Vernon Corea; radio broadcaster

Corea was a pioneer broadcaster with 45 years of public service broadcasting both in Sri Lanka and the UK. He joined Radio Ceylon, South Asia's oldest radio station, in 1957 and later the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. During his time he presented some of the most popular radio shows in South Asia, including the Maliban Show, Dial-a-Disc, Holiday Choice, Two For the Money, and Old Folks at Home. He was well known not only in Sri Lanka but right across the Indian Sub-Continent. Jump to: navigation, search This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Composite satellite image of the Indian subcontinent Map of South Asia. ...

Corea was born in Kurana, Katunayake in Ceylon on 11th September 1927. His parents were Reverend Canon Ivan Corea and Ouida Corea. Rev. Corea was Vicar of St.Luke's Church, Borella, and St.Paul's Church, Milagiriya. Kurana is a small town close to Katunayake in the island of Sri Lanka. ... Katunayake a town is situated on the west coast of the island of Sri Lanka close to the commercial capital of Colombo. ... (Redirected from 11th September) September 11 is the 254th day of the year (255th in leap years). ... Jump to: navigation, search 1927 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search Milagiriya is a district of Colombo city in Sri Lanka. ...

Career

Vernon Corea joined Radio Ceylon as a Relief Announcer in 1956. He became well known as The Golden Voice of Radio Ceylon, presenting shows of popular music, especially Indian filmi or film music, Sinhala music, and western music. He was later News Director at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. Jump to: navigation, search This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Filmi is Indian popular music as written and performed for Indian cinema. ... The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, formerly Radio Ceylon, is the oldest radio station in South Asia. ...

Throughout his life and his broadcasting career Corea promoted the very best of Sri Lankan talent in the world of popular music. He was the first to consistently promote Sri Lanka's musicians through his highly influential entertainment column - EMCEE published in the Ceylon Daily News in the 1960s-1980s. Vernon introduced hundreds of musicians to listeners at Radio Ceylon/Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and in the studios of BBC Radio London when he presented the popular 'London Sounds Eastern' radio program.

Vernon Corea also introduced artists like Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Louis Armstrong, Jim Reeves, Hank Snow, and Cliff Richard over the airwaves of Radio Ceylon/Sri Lanka Broadcasting Coporation Jump to: navigation, search Elvis Presley Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), also known as The King of Rock and Roll (sometimes shortened to The King) was an American singer and actor. ... Jump to: navigation, search Patsy Cline Patsy Cline, (September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963) was an American country music singer. ... Jump to: navigation, search Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971) (also known by the nicknames Satchmo and Pops) was an American jazz musician. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Clarence Eugene Snow (May 9, 1914 – December 20, 1999), better known as Hank Snow, was a country singer. ... Cliff Richard Sir Cliff Richard (born Harry Rodger Webb in Lucknow, India, on October 14, 1940) is the stage name of one of UKs most popular singers. ...

The respected Hindu Newspaper placed Vernon Corea in the Top 5 Broadcasters of the World stating that he introduced Sinhala Music onto the English Services of the Commercial Service of Radio Ceylon and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.

He and his family migrated to England in 1975. Vernon Corea worked for WEC, then for BBC Radio London as a presenter for the popular London Sounds Eastern. In 1978 he was appointed Ethnic Minorities Adviser to the BBC; he held this post until his retirement. BBC London 94. ... London Sounds Eastern was one of the most popular ethnic minority radio programs on the BBC. It was presented by Vernon Corea and produced by Keith Yeomans. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1978 was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ...

He died in New Malden in Surrey on 23rd September 2002. New Malden is a leafy suburban town and shopping centre in south west London in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. ... Jump to: navigation, search Surrey is a county in southern England, part of the South East England region and one of the Home Counties. ... (Redirected from 23rd September) September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). ... Jump to: navigation, search 2002(MMII) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Vernon Corea The Golden Voice of Radio Ceylon
• Official Tribute to Vernon Corea
• Vernon Corea's speech at Emmanuel Church

Also See

• Radio Ceylon