User:Wikimyuse

Tracy Judith de Silva, better known as Judy de Silva (singer/songwriter/actress/vocal coach) that hails from a family of musicians and actors. Tracing back to her maternal great grandfather Daniel L, de Silva, a Shakespearian actor and singer who was one of the first srilankans to record on HMV (His Masters Voice). Her maternal grandfather Edgar de Silva also known as “Edgar de Bright” was an entertainer who moved his muscles to music and was also a body builder /trainer/Journalist/ vocal coach and was a baritone who sang mostly Paul Robeson’s style. Her maternal grand uncle Noel de Silva (Edgar’s Brother) was also a recognized radio artist. Grandfather Edgar’s first cousin was Wally Bastiansz, known as the "Father of Baila in Sri Lanka". He was the Sri Lankan singer who developed the style of chorus baila in the 1940s. (Wally's Father Hinton and Edgar's mother Winifred were brother and sister). Her Maternal grandmother Evelyn de Silva (a natural soprano) was also a radio artist who sang mostly with her brother-in-law Noel. Judy’s mother is the famous jazz singer Kanthie de Silva, and mom’s sister Lilonga Fernando use to also join Kanthie and sang in harmony in the 60’s and 70’s and acted with Judy as her mother in “Ilakkaya” tele drama. Judy’s father Chesley Nugera,was a professional musician too during the 60’s and 70’s, aguitarist ans singer. Her father’s family too is very musical although no one took up to music professionally. Judy’s Uncle Mahinda Fernando (Lilonga’s husband) at SLBC was a producer of many popular radio programs’ and also a script writer and a stage actor.

As a little girl of six Judy use to occasionally tag along with her singing mother Kanthie de Silva and even sing a song or two with her at gigs... Judy’s first public appearance was at a jazz unlimited session held at the Galadari Merdien Colombo, where she played “take five” the famous jazz piece originally performed by the Dave Brubeck Quatet. She had to play on an vintage electric piano which was at that time very hard to play for her little fingers and she cried all day cos she could not do her best. At the age of 9 Judy once again performed at J.U this time she sang the 1972 gospel hit “day by day” to a jazzy style. At the age of 6 she composed her first ever piece for her pet kitten Cosy. It was a very simple melody and lyrics says her mom,, yet I was surprised at this little girl composing tunes, playing the piano, and singing it for Cosy who sat on the right side of the piano keys., unfortunately at that time we did not have any recording or video equipment in hand to capture these moments. Judy is an ardent animal lover since childhood. Judy never had an intention or a big dream to do music or to become an entertainer. Although during her school days at Musaeus College Colombo she and four of her friends Manil Gunasekera (USA) Thushari Vidanagamachchi (UK) and Hasanthi Jayawardena (Australia) they use to write songs and have an all-girl band called the “Wild Angels” was not a performing band but they have more than 25 songs to their credit written and one of them “Tears Behind My Eyes” (Lyrics by Thushari) was released by Judy in her first release with her mother “With All Our Love” in 1989. Judy was also a classical ballet dancer, a student of “Oosha Garten Of Ballet” for 11 years. She trained her voice under Kalasuri Lylie Godridge.

Career Highlights 1985 Judy started her professional career as a singer with Debbie Arnolda managed by Bobby Arnolda Entertainments. Received an award for the Islands “MOST PROMISING ARTIST” for the year 1987. 1988 - with Kanthie de Silva the First mother & daughter Duo in the Sri Lankan western Music scene. They appeared in a weekly TV musical titled “Music Makers”. Released audio in cassette and CD “With All Our Love” Judy also had a brief encounter in catwalk modeling with Sri Lankan designer/choreographer  Senaka de Silva. 1989 - 1995 with Sohan & The X’periments performed weekly contracted gigs and at many concerts in Sri Lanka and worldwide. Won the Islands “MOST OUTSTANDING FEMALE VOCALIST” award for 1989 and THE GOLDEN CLEF AWARD for “POP SINGER OF THE YEAR” 1993. Original songs released in Sinhala English. 1993, Launched career as silver screen actress acting beside Ranjan Ramanayake in “Sura Daruwo” this was her first attempt in acting and won her the “SARASAVIYA” Silver Screen Award for “BEST NEW ACTRESS 1993”. Appeared on German production “Southern Stars”. Acted in Sri Lankan tele-dramas. Mark Samson’s “Illakkaya” Ranjan de Silva’s “Udagira” Kumarasiri Abeykone’s “Viyaru Prarthana” and Dharmasena Pathiraja’s “Nadunana Puthun” and film “wasuli” 1995 released her first solo album “Sihina Lokaye”. 1996 launched her own band “Judy with Eternal Soul” 1998 launched her solo career as a performing artist. 1998 - 2002 Toured the UK, Japan,Cyprus, Dubai and India. 2005 Kanthie & Judy (“Merit Makers”) organized charity events “Cosmic Hits” in 2005 and “Cosmic Hits 2” in 2006. 2002 - to-date based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, she travels to all continents for semi-cultural and non-cultural events representing Sri Lanka as a guest artist to entertain Sri Lankans living overseas. 2012 - to-date Vocal Coach at Trinity Academy Of Music (Sri Lanka)