When reviewing the evolution of contemporary music in Sri Lanka, the entire timeline splits into two eras: before and after the arrival of Clarence Wijewardene. Respectfully celebrated as the "Father of Sinhala Pop Music", Clarence was a visionary maestro who boldly integrated Western pop, country-and-western rhythms, and sophisticated electric guitar structures into the traditional Sinhala stream. He shattered old institutional musical formulas, single-handedly birthing the legendary "Musical Group" or live-band culture across the island.
Early Life, Schooling, and the Roots of Genius
The musical treasure was born on August 3, 1943, in the misty hills of Haputale, as Vita Kuruppu Arachchige Clarence Arthur Somasinghe Wijewardene. His birth occurred while his father, Arthur George Perera Wijewardena, was serving on a professional assignment in the region. Raised alongside his mother, Soma Kumari Ekanayake, Clarence came from a devout Christian household and was formally christened by the Baptist Church.
Clarence completed his formal education at Yatawatta Maha Vidyalaya. While living in the gem-mining town of Ratnapura as a youth, his profound obsession with the acoustic and electric guitar ignited. He mastered the instrument entirely by ear, demonstrating an innate, natural-born talent for songwriting and harmonic notation.
The Era of "The Moonstones" and Breakthrough
Clarence’s professional journey took flight in the mid-1960s when he formed his very first landmark music group, The Moonstones. It was during this period that Clarence met his lifelong musical partner and iconic vocalist, Annesley Malawana.
A chance meeting with the influential advertising personality Sri Sangabo Corea became the turning point of his career. Recognising the fresh energy of the group, Corea introduced them to Radio Ceylon’s popular "Saturday Stars" program. The response was instantaneous and overwhelmingly positive. Clarence produced the band's first five iconic tracks, which rewrote Sri Lankan pop history:
මංගල නැකත (Mangala Nakatha)
රුවන් පුරය (Ruwan Puraya)
මැණිකේ (Menike)
සුදු මැණිකේ (Sudu Menike)
හදවත (Hadawatha)
Subsequently, Clarence expanded the band by introducing lead guitarist Shanaka Perera and drummer Vijith Peiris to the team, releasing an EP on the Philips label containing legendary tracks like Ramani and Rosemary. The melodies were sweetly simple yet carried an underlying emotional depth, seamlessly blending Western country beats with beautiful Sinhala lyrics.
Landmark Solo Compositions and Inventions
Clarence was a generous composer who built the careers of numerous legends. In 1969, he invited the classical master Karunaratne Divulgane to collaborate, but his most explosive discovery was introducing the sweet, nightingale voice of Indrani Perera through the iconic Three Sisters band. He composed groundbreaking hits for her, including:
දිලීප පොඩි පුතු (Dileepa Podi Putu) (Written as a beautiful blessing for Karunaratne Abeysekera’s son)
සිහින් සිනිඳු (Sihin Sinidu)
The "Golden Chimes" Phenomenon (1971)
In January 1971, Clarence departed from the Moonstones and joined hands with ex-Moonstones bassist Chanaka Perera and Lanka Perera to form a brand-new outfit called the Golden Chimes. Their initial EP release was a massive commercial success, featuring the timeless Brazilian Bossa Nova rhythm adapted into Sinhala pop via the song:
කිමද නාවේ (Kimada Nawe)
මගේ පැල්පතේ (Mage Pelpathe)
සමනලයෝ (Samanalayo)
Later, English-language vocalist Anil Bharati joined the band. Clarence evaluated his vocal capabilities for a year before launching him into the Sinhala pop scene with all-time masterworks like Ada Wei Iru Dina, Maa Adarai Nangiye, and the legendary Christmas classic Bethlehempure. Clarence also discovered a brilliant lead guitarist named Dixon Gunaratne at a wedding, incorporating his skills to elevate the band's live sound.
The Era of "Super Golden Chimes" (1973)
In 1973, Clarence and Dixon Gunaratne teamed up with Annesley Malawana to form the ultimate musical group of the era—The Super Golden Chimes. This group became a powerhouse of production, consistently hitting the number-one slots on both the Sinhala and English services of Radio Ceylon (and later the SLBC). They reigned supreme as Sri Lanka’s undisputed number-one live band throughout the 1970s and 1980s, producing classics like Kalu Mama, Gamen Banda, and Bambaraku Aduna.
When Annesley Malawana announced his marriage plans after three highly productive years, Clarence decided to transition into a highly successful solo career and a freelance music director.
Signature Guitar Styles and Musical Technicality
Clarence Wijewardene wasn't just a songwriter; he was a highly innovative musical architect. He introduced complex Western guitar techniques that had never been heard in local recordings before, such as:
Mute Guitar Technique: Used beautifully to create localised percussive rhythm chops.
Chicken Picking: A fast, staccato country guitar picking style that became his signature identity.
6x8 (Kamento) & Dadra Rhythms: Clarence possessed a rare, unmatched capability to structure complex 6x8 time signatures, blending Caribbean Calypso and local baila flavours smoothly. Tracks like Ganga Addara and Sihin Sinawai showcase this mastery.
Majestic Cinematic and Teledrama Contributions
Clarence's transition into cinema and television produced some of the most memorable themes in local broadcasting history. He acted as the original music director for blockbuster films and legendary teledramas like:
Apeksha (Apeksha)
Ktyranny (Sikuruliyya)
Kolombo Sanniya
Nidikumba Mal
Suseema (The iconic musical teledrama)
Remarkably, Clarence even directed music for the grand classical master Pandit W.D. Amaradeva, blending his pop guitar sensibilities with Amaradeva's classical vocals to produce masterpieces like Aatha Epita Himakandhen, Sanda Thaniwela, Sanakeliye, and Dasas Piya Gath Kala. He also crafted unforgettable duets and tracks for Milton Perera (Sikuruliya theme), Sanath and Malkanthi Nandasiri (Sitha Rae Wasanthe), H.R. Jothipala & Sujatha Attanayake (Sonduru Lowata Mal Wahala), and Saman De Silva (Thana Nilla).
Private Dedications and Family
Clarence was deeply sentimental, writing personal songs for the people he loved. He composed the beautiful track Sudu Menike for his beloved wife, Sheela Wijewardene. He also penned the touching song Amila Duwe for his precious daughter, Amila Wijewardene, and a heartfelt song titled Maaniyani as a tribute to his mother. He also crafted the song Kiri Muhuda for his mentor Sri Sangabo Corea's son, Vijay Corea.
The Final Bow and An Eternal Fragrance
Over his rich career, Clarence wrote and directed nearly 2,000 songs and won numerous national accolades across the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Tragically, on December 13, 1996, the music world plunged into darkness when Clarence Wijewardene passed away at the age of 53 due to advanced liver cirrhosis.
Though he lived a short span of 53 years, the massive value of his artistic designs cannot be quantified. Today, his wife Sheela, daughter Amila, and family attorney Siri Hettiarachchi protect his authentic legacy. Because his style is so fresh, vibrant, and eternally modern, Clarence Wijewardene's music will continue to inspire and evergreen the future generations of Sri Lanka forever.
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