Anton Jones

Anton Jones (born 3 June 1937–died 21 February 2016; Sinhala: ඇන්ටන් ජෝන්ස්) was a Sri Lankan musician.[1] Considered as a prominent Baila singers in Sri Lanka, Jones had several hits that include Mini Gawuma and Uyala Pihala.[2] His songs are notable, which are composed about many special events that took place in this country, thus becoming the only singer who sang from real events.[3]

Anton Jones
ඇන්ටන් ජෝන්ස්
Born(1937-06-03)3 June 1937
Hulftsdorp, Sri Lanka
Died22 February 2016(2016-02-22) (aged 78)
Kalubowila Teaching Hospital
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationSt. Sebastian Maha Vidyalaya
OccupationVocalist, Songwriter, Stenographer
Spouse(s)Iris Jones
Children4
RelativesWally Bastiansz (uncle)
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1956–2008
LabelsTorana

Personal life

He was born on 3 June 1937 in Colombo to a Burgher family in Hulftsdorp.[1] His father was a businessman. He is an alumnus of St. Sebastian Maha Vidyalaya, Hulftsdorp.[4] He has one elder sister.[2]

For the duration of his musical career, Jones also worked as an English stenographer for the Bank of Ceylon and private company Julius & Cruise since 1963.[5] He retired in 1997 completing 35 years of service.[6]

Jones was married to longtime partner Iris Jones. Jones first met Iris at the Talawila Church in 1978. Iris had his education from St. Mary's Convent in Chilaw. They got married on August 31, 1960 at St. Lucia Church, Kotahena. The couple has two sons – Tyrone, Roshan; and two daughters – Roshini and Priyanka.[5]

In 2010, while riding a motorcycle, he lost his left arm and fell off the bike twice. The next morning when he was getting ready to go for the medicine he fell in the bathroom. He was rushed to Nawaloka and received treatment for one week. After seven years of clutches, Jones was admitted to the hospital again on February 15, 2016. He couldn't eat properly, so depended on drink only. He returned home on the 18th February.[5] However, he died on 21 February 2016 at the age of 79 while receiving treatment at the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital.[7] His remains were laid to rest at his residence at Kawdana, Dehiwala Road and later moved to National Art Gallery.[8]

Career

He entered music under the guidance of his friend Wally Bastiansz in the early 1950s.[4][2] Jones played a member of Bastiansz's band, initially got to join the choir.[6] In 1958 he performed for the first time in front of a live audience for a Radio Ceylon event with the song Kanthoruwa Kanthoruwa.[1]

Jones had released 37 cassettes and eight CDs and often tackled contemporary events in his songs which include Maru Sira, Sepala Ekanayake, Kanthoruwa, Premawathi Manamperi and Podi Vijay.[9] He had sung only a single duet in his career, with Angeline Gunathilake.[6][2] Many of his songs were composed by Jones himself. He also composed many of the songs.[10]

His most recent album Sebe Siddhi discussed the effects of the tsunami that hit Sri Lanka.[1] He also joined the cast with the song Komala Papa sung for the film Ohoma Hondada.[4]

In December 2015, a tribute ceremony for Anton Jones was organized by the Hanwella Branch of the All Ceylon Middle East Service Organization.[11]

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References
  1. "Three generations: The baila rhythm is gone". Divaina. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  2. "Chat with Anton Jones". gossiplankahotnews. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  3. "Popular singer Anton Jones has passed away". News First. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  4. "Anton Jones leaves". Dinamina. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  5. "Anton never went with us to see a concert". Aruna. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  6. "Anton Jones who sang the real songs as well as Premadasa Vithanage who shared the comedy in the play have now passed away". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  7. "Anton Jones bids farewell". Ada Derana. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  8. "Anton Jones passes away". Ada. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  9. "Baila singer Anton Jones passes away". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  10. "We wrote and we sang". Deshaya. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  11. "Tribute to Veteran Singer Anton Jones". Divaina. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
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