TV Times

TV Times

‘Man in the Hat’
Popular Australian Country singer Gary Ellis is back in Sri Lanka for the Festive season. Gary is very well known for his love of Sri Lanka and his defence of her people. Gary is to launch his new CD ‘Man in the Hat’ on SLBC soon.

This follows the highly acclaimed “Ishala” Album, which feature Gary with Robin Foenanader, Desmond Kelly. ‘Ishala’ took all before it both in Australia, Sri Lanka and internationally.

The 3 artistes all topped the SLBC hit parade during past few months. Gary has included the ‘Man in the Hat’ in this album, a song he composed together with Norm Burke, a prolific Australian songwriter. Gary wrote all the lyrics drawing from his memory of Sri Lanka’s heroes from the point of view of an Australian.

Gary was born and bred with horses and followed the Rodeo Circuit throughout Australia with as Gary puts it all the ‘Ups and Downs’. He appeared in the big tent shows touring Australia including “The Western Revue”. The touring shows led to commercial recording contracts with “Spotlight” and his own television show, which had a run of 70 weeks. He appeared with the legendary Jonny Ray on T.V. and as a young performer, Gary won the prestigious ‘Australians’ Amateur Hour” polling 10.000 votes, which made his career take off from that point.

His ‘Man in the Hat’ includes a song ‘Sri Lankan heroes dedicated to all Lankans. In his previous ‘Ishala’ album too included a couple of songs dedicated to Sri Lanka. ‘Saradiel’ is one of the songs and it is a very popular hit Down Under with the Sri Lankan community Gary, whose wife is a Sri Lankan, was an outstanding boxing prospect hardened by the Australian Country but chose to swap the boxing gloves for a guitar.

He said, a serious addiction to alcohol ruined his career and he was left with no gigs no friends. Many years ago Gary was taken to a group of recovering alcoholics who befriended him. Their love and friendship succeded and Gary hasn’t had a drink of liquor for many years.

During his recovery period Gary Ellis has been a successful race horse trainer, showman, racing journalist, trackman and raconteur. Harold Fernando, senior broadcaster at SLBC helped Gary in his musical revival and he is forever grateful to this extremely kind man. Vernon Abeysekera, one of Sri Lanka’s top administrators and Director of Broadcasting Radio Ceylon has been a fond admirer of Gary’s courage and talent.

Australia leading exponent of the Pedal Steel of Dobro readily agreed to play into the backing group. Robin Foenander, who is well known as a singer/songwriter in Sri Lanka with No. 1 hits to his name produced the Album using techniques to bring out warm sincerity and feeling. Gary demonstrates his love of horses with two songs dedicated to them. The very touching “Leave Him In The Longyard” and “The Pearl of Them All” were dedicated to a Sri Lankan Elvis Fan.

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