Henry Caldera
Encyclopedia
Henry Caldera was a Sri Lanka
n Singer/Songwriter
/Musician
.
Caldera was born on August 19, 1937. He went completely blind
at 14 and attended Seeduwa Deaf and Blind school. Caldera became a radio artist in 1968 and had his first hit song with Thara Petia in 1972. He released a four song album in 1977.During his lifetime he released three audio cassettes and two CD's. Most of the songs that he sang were Solo
s. Most of his songs are children's song
s and many are based on true experiences. Caldera sang for his own children and as well as for his grand children.
In 1979 the then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
, Ranasinghe Premadasa
, donated a house for Caldera to live in. In the year 1993 he was felicitated with a Kala Bhushana award (the second highest award granted by the state for performing artists). During his lifetime he was felicitated by several universities (student bodies)and non governmental organisations in appreciation of his service to folk music
.
Here are some of the songs which placed top place in Sri Lankan music.
1. Thara Patiya - (Song for Children)
2. Penuna Suwa Dasun - (Song about love and being not told by his partner that 'I LOVE YOU')
3. Midule Sudu Weli Thalaye
4. Eeye Udaye
5. Lanka Mage Lanka
6. Mokada Nago (Duet)
7. Pemin Bandennai
8. Oba Pewa Hasarella
9. Sisila Sendaewe
10. Kana Widina Wele
11. Mal Natu Weni
12. Andannepa Amme
13. Samanala Siripa
14. Melowa Thibena
15. Suhadiniye
16. Kanda Udin (Duet)
17. Mage somi sanda
18. Deva Meniyane
19. Nahawa rasa kiri powa
20. Hinaweyan sudu saman male
21. Gayakayanani
22. Mawage malagama
23. Malli (Duet)
24. Sanahase sihil nille (Duet)
25. Budu Piye
26. Etha Hime Ran Samanala Kanda Naginna
27. Anna Duwe Handa Mama
28. Hitha Ridunado Priye
29. Sanda Aran Evilla
30. Ninda Soya
31. Sahayata Bhawa Saharawe
32. Sihina Sandalle
33. Mudu Sumudu Kumuda
34. Dinindu Negi
Caldera firmly believed that art is art and nothing could buy an artist and held on to that till he breathed his last breath.
Caldera had four children with his wife who was also blind. He was diagnosed with cancer
in 2004 and died on October 11, 2006.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n Singer/Songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
/Musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
.
Caldera was born on August 19, 1937. He went completely blind
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
at 14 and attended Seeduwa Deaf and Blind school. Caldera became a radio artist in 1968 and had his first hit song with Thara Petia in 1972. He released a four song album in 1977.During his lifetime he released three audio cassettes and two CD's. Most of the songs that he sang were Solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
s. Most of his songs are children's song
Children's song
Children's song may be a nursery rhyme set to music, a song that young children invent and share among themselves, or a modern creation intended for entertainment, use in the home, or education...
s and many are based on true experiences. Caldera sang for his own children and as well as for his grand children.
In 1979 the then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka is the functional head of the Cabinet of Sri Lanka. However, the President is both head of state and head of government in Sri Lanka...
, Ranasinghe Premadasa
Ranasinghe Premadasa
Ranasinghe Premadasa was the 3rd President of Sri Lanka from January 2, 1989 to May 1, 1993. Before that, he served as the Prime Minister in the government headed by J. R. Jayewardene from February 6, 1978 to January 1, 1989...
, donated a house for Caldera to live in. In the year 1993 he was felicitated with a Kala Bhushana award (the second highest award granted by the state for performing artists). During his lifetime he was felicitated by several universities (student bodies)and non governmental organisations in appreciation of his service to folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
.
Here are some of the songs which placed top place in Sri Lankan music.
1. Thara Patiya - (Song for Children)
2. Penuna Suwa Dasun - (Song about love and being not told by his partner that 'I LOVE YOU')
3. Midule Sudu Weli Thalaye
4. Eeye Udaye
5. Lanka Mage Lanka
6. Mokada Nago (Duet)
7. Pemin Bandennai
8. Oba Pewa Hasarella
9. Sisila Sendaewe
10. Kana Widina Wele
11. Mal Natu Weni
12. Andannepa Amme
13. Samanala Siripa
14. Melowa Thibena
15. Suhadiniye
16. Kanda Udin (Duet)
17. Mage somi sanda
18. Deva Meniyane
19. Nahawa rasa kiri powa
20. Hinaweyan sudu saman male
21. Gayakayanani
22. Mawage malagama
23. Malli (Duet)
24. Sanahase sihil nille (Duet)
25. Budu Piye
26. Etha Hime Ran Samanala Kanda Naginna
27. Anna Duwe Handa Mama
28. Hitha Ridunado Priye
29. Sanda Aran Evilla
30. Ninda Soya
31. Sahayata Bhawa Saharawe
32. Sihina Sandalle
33. Mudu Sumudu Kumuda
34. Dinindu Negi
Caldera firmly believed that art is art and nothing could buy an artist and held on to that till he breathed his last breath.
Caldera had four children with his wife who was also blind. He was diagnosed with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 2004 and died on October 11, 2006.