Lorna Cordeiro

Early life

Lorna Cordeiro 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. Her family were Goan Catholics. 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. Cordeiro recalled how as a young girl another Parsi neighbour in Mumbai would clap and gift her four annas whenever he heard her sing along with the radio.

Career 1960–1973: Initial career Lorna began her career by singing at weddings as part of a band called Bajaj and his Dance Band. 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 musician Chris Perry, who was in the audience and had been looking for a crooner. 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 became a popular jazz singer in nightclubs and star hotels in Mumbai, Calcutta, Madras, Delhi and Bangalore.

Lorna is known mainly for singing in Konkani. Most of these songs were arranged and composed by Chris Perry. Her first song was "Bebdo" , which she performed on Miramar Beach, Goa. It shocked the audience due to its explicit nature. 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". As her popularity increased, the public started demanding only her solo performances from Perry, who then 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.

Personal life While she was underage, Cordeiro was in a relationship with Goan musician, Chris Perry, who was sixteen years older and was also married, 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. Perry would threaten and assault anyone who would approach her to sing professionally. Lorna also remained unmarried because Perry also threatened possible suitors. She then began working as a compounder in a dentist's clinic, and was a victim of alcoholism before musician Ronnie Monserrate convinced her to start singing again in 1995. She currently lives in Dhobitalao, Mumbai. Nachom-ia Kumpasar , is a Konkani film. It is based on the lives of jazz musicians Chris Perry and Lorna. The film takes its title from the name of a song by the two artists. The story is told through over 20 popular Konkani songs from the 1960s and 1970s that have been re-recorded for this film. It is set in the 1960s and is a tribute to the "unsung" Konkani musicians of that era.

Advertisements In 2007, an international ad campaign by Nike for its cricket equipment featured a Konkani song "Rav Patrao Rav", based on the song "Bebdo". The advertisement was created and executed by the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency that made the ad and the song was recomposed by Ram Sampath.

Awards In 2015, Cordeiro was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award at the "Film, Food, Fashion Festival", by Vishnu Wagh, then MLA and Vice-Chairman of Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG). In 2018, she was awarded the Krutadnyata Puraskar (Lifetime Achievement Award) at the 11th Goa Marathi Film Festival, held at Kala Academy.

Discography

Albums Concanim Hit Parade With Chris Perry And A Galaxy Of Top Artistes (1969), EMI, His Master's Voice Hit Music From Goa (1977), EMI Chris Perry's Golden Hits (1979, re-released 2006) Hello Lorna (1996), Ronnie M. Productions

Singles

"Aikat mazo tavlo" "Red Rose" "Lisboa" "Adeus" "Tuzo Mog" "Noxibak Roddttam" "Maria", with Mohammed Rafi "Sorga Rajeant" "Abghat" "Aik re khobrankara" "Amerikak Pavxi" "Sorg Tujea Dolleamni" "Tum Ani Hanv" "Ugddas" "Mhoji Mai" "Calangute" "Pavsachea Tempar"