ISSN: 1391 - 0531
Sunday September 9, 2007
Vol. 42 - No 15
TV Times  

Good old Meloney magic

Music memories and good old fashion Meloney magic, does it bring back memories of a by gone era, the time when the Commercial Service of SLBC, enjoyed unparallelled popularity and success as the country's best and most sort after English Language Commercial radio network?

Does the memories keep flooding back of the superlative sounds of the fifties, sixties, seventies and eighties, presented with the professional distinction and finesse as only Derek Meloney can provide?

Those were good old days when Commercial Radio, had broadcasters of the calibre of Vijaya Corea, Jimmy Barucha, and the legendary Shirley Perera, better known as the AL MARTINO of the SLBC's English Commercial broadcasters.

Derek Meloney, a little bit of a "CHIP" of the old block, in Sri Lanka broadcasting, is today remembered as one of this country's, great commercial broadcasters, and one that is admired and appreciated by thousands of listeners in Sri Lanka, India, and now in Perth Western Australia, where his "on air" presentation is easily one of the best in the radio scene in Australia. Derek Meloney is quick to address his critics who claim that he is the best Sri Lanka has produced, when he states "the best is certainly in the distance past. Gone are the days when the Commercial Service of Radio Ceylon could boast of announcers that were "world class". Jimmy Barucha, Livy Wijemanne, Shirley Perera Vernon Corea, Leon Belleth and Nihal Bharathi.

It was quite a few years later that a younger "Corea" emerged from oblivion to rise to the status as the next best thing to Royalty in Commercial Broadcasting. Vijaya Corea, "came, captured and conquered" like no other". So you see says Derek, "there were better announcers long before my time and some during my time.It was these guys that was my greatest influence and source of inspiration, sadly such standards will never see a comeback, and so the Government of Sri Lanka should list the few remaining veterans as among the national treasures in our country, and it is these people who should be occupying the seats of power and authority at the SLBC.

‘I have been very fortunate to have received my early training and on air experience working and sometimes just listening to those great broadcasters, and if what I am today , is anything to be admired, I give credit to the glorious past of the Commercial service and those great presenters who really knew what broadcasting is all about. It was this "grounding" that has helped mould me, and make me what I am today, and certainly helped my style develop a certain uniqueness that gives me the edge over my competitors in the trade in Sri Lanka and in Perth, Western Australia’ he said.

‘I am happy to announce that plans are afoot for another visit to the mother country, and a stint on Commercial radio, and that negotiations are now being concluded, with interested parties to enable me satisfy my loyal and devoted listener ship. I am ever grateful to those who work behind the scene in Sri Lanka and Australia to enable me make my regular pilgrimage to Sri Lanka. My manager Lakshman Croos-Moraes, The Music Mart, for the music they provide, my Sri Lanka producer Harold Fernando and of course my producer at the Meloney Magic studios Roger Grey without whose help, I would never be the success I am in Australia’.

So when do you plan to arrive did you say?, well you will have to just wait and see, just keep your ears trained to the Commercial Service as when I am back, I am back at home, the home,I share with some of Sri Lanka's greatest ever broadcasters,Commercial service of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation!

 
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Copyright 2007 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka.