Konkani Rocks :: Prominent People >> CHRIS PERRY

he lives on through his melodies…

This single man left such a legacy for us, through Konkani music that he lives on forever in the hearts and minds of all Goans and music lovers; he breathed emotion into our music and song and his melodies are sung with much honour and feeling, the world over.

His electrifying music mesmerises and carries us to a different world.

Chris Perry revolutionized the Konkani music scene by introducing jazz music. He found the hidden talent of Lorna and exploited the same to bring out the very best combination for which the Konkani fraternity is indebted to him. Popular songs such as, Abghat kelo, Red Rose, Tum ani Hanv, Calangute, Nachomia Kumpasar, Bebdo, Ugddas, Sorg tujea dolleanim, Lisboa, Amerikak Pavxi, Noxibak roddttam… in the sweet and forceful voice of Lorna are still remembered by the fans of Chris Perry’s music.

“No one can forget Chris Perry’s immense contribution into the world of Konkani music as his music is still treasured by new generations as well,” elucidates Ms Sonia Shirsat, renowned Goan fadista.

There is no end to the wonderful stories people share and the beautiful memories that linger. Chris Perry entered the tiatr scene in the name of Bab Pinto and went on to stage his own tiatrs- Noxibantlo Nhovro, Padricho Lob, Vid Mog Kornaranchem. He learnt to read and write music all by himself.

Chris Perry is a legend in his own life time for his unparalleled contribution to Konkani music. He was a self-made musician because it was due to his keen interest and profound desire to achieve greater heights in the field of music that he did not limit himself to playing only the trumpet but made all other efforts and also excelled in playing saxophone, organ, piano and drums too. He was a superb lyricist of Konkani songs as well.

He was a lover of the Konkani stage. He was not very satisfied with the standard of Konkani tiatr then. He wanted to bring change and quality to the tiatr stage. With this aim in mind, he ventured on the tiatr stage and produced some tiatrs. However he found that his efforts were not producing the desired results. He realised that his time and talents were being wasted. He temporarily left the tiatr stage and devoted his attention towards music and music only.

He performed in almost all the cosmopolitan cities of India such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi and satisfied the thirst of music lovers in these places. He travelled abroad to various countries and gained tremendous applause for his excellent performances.

Although Chris Perry gained a big name and much fame through his musical performances in Western music and was considered as a musical wizard, he did not forget his mother tongue Konkani. The Goan instinct in him became active and with more zeal and enthusiasm he once again re-entered the Konkani stage, this time not to produce tiatrs but to give the Konkani people qualitative Konkani music and Konkani songs.

Chris Perry introduced Lorna onto the Konkani stage. Chris Perry’s valuable lyrics with his original soul-touching music and Lorna’s inimitable voice created a revolution in Konkani singing. Chris Perry’s discs and cassettes became very popular among the Konkani speaking people all over the world. Konkani music and Konkani song reached to the highest standard than ever reached earlier. It was Chris Perry who gave Konkani music and Konkani song the status that it deserved. Noxibak Roddtam, Nachoea Kumpasar, Lisboa, Bebdo, Sorga Rajeant, Saud, are some of his most popular songs which have become immortal.

“The music is immortal of one of the greatest music composers. It attracts different types of people. In fact, I do lot of his songs such as, Sorg tujea dolleanim, Lisboa, Noxibak roddttam, etc.” concludes Sonia Sirsat.

“It was revolutionary and everybody loved it! Including this high society of Goa who was only into Portuguese and English. Any colonized country has got this deep complex about its own culture and especially that minority who has been westernized and educated in the colonizers culture. People from that section of society, they grew up feeling a little embarrassed about Konkani, and Lorna’s and Chris Perry’s music was able to break that”, reminisces Goan popstar Remo Fernandes about his childhood and the first time he heard Konkani songs in the mid-sixties, the „cantaram“ of Chris Perry & Lorna coming out of the speakers on Panjim’s Miramar beach in pre-tourist Goa, where they won over the hearts of many people. Not only because they made Konkani acceptable again, also because of their special blend of musical ingredients, as Naresh Fernandes describes it: “Chris Perry’s Tunes ... married the sophistication of swing with the earthiness of Goan folksong.

“For me his music and especially the songs Lorna had sung, are a beautiful combination of elegance, melancholie and finesse.It's a brilliant and organic mix of many musical styles. Furthermore these songs flower out the beauty of the Konkani language and though I don't understand the language, many songs deeply touch me. But also many songs he wrote for Usha or other singers like Mhd Rafi are fantastic” exclaims Sigrid Pfeffer emotionally. Sigrid is a German lady and music afficionada; her love story with Konkani music led her to produce a CD of Konkani original songs for the European market, last year.

Whether it is his Goan people or foreigners who have no idea of his culture or language, the life that was Chris Perry is alive in many hearts across the globe and he continues to live on forever.