By Mavis & Kokanifriends Team - Mangalore

Mr. Wilfy Rebimbus, who was known as the Konkan Kogul, was born on April 02, 1942, in Mangalore City. He is the proud son of late Landeline Rebimbus and late Magdeline Mendonca. In 1956. At the age of 14, he started composing Konkani songs and sang it. In 1957, at the age of 15 he wrote his first drama "Poishanso Sounsar" and staged it through St. Joseph's Natak Sangh.

POET-COMPOSER-SINGER- PLAY & STORY WRITER-EDITOR:

49 Years of service for Konkani (1959 - 2008)

2800 Songs Composed

500 Stage Shows

245 Wilfy Nite

39 Volumes of Audio Cassettes

6 Volumes of devotional Songs

32 Compact Discs

1 instrumental CD

9 Parts of selected Song Books (Vinchnar Podan)

Kogul Gaitha (A book containing songs from 33 volumes in 2 parts)

STAGE PLAYS:

1. Poishancho Sounsar                           

2. Modern Nouro

3. Doth maka naka            

4. Bebdyachi dhuv

5. Mai maka adainaka                           

6. Tisri cheet

7. Kedi Bona B.A.                                 

8. Besto Dubav

KONKANI MUSICAL PLAYS:

1. Hazar umalyanchye Kazar

2. Vechik Puth

3. Mother Theresa

MILE STONES IN HIS MUSICAL CAREER:

1956 – Compose First Song.

1958 – Wrote First Full length Stage Play.

1959 – Started a musical group – UNITED YOUNGSTERS, Music Party.

1959-1970 - Composed Songs Written plays & Given Music for more than 300 Konkani plays in Mangalore & Mumbai.

1971 -   First full length Musical Show Wilfy Nite  

1981 -   50th Wilfy Nite  

1988 -   100th Wilfy Nite  

1999 -   200th Wilfy Nite  

2005 -   Wilfy Nite in Canada.  

2008 -   245th Wilfy Nite  

DISCS RECORDS:

32 Compact Discs Released. (27 Songs CDs, 4 Devotional CDs, 1 Instrumental CD)

HMV has brought out 12 songs in 3 Discs.

PROGRAMME COVERAGE & BROADCASTING:

All India Radio - Mumbai & Mangalore, Doordarshan Bangalore & Delhi have broadcast programme coverage several times.

BOOKS PUBLISHED:

• Volumes of songs by Name ‘Vinchnar Podam’ have been published & sold in 9 Parts.

• Volumes of songs by Name ‘Kogul Gaitha’ have been Published and sold in 2 parts.

• Konkani story books published ‘Vinchnar Kaniyo’, & ‘Pintran’.

• Written many short stories for Konkani magazines some of them translated to Kannada.

HONOURS BESTOWED:

1971 – ‘Konkan Kogul’ (Nightingale of Konkani) Title was bestowed by the Konkani Community and was awarded a Gold Medal by late Rt.Rev.Dr.B.S.D'Souza, Bishop of Mangalore in 1971.

1991 - The Karnataka Government Has honoured the ‘Rajyotsava Award’ of 1991, which is a State Award.

1991 – ‘Award of Recognition’ bestowed by the International Orientation Center, U.S.A.

1992 – ‘Sangeeth Chakravarthi’ by the Konkani Talents Group, Abu Dhabi.

1993 – Akila Karnataka Parishad Award.

1993 – ‘Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy’, Award for Service in Music.

1996 – ‘Konkani Podancho Rai’ By Broadview Kalasampath Lions Club, Illinois & also a life membership of Lions Club, Illinois.

1998 – ‘Tulu Nada Kogile’ By Tulver, Dubai.

1999 - ‘Konkan Kalarathn’ By KCWA, Kuwait.

1999 - ‘Shatamanacho Vyakthi’ By Chintpyanchi Manchi, Kuwait.

1999 - ‘Life Time Achievement Award’ By MCC, Doha Qatar.

1999 – ‘Millennium Konkani Artist Award’, By Indian Catholic Association of America.

2005 - ‘Community and Leadership’ award from the Houston-based 'Toastmasters'.

2006 - The Sandesha Literature (Konkani) Award (Lifetime Achievement).

2007 - ‘Daiji Puraskar’ By Daiji Dubai, Konkani Writers forum in UAE.

Bangalore's FKCA Award was the last award conferred on him, which was bestowed on him on Jan 31, 2010. His son Vishwas received the award on his behalf as he could not attend the programme due to his ill health.

Mangalore Konkans Dubai, recently initiated a movement to seek national honour for this Konkani singer, as his contribution was worth Padmashree or Padmabhushan awards in the least.

MEMBER OF THE FOLLOWING ASSOCIATION:

Other than just singing, he is involved in many organizations. To name a few,

He is the founder of UNITED YOUNGSTERS KONKANI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. (1959)

He was a member of KARNATAKA KONKANI SAHITYA ACADEMY.  (2002 - 2005)

He was a member of GOVLIC P ARISHAD of Mangalore Diocese. (2002 - 2005)

Life Member of Illinois Lions Club International.

Member of Konkani Natak Sabha, Mangalore.

Member St. Joseph's Natak Sangh, Jeppu, and

Founder President of Catholic Sabha, Jeppu Ghatak and various other organizations.

Vice President of Jeppu Parish Council (2005 - 2007).

Vice President of Jeppu Parish Council (2008 - 2010).

MUSICAL SHOWS PERFORMED:

In India: Mangalore, Bangalore, Goa, Mumbai, Delhi & All Konkani speaking places in and around Mangalore & Karnataka.

Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha Qatar, Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Sultanate of Oman.

Europe: Mississauga, Canada.

COMPOSED SONGS & WRITTEN STORIES FOR THE FOLLOWING KONKANI MOVIES:

1977 - Mogani Moipas (Lyrics, Music & Story).

1996 - Bogsanne (Lyrics & Music).

1988 – Kazara Upranth (Lyrics & Music).

2005 - Padri (Lyrics & Music).

Written Story for a Konkani Movie TISRI CHEET.

The editorial team of Konkanifriends.com shares with its members and readers in conveying their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of our beloved Wilfy Rebimbus

Residence No: +919880092430

Wilfy’s mortal remains will be kept for viewing at St. Joseph’s Seminary  Jeppu between 2pm and 4 pm on Thursday 11 March 2010 and Requiem mass at 4 pm followed by burial at Jeppu Cemetery.

Edited & Published By Konkanifriends Team