Lawrence de Tiracol

Lourenco Alexinho Fernandes (17 July 1943 – 26 April 2016), popularly known as Lawrence de Tiracol or Larry, was an Indian singer, lyricist, theatre director, playwright, and engineer who worked on the Konkani stage.

Early life Lourenco Alexinho Fernandes was born on 17 July 1943, in Bombay, British India. Raised in the Goan settlement of Dabul, Fernandes received his education at St. Sebastian Goan High School. Like many Goans, he was introduced to tiatrs at an early age and developed a deep passion for the art form. After completing his engineering studies, Fernandes embarked on a successful career with Otis Worldwide, a multinational corporation specializing in the manufacturing of elevators and escalators. His professional responsibilities eventually led him to the Middle East, where he was entrusted with overseeing Otis's business interests in various countries, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and others. For a period of 18 years, Fernandes dedicated himself to his work in the Middle East, gradually distancing himself from the Konkani stage and focusing on his corporate endeavors. He was introduced to the stage by Francis de Parra in the tiatr production titled Sotchem Bhirad. Throughout his career, Fernandes had the privilege of sharing the stage with tiatr personalities such as Kid Boxer, C. Alvares, Francis de Parra, Rico Rod, Star of Arossim, Seby Coutinho, Souza Ferrao, Remmie Colaco, and Anthony Mendes, among others. Notably, his collaboration with Jessie Dias in Bombay led to numerous memorable duets performed live on stage.

During his time in Bombay, Fernandes actively participated in the Konkani music scene. He engaged in acting and singing in various tiatrs, contributing to the vibrant cultural landscape. However, it was his work behind the scenes that truly made an impact. From 1994 to 2012, Fernandes produced a total of 44 high-profile Konkani music albums, showcasing his talent to the art form. While away from his hometown of Bombay and Goa, Fernandes continued his creative pursuits by writing song lyrics and compiling them. Upon his return to Bombay in 1994, after completing an assignment in the Gulf, he took the opportunity to produce his first audio cassette O Daina under the label of Tips Industries. This initial success was followed by another album titled Bhangarache Tandul released by His Master's Voice later that same year.

Joaquim Barbosa, a devoted admirer of Fernandes, praised him as an extraordinary composer, while Alvaro Gomes emphasized Fernandes's instrumental role in Lorna Cordeiro]'s resurgence following her self-imposed exile of 25 years. Lorna, Fernandes's daughter, expressed her appreciation to TAG for organizing the special condolence gathering.

Selected stage works

Select discography Audio albums O Daina (1994) Bhangarache Tandul (1994) Hello Lorna (1994)