Anton Jones
His songs often reflected true incidents: ‘Aasai Bayai’ (the Nilwala boat tragedy), DC 8 (the Knuckles range plane crash), ‘Maru Sira’ (the controversial passing away of death-row prisoner), ‘Rukmani Devi’ (the demise of Sri Lanka’s nightingale), ‘Premawathi Manamperi’ (the Kataragama Beauty Queen murder) to name a few.
His only duet, the song “Horahin Balanna” was sung with Angeline Goonetileke with music directed by Premasiri Khemadasa and recorded on Silverline record bar.
On 21st February 2016 this popular baila singer passed away at the age of 79.
Born on 03rd June 1937 of Burgher origin, Anton Jones grew up at St. Sebestian’s Street in Hulftsdorp.
He entered the music scene in 1950’s under the guidance of Wally Bastianz and had his debut live performance at Radio Ceylon in 1958 with the song “Kanthoruwa Kanthoruwa Mama Wada Karana”.
He rose to popularity with the song “Mini Gawuma” recorded for his first EP released on Philips label and went on to become a major figure in Sinhala baila.
