dubai, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain and even in parts of Europe like London. [1] She is seen performing in the 2004 Konkani film Aleesha , [8] and the 2019 Konkani musical film, Kantaar , features Lorna singing some jazz songs. [12]
Cordeiro was in a relationship with Goan musician, Chris Perry, while they were both working together. However, following their breakup on her 27th birthday in 1973, she was unable to perform for nearly 23 years. Perry would threaten and assault anyone who would approach her to sing professionally. Lorna also remained unmarried because Perry also threatened possible suitors. She then began working as a compounder in a dentist's clinic, and was a victim of alcoholism before musician Ronnie Monserrate convinced her to start singing again in 1995. She currently lives in Dhobitalao, Mumbai. [5]
In 2007, an international ad campaign by Nike for its cricket equipment featured a Konkani song "Rav Patrao Rav", based on the song "Bebdo". The advertisement was created and executed by the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency that made the ad and the song was recomposed by Ram Sampath. [16] [ promotion? ]
In 2015, Cordeiro was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award at the "Film, Food, Fashion Festival", by Vishnu Wagh, then MLA and Vice-Chairman of Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG). [17] In 2018, she was awarded the Krutadnyata Puraskar (Lifetime Achievement Award) at the 11th Goa Marathi Film Festival, held at Kala Academy. [18]
Albums
Singles
Music of Goa refers to music from the state of Goa, on the west coast of India. A wide variety of music genres are used in Goa ranging from Western art music to Indian classical music. Konkani music is also popular across this tiny state. Being a former territory of Portugal, Goa has a dominant western musical scene with the use of instrument such as the violin, drums, guitar, trumpet and piano. It has also produced a number of prominent musicians and singers for the world of Indian music. Portuguese Fado also has significance in Goa.
Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra is an Indian playback singer and Carnatic musician. In a career spanning over 47 years she has recorded over 25,000 Songs in various Indian languages, as well as foreign languages such as Malay, Latin, Arabic, Sinhalese, English and French.
Goan Catholics are an ethno-religious community of Indian Christians adhering to the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church from the Goa state, in the southern part of the Konkan region along the west coast of India. They are Konkani people and speak the Konkani language.
Luís Remo de Maria Bernardo Fernandes is a singer and musician from India with naturalized Portuguese citizenship. Known as a pioneer of Indian pop music, he performs pop/rock/Indian fusion and is also a film playback singer. His musical work is a fusion of many different cultures and styles that he has been exposed to as a child in Goa and in his later travels around the world. Such influences include Goan and Portuguese music, Sega music, African music, Latin music, the music of erstwhile European communist states, those of the dance halls from Jamaica and Soca.
"Bebdo" is a traditional Goan Konkani song composed by Chris Perry and sung by Lorna. It was a part of the album Lorna - Unforgettable Hits. The song is about a drunkard husband who troubles his wife.
Aleesha is a Konkani film released in 2004 in Goa, India. It was directed by Rajendra Talak and featured Priyanka Bidaye and Rajeev Hede in the lead roles.
Chris Perry was an Indian musician, composer, songwriter, and film producer who combined jazz with Konkani music. He is known in India as the "King of Cha Cha Cha" and the "Man with the Golden Trumpet", and was the composer of the signature song of All India Radio.
This article is about the contribution of Goans to the musical composition of Bollywood songs, associated with the Filmi genre.
Bhuierantlo Munis is a 1977 Indian Konkani-language drama film. The first colour film in Konkani, it was produced under the banner of Chripton Motion Pictures by Tony Coutinho and Chris Perry and released in 1977. The film was shot in Goa, and also has footage shot in Paris, America and an ice-skating competition in Russia.
Nachom-ia Kumpasar, is a Konkani musical drama film. It is based on the lives of two jazz musicians, Chris Perry and Lorna. The film, which takes its title from the name of a song by the two artists, was directed by Bardroy Barretto. It starred Vijay Maurya and Palomi Ghosh in the lead roles. The story is told through over 20 popular Konkani songs from the 1960s and 1970s that have been re-recorded for this film. The film is set in the 1960s and is a tribute to the 'unsung' Konkani musicians of that era.
Sonia Shirsat is an Indian fadista. Referred to as the "ambassador of Goan music to the world" she has performed across India and the world and often during cultural and music events in Goa. She has sung in 15 different languages Shirsat has been promoting Fado in Goa, by holding training and introductory classes to this form of music at various parts of the region.
Kantaar (transl. Song) is a 2019 Indian Konkani-language film written and directed by Nilesh Malkar and produced by Janet Noronha. It stars Jackie Shroff, Noel Sean and Ester Noronha. The film is about life in Goa, and finding purpose in life. After the award-winning Soul Curry, it is Malkar and Jackie's second Konkani film. The musical film features Lorna singing some jazz songs. It premiered at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, on 28 January 2019.
Palomi Ghosh is an Indian actress best known for her work in Hindi, Konkani, and English language films. She is a recipient of the National Film Award – Special Mention for the Konkani musical drama Nachom-ia Kumpasar.
Antonette Mendes was an Indian singer, actress, playwright, and theatre director known for her work in Konkani films and tiatr productions. Referred to as the "Melody Queen", she was known as the "queen of the Konkani stage", prior to Lorna Cordeiro's emergence in the Konkani music scene.
Leena Dias was an Indian actress known for her role in the first Konkani film, Mogacho Aunddo (1950). She is credited as the inaugural leading lady of Konkani cinema.
Lourenco Alexinho Fernandes, popularly known as Lawrence de Tiracol or Larry, was an Indian singer, lyricist, theatre director, playwright, and engineer who worked on the Konkani stage.
Robin Vaz was an Indian playwright, actor, singer, and dancer known for his work in Konkani films, tiatr productions, and Goan folk music.
Beatrice Jospehine Nazareth e Fernandes, known professionally as Betty Naz, is an Indian former actress and singer known for her work in Konkani films and tiatr productions.