Mignonne Fernando

Mignonne Fernando
Birth name	Mignonette Malathi May Rutnam
Born	May 9, 1943 (1943-05-09) (age 68) Colombo, Sri Lanka
Genres	Soul, R&B, gospel, jazz, rock
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, pianist
Instruments	Singing, piano
Years active	1950 – Present
Labels	EMI Records (1969–1980)

Introduction

Having won Radio Ceylon's Talent Contest at the age of seven, a year later she wrote her first music composition. Her father. Arnold Rutnam, was renowned for his mathematical skills, and her mother, Marie was a devoted and much loved teacher of music.

As a student of St. Bridget's Convent, Colombo 7, Mignonne scored First position in her class throughout, except the one term when she took ill and was placed second. She participated in Theatre Productions and played Goal for the School Netball Team with equal enthusiasm.

Her interest in Law was overtaken by her passion for Music, and thanks to her mother, she received formal training in Western Classical Music, Speech and Drama. This proved to be her greatest strength and an excellent foundation to her musical career that was to follow.

"Her firsts in the history of popular music in Sri Lanka and her many musical achievements internationally have proved that Mignonne is a rarity by any standard.” Carl Myatt - South China Morning Post

The early years

In 1965, Mignonne along with her group The Jetliners became an instant success under the excellent guidance of Manager/Husband Tony Fernando; and their popularity grew from strength to strength, wherever they performed. Radio Ceylon,introduced her music not only to a local audience but right across South Asia. During the early years Mignonne Fernando and the Jetliners enjoyed star billing at the Coconut Grove nightclub situated in the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo.

In 1969 she became the first Sri Lankan to be signed up by EMI Records UK, and Keith Prowse Music London. The Ceylonese 'Wedding Song' (Mangala Mohotha) was her first song to be copyrighted by KPM.

Her song "Love don't let me down" won the Embassy Award at the World Popular Song Festival where renowned composers and artistes the world over are invited to submit compositions. Of over 1,200 entries, only 10 were selected to be eligible for the award. Another original composition "Someday my love" won the Matsushita Award and Special Jury Award for Composer and Performer at the Festival of Song.

A Sinhala composition "Oba Nisa" was selected for the Finals of the 5th Olympiad of Song in Athens, Greece where it won the Gold Medal. "Coconut Man" made the finals of the World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo. This made her the only Woman Composer/ Performer to date to have been selected into the finals.

See also

• Galle Face Hotel
• List of Sri Lankan musicians
• Colombo
• Radio Ceylon
• Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation

External links

• Clip on You Tube of Mignonne Fernando singing 'My Boy Lollipop.'
• Personality of the Week - Mignonne Fernando
• News article on Mignonne Fernando on World Music Central

Persondata
Name	Fernando, Mignonne
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1943-05-09
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death