This article may be written from a
fan's point of view, rather than a
neutral point of view. (August 2021) |
Lorna Cordeiro | |
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Background information | |
Born | Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India (now Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) [1] | 9 August 1944
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Lorna Cordeiro (born 9 August 1944), also mononymously known as Lorna, is an Indian Konkani singer. She is popularly known as the "Nightingale of Goa". [2]
Lorna 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 belonged to the Goan Catholic community. 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. [3] 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. [4] [5]
Cordeiro admittingly was in an affair with an older married 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. This was because Perry would threaten and even strike anyone who would approach her to sing professionally again. She remained unmarried because Perry also threatened possible suitors. She began working as a compounder in a dentist's clinic, and was a victim of alcoholism before Ronnie Monserrate convinced her to start singing again in 1995. She now lives in Dhobitalao, Mumbai. [4]
Cordeiro's singing career began by singing at weddings as part of a band called 'Bajaj and his Dance Band'. [4] She was recognized by musician, drummer, compère and actor Raymond Albuquerque, [6] 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 Chris Perry, who was in the audience and had been looking for a crooner. [7] 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 was a popular jazz singer in nightclubs and star hotels in Mumbai, Calcutta, Madras, Delhi and Bangalore. Later, she sang songs composed / arranged by Chris Perry. [8] [9] [10]
Cordeiro's first song was " Bebdo" ( transl. "Drunkard"), which she performed on Miramar Beach, Goa, shocking the crowd with a song of this type in Konkani. 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". She became so popular that the public started demanding just her solo performances from Perry, who 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. [7]
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"). [4] The concert's songs were released in a 1996 album of the same name. [11]
In her illustrious 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. [11] She is seen performing in the 2004 Konkani film Aleesha, [7] and the 2019 Konkani musical film, Kantaar, features Cordeiro singing some jazz songs. [12]
An international ad campaign by Nike for its cricket equipment featured a Konkani song "Rav Patrao Rav", sung by Ella Castellino, based on the song " Bebdo" as the theme music. The lyrics to the new song were written by Agnello Dias (who worked in the JWT advertising agency that made the ad) and it was recomposed by Ram Sampath. [16][ promotion?]
Cordeiro is a Brand Ambassador and also inaugurated "The Goan Sip" packaged drinking water. She appears in the advertisement campaign video singing in the tune of "Tuzo Mog". [17][ promotion?]
Albums
Singles