'Gaalu Paara', the newest song by Gypsies and the first song to be released after the demise of their leader Sunil Perera will hit the airwaves soon. ‘Gaalu Paara’, the last song voiced by Sunil in 2021, will hit the Lankan music arena in April 2022 during the Avurudu season.

‘The Gypsies’, one of the popular and most successful musical outfits in Sri Lankan music history, will hit the road again with their brand new Sinhala song ‘Gaalu Paara’ under the new leadership of Piyal Perera.

‘This is the last song sung by Sunil Aiya and he was keen to release this song during the December festive season, but unfortunately, it didn’t materialise. ‘Gaalu Paara’ is only an audio track and the visual part was not completed due to his demise in September last year’ said Piyal.

‘The new video of ‘Gaalu Paara’ will feature all animated characters of the members of the Gypsies including Sunil Aiya’ Piyal explained about their new venture.

This song is in the line with his usually catchy baila beat and it will be the very first animated song created by Gypsies, probably the first locally produced animated song in Sri Lanka. 

The band was planning to host a mega concert in 2021 to celebrate their fiftieth year in the music scene. Due to the pandemic situation in the country, the ‘Golden Jubilee Concert’ was postponed and later it was shelved with the untimely death of Sunil.

Gypsies led by veteran singer/ musician Sunil Perera instigated their experimental musical outfit in 1970 under the guidance of his father Anton Perera. Sunil, Nihal, Nimal, Lal, Kanthi, Neville, and Noel were the very first line-up for the band and subsequently changed it to ‘five brothers’ boy band’ in 1971.

Sunil, Nihal, Nimal, Lal, and Piyal came under the popular Gypsies tagline in 71 and since then it was a non-stop march for them with hits after hits for the next fifty years.

‘Gypsies’ is the only band in Sri Lanka to continue nonstop music with major chart-toppers for fifty years. Perhaps they may be the only band in the world to enjoy that privilege with a huge following of a fan base.

‘New Gypsies’ now led by brother Piyal is back in the saddle again with many dances, weddings, gigs, and other events.

‘It is really good to see that the music industry is getting back to its usual rhythm. The band is now on the move with many new ventures. There are a few overseas concerts too on our list but have been on hold due to the Covid situation in Canada, USA, and Australia. Hope everything will settle by the end of this year’ added Piyal.

The present line-up comprises Piyal Perera (leader/vocals), Kamal Perera (guitar), Lal Witiwala (drums), Dushan Jayathileke (keyboards/ vocals), Ranga Perera (bass), and Monique Pallagama on vocals.

text Sanath Weerasuriya