19 Facts About Patrick Denipitiya

Patrick Tibertius Maximus Denipitiya was a Sri Lankan musician.

Patrick Denipitiya was part of the movement that brought western music to Sri Lanka in the 1960s, he introduced the electric Hawaiian guitar into Sri Lankan sinhala music industry and was responsible for the musical composition, arrangements, music direction and performance of many Sinhala songs and films from the early-1950s to 1997.

Patrick Denipitiya had a unique ability whereby he could write music scores without using an instrument in both Eastern and Western notation.

Patrick Denipitiya was able to do this for an entire orchestra that utilized both eastern and western instruments.

Patrick Denipitiya has co-directed movies including "Saudan Jema", "Akke mata Awasara" and has directed, performed and assisted in many ways in over 5000 commercial songs and movie song recordings.

Patrick Denipitiya was born into a family with ten children in Kotahena.

Patrick Denipitiya's parents were Coronalis Denipitiya, a railway stationmaster and Mary Simona.

Patrick Denipitiya's siblings were named Sunny, Benedict, Paul, Andrew, Anne, Edward, Anton, Bertram, and Milton.

Patrick Denipitiya studied at St Benedict's College, Colombo and finally at St Aloysius' College.

Patrick Denipitiya had his first music lessons from Sunil Santha who continued to give him free lessons and featured him in his recordings.

Patrick Denipitiya was the first to introduce the electric lap slide guitar to Sri Lanka's Sinhala Music industry while being a pioneer in introducing pop music to the Sri Lankan oriental music industry in the early 1960s.

Patrick Denipitiya worked in harmony with all orchestras of Sri Lanka including the Radio Ceylon Orchestra for many decades.

Patrick Denipitiya performed on many Television programmes, being the first musician to appear on BBC Sandeshaya Programme with CT.

In 1961, Patrick married Celcie Fernando, with whom he had three children: Primus; Mahesh Denipitiya and Shyami.

Patrick Denipitiya took up teaching, teaching music theory, guitar, piano and keyboard to many students purely for his love for music and sharing knowledge and not for economic gain.

Patrick Denipitiya was fondly remembered by eminent people like Pandith Ameradeva, former SLBC chairman Late Mr Eamon Kariyakaravana for giving their children music lessons free of charge and to many other students until his 1990 migration to Canada.

Patrick Denipitiya continued to teach, and was actively involved in music while living in Canada.

Patrick Denipitiya directed music for the first ever Sri Lankan teledrama in Canada "Ratakin ratakata" and performed at events and functions, for concerts of Sri Lankan artists touring Canada.

Patrick Denipitiya died on 23 March 2013 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.