ALFRED ROSE: OBITUARY -- GOA'S MELODY KING IS NO MORE
Source: Goanet - news - 24th Oct 2003
Source: Goanet - news - 24th Oct 2003
Goa's Melody King Alfred Rose faded away on Tuesday, even as his song will continue to inspire the tens of thousands of listeners it enchanged when played on the radio or across cultural performances of local Konkani-loving audiences that cut across dividing lines of religion, caste, or state.
"Remember, the singer with a Panama hat on his head and a magic wand in his hand delivering the opening song for tiatrs in English-Konkani in the '60s?," reminisced Isidore Dantas, in a recent profile published in the local monthly 'Goa Today'.
Rose had the ability to appeal to a wide range of taste; one recalls his performance at an 'international' Konkani meet organised in Mangalore in 1995, where his acceptance by a wide range of Konkani speakers was quickly apparent.
"Remember, the singer with a Panama hat on his head and a magic wand in his hand delivering the opening song for tiatrs in English-Konkani in the '60s?," reminisced Isidore Dantas, in a recent profile published in the local monthly 'Goa Today'.
Rose had the ability to appeal to a wide range of taste; one recalls his performance at an 'international' Konkani meet organised in Mangalore in 1995, where his acceptance by a wide range of Konkani speakers was quickly apparent.
Besides being called Goa's Melody King, Alfred Rose was also called The Man with the Golden Voice by the HMV recording company, and gifted other sobriquets like Konkani's Ambassador, International Superstar, and the Living Legend of Konkani Music.
Rose had been ailing for some time now, and was tended by his musician-wife Rita and their family.
Rose had been ailing for some time now, and was tended by his musician-wife Rita and their family.
Born Rosario Alfred Fernandes in 1932 at Calvim, Aldona, he got his stage name from his father Ambrose Fernandes, who's name is believed to have got shortened to AMB Rose by the Karachi Jesuits.
He has six decades of musical popularity to his credit, and was christened Junior Rose by versatile Konkani tiatrist C Alvares, being the youngest among the actors during his tiatr debut way back in 1943.
Alfred Rose, who had directed the music for the film "Bogllant", is also credited with recording all eight songs in a single day.
Rose spoke highly of the patronage of Goans abroad, saying he has toured globally and performed his Konkani musical show in almost every Goan centre of emigration.
He has six decades of musical popularity to his credit, and was christened Junior Rose by versatile Konkani tiatrist C Alvares, being the youngest among the actors during his tiatr debut way back in 1943.
Alfred Rose, who had directed the music for the film "Bogllant", is also credited with recording all eight songs in a single day.
Rose spoke highly of the patronage of Goans abroad, saying he has toured globally and performed his Konkani musical show in almost every Goan centre of emigration.
Tributes to the artiste recall that Alfred Rose who started out in fifties with ever popular hits such as "Sui Sut Ani Cator" (The Needle, The Thread, and The Sissors)) and "Dev Nidonk Nam" (God's Not Asleep) is credit with having charmed the air waves of Portuguese-run pre-1961 era Emissora de Goa and All India Radio.
Archive reports noted Alfred Rose's recent felicitation in Goa, which took place before his bout of illhealth. Together with the Aldona-origin singer, also feted were his singer-actress wife Rita and daughter Alria.
For some reason, the Goa government's lack of public recognition to this talented musician who won the heart of lakhs of fans, has been critically commented on in various fora. In Mapusa too, the felicitation was not by the government, but by the local Konkani Seva Kendra.
In the presence of Konkani scholar Dr Tanaji Halarnkar, then Tourism Minister Victoria Fernandes did the honours of felicitating the ageing singer, amidst a thunderous applause.
For some reason, the Goa government's lack of public recognition to this talented musician who won the heart of lakhs of fans, has been critically commented on in various fora. In Mapusa too, the felicitation was not by the government, but by the local Konkani Seva Kendra.
In the presence of Konkani scholar Dr Tanaji Halarnkar, then Tourism Minister Victoria Fernandes did the honours of felicitating the ageing singer, amidst a thunderous applause.
She also promised to take cognizance of the memorandum handed over to her by the Konkani Seva Kendra, and said she would work towards getting Kala Academy's open air auditorium named after Alfred Rose, the Goanow webzine reported.
In his short but inspiring speech then, Alfred Rose then emotionally exhorted Goans not to look down upon Konkani, but to wholeheartedly embrace it and speak it in the homes.
Goan philanthropist Jerome Mendes is credited with being the first Goan to take Alfred Rose and his troupe to the UK with his tiatrists and produced his first Konkani long-play record called 'Londoncho Mog' with English musicians.
Goan philanthropist Jerome Mendes is credited with being the first Goan to take Alfred Rose and his troupe to the UK with his tiatrists and produced his first Konkani long-play record called 'Londoncho Mog' with English musicians.
Together with popular singers, Alfred Rose is also credited with having sung for Bollywood's film industry. Others besides Rose who have this to their credit include Lorna (who sang chorus for Mohamed Rafi, Asha Bhonsle, Lata Mangueshkar), Asha Bhonsle, Francis Vaz ('Baarish'), Usha Mangueshkar, Usha Amonkar, Sudesh Bhonsle, among others. Rose's performance was for 'Love in Goa'. (ENDS)
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