BY CLARA A RODRIGUES | NT NETWORK
Success is sweeter if your work is noticed and appreciated. Chris Perry, one of Goa’s greatest musical legends, credited with taking Konkani music to the summit, did not always meet with the deserved recognition.

There was a hitch with all the acclaim he was getting says tiatr composer, Wilmix. “He got recognition, but, somehow, the focus was always Lorna. Although she complimented him, Chris Perry made Lorna. I remember times when he would teach her how to sing in the Saxtti dialect, which she was not well versed in as she was from the north of Goa. Chris was versatile. He was an arranger, a composer, a musician who played instruments, a teacher,” he remembers.
Musician, Emiliano D’Cruz avers, “He was a fine musician and I admire him greatly. His music had a Latin flavour. It was romantic, it was classy, and it touched you. He gave life to music through deft orchestration.”
It is said that a singer often eclipses the song writer, becoming the face of the song. Was this the case with Chris Perry? Singer, Lulu Fortes says that this is nothing new. “To give an example, the song, ‘We are the World’ was penned by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. But today, the song is remembered more as being sung by a collection of artistes who sang it. Chris Perry did not get the recognition he deserved when he was alive. He would often say ‘no one thinks of Chris Perry.’ He was disheartened because of it.”
“We were good friends,” Mac Dourado reminisces, “I played the guitar in the band he would form when down in Goa for holidays. He was a great guy. I do not want to dig into issues as to why he did not get his due recognition, but I feel that we must not bother about what people say. Chris is a legend. There will never be another like him.”
Armando Gonsalves chips in, “He needs much more recognition that he has got. But it is not a single case. So many great Goan musicians have not got their due. But, yes, Chris Perry is one of those who are at the top.”
Not many know that Chris Perry has many rarely heard compositions. “We released a CD called ‘Chris Perry - A Tribute’ that had rare numbers like ‘Carolina’ and ‘Boa Noite’ by Chris Perry,” says Lulu.  There are many more such songs says Lulu who considers herself to be fortunate enough to have rubbed shoulders with the musical giant. She gushes, “He even wrote a song for me and my husband, Filipe Nery, ‘Sotve Rati’, a song on the destiny of being together.”
Chris Perry’s musical ingenuity is reflected in his sons. While Glen is a big name in the west with noteworthy recordings and stage shows, Miles and Giles have music schools in Dubai. His fourth son Errol, who passed away, was also involved with music.
Of course, his life has skirted the regular controversies. Some claim that a few controversies were engineered by rivals. Musician, Mac Dourado shrugs this off, “It happens all over the world,” and says, “A musician has to perform for different kinds of people. However, Chris Perry is above them all. He had an advanced knowledge of other genres of music besides Jazz.”
Critiques reveal another side. Chris Perry’s infamous temperamental nature could not escape the notice of those who knew him closely. Says Emiliano D’Cruz, “I will not forget the altercation we had after he learnt that Lorna was going to sing my compositions. Years later he confronted me again when I released a CD comprising of instrumental songs which I titled, ‘Top hits from Lorna.’ He was angry because I never mentioned that he was the composer. When he asked me the reason, I reminded him of our past dispute. I took Ivo Coutinho to mediate for us.”
D’Cruz adds further, “He never liked Lorna singing other people’s compositions or bands. When they parted ways, he used his power to intimidate musicians who sang along with her.”
 “We cannot blame anyone but ourselves for the situation we are in. We need to have one voice. The music lobby has to unite,” asserts Armando.
The composer is always the brain behind the music, the singer the expression. The same is the case with Chris Perry says Emiliano, “Chris created great music. He and Frank Fernand changed the style of Goan music by breaking away from the traditional. I have a lot of respect for Chris. As a tribute, my trio and I played at his funeral.”
Lulu pauses in wonder. She says, “I hope someone like him comes along again,” in a way echoing the unspoken wish of many Goans.