Legendary Konkani Singer Wilfy Rebimbus No More

by CD Network Tuesday, 09 March 2010 12:58

Mangalore, March 9: Popularly known as the ‘Konkani Kogul’, Wilfy Gerald Rebimbus, passed away on Tuesday, March 9, leaving the Konkani fraternity in utter shock and sorrow. He was 67.

The legendary singer breathed his last at Father Muller Hospital, Mangalore this morning. He was reportedly suffering from lung cancer.

Wilfy was a versatile artist who not only rendered melodies in Konkani and Tulu but also penned plays and short stories.

"People with a talent of writing as well as singing with equal excellence, are very rare. Wilfy was one of them. His writings and songs acted as a guiding light. His services to Konkani are varied and numerous" said a shocked Kundapur Narayana Kharvi, President of the Konkani Sahitya Academy, expressing his grief at the demise of the revered artist. 

Melwyn Peris, renowned Konkani singer, expressed his sadness at the loss of the singer. "Wilfy was like a sun shining in the sky, who with his light ignited the Konkani passion in everyone's heart. That sun, has unfortunately set today. The news of his demise has filled my heart with grief. He was the king of Konkani melodies and a role model for singers like me. It is unimaginable and hard to believe that he is no more". 

In a career spanning about 4 decades, Wilfy had written thousands of songs and staged more than 245 ‘Wilfy Nights’ and released 40 albums, 6 Devotional Albums and 1 Instrumental album.

Wilfy was born to late Landeline Rebimbus and late Magdeline Mendonca.

In 1956, at the age of 14, he started composing Konkani songs and singing them. In 1957, at the age of 15, he wrote his first Konkani play - "Poishanso Sounsar" and staged it through St. Joseph's Natak Sangh. After that he had written 6 other plays. The titles of his plays are: 1. Modern Nouro; 2. Beshto dubav; 3. Dhot maka naka; 4. Mai maka Adainaka; 5. Bebdyachi duv; 6. Tisri chit and 7. Kedi Bona B.A.

In 1959, at the age of 17, Rebimbus founded the 'United Youngsters Music Party' (now the 'United Youngsters Cultural Association').

From 1958 to 1970 Rebimbus composed songs for nearly 500 Plays (dramas), almost 1500 songs.

Wilfy was encouraged by the Jesuit priests at a small age. In 1960 Rev. Fr. Ambrose D'Mello S.J. the manager of St. Joseph's Workshop, encouraged Wilfy to learn classical Music and sent him to learn Hindustani and Karnatik Music with Master Ramesh. Rev. Fr. Oswald Mascarenhas S. J. taught Wilfy & Meena the SOLFA (Notations) of Music. Rev. Fr. Walter Albuquerque S.J., had written music for many of Wilfy's songs and also had helped him to get a good knowledge of Music. Rev. Fr. G.S.T. Rodrigues a secular priest had also taught Wilfy the SOLFA (Notations) and educated him about composing tunes. Late Mr. Gabbu -Konkani writer was the main reason in organizing First "Wilfy Nite" through his association ROOP RAAG.

Wilfy Rebimbus staged his first Wilfy Nite in 1970 for 3 hours duration. Since 1970 till date nearly 245 Wilfy Nites have been staged and also, nearly 500 musical shows of one hour duration. Total number of songs composed exceeds 3,000. He had performed in Mangalore and most of the places in Konakan Karavali, Bombay, Goa, Bangalore, Mysore, Delhi, and also in the Middle East - Muscat, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Kuwait and Doha Qatar and Canada.

Many titles, awards and honours were conferred on Wilfy. Some of them are:

 KONKAN KOGUL (Nightingale of Konkani) - year 1971 - by Bishop of Mangalore Rt. Rev. Dr. B. S. D'Souza

"Rajyotsava Award" -Year 1991 - State Award.

Award Of Recognition -Year 1991 - by The International Orientation Center, USA

"SANGEETH CHAKRAVARTHI" - 1992- By Konkani Talents Group, Abu Dhabi

Award for service in music presented by "Karnataka Konkani Sahithya Academy" -1996

"TULUNADA KOGILE" - year 1998 - By 'Tuluver' - Dubai, UAE

'KONKANI PODANCHO RAI' -Year 1996 by Broadview Kala Sampath Lions Club, Illinois, USA

'Life Membership' of Lions Club Illinois - year 1996

'KONKAN KALARATN' -Oct 1999 - By KCWA Kuwait

'SHATAMANACHO VYAKTHI' -Oct 1999 by Chinthpyanchi Manchi Kuwait

Life Time Achievement Award - Oct.1999 -by MCC Doha Qatar

MILLENNIUM KONKANI ARTIST AWARD by 'Indian Catholic Association of America' represented by Mr. Austin D'Souza Prabhu on December 19, 1999, during the 200th Wilfy Nite at St. Agnes Special School Grounds.