J P Pereira
Conceicao Diogo da Silva has been entertaining music lovers and Konkani stage enthusiasts for the last 50 years. This versatile performer, better known as Connie M, is a musician, singer, actor and entertainer. His journey started way back in the year 1960 when his older brother Constancio gifted him a drum set. Since then, Connie M has never looked back.He began playing the drums for ‘Ignatius and His Swing Band’ in 1965. Those were the days of orchestras, where wind instruments vibed perfectly with electric guitars and the keyboard. Then, came the CIC Band, followed by ‘Luis and his Melodians’ and, of course, there was the well known ‘Radio Serenaders’. And when beat groups began to emerge, Connie began playing the drums for ‘Ebony’. In 1983, he decided to form his own group – ‘Fantasy’, which was one of the best dance bands of the eighties. They played for a long list of weddings and dances. With no sound restrictions in those days, parties would begin at 10 p.m. with people dancing to the band’s tunes well into the wee hours of the morning.
Connie also held a fascination for the good old Konkani tiatr. As a youngster he performed in a few dramas, rendering humorous songs. He also performed with his older brother, C D’Silva, a man of a thousand faces. His love for tiatr led him to finally lay down the drum sticks and go full time on the Konkani stage. Performing his own songs, he won over the audience in various dramas helmed by celebrated directors like Patrick Dourado, Rafael Noel, Prince Jacob, Ben Evangelisto, Oldrin Sequeira, Tony Dias and many others. Although his journey as a musician led him to travel abroad, performing with his band on board cruise liners, it was his entry onto the Konkani stage that enabled him to perform in different countries.
Connie has also released his own audio albums: ‘Sopon’, the album with music by Chris Perry, followed by ‘Goykar Pordesant’, ‘Mog Kazar Dubhav’ and others. These were well-received, owing to his on-going emphasis on good lyrics and great arrangements.
This June 6, Connie M has arranged a unique musical show at the Pai Tiatrist Hall in Ravindra Bhavan. A prominent band will back topmost artistes of the Konkani stage. In addition, there will be performances by Sunaina, Aveena and Cielda Pereira, the fresh and talented voices of Goa. More interestingly, the members of ‘Fantasy’ will come together to perform, with Connie M at the drums. Connie M also looks forward to the release of his latest Konkani audio album titled ‘Silver, Golden Jubilee’. The show is organised in collaboration with the Department of Art and Culture and the committee of the Ravindra Bhavan.