JEWEL GUNATHILAKA

Old Xaverian Jewel Gunathilake on Saxophone.- 

Published on Feb 18, 2011 

[Credit U tube]

The Morton Cole Combo was a dance band that emerged onto the music scene in Ceylon during the mid 1950s at period when Colombo enjoyed a vibrant entertainment scene. It was founded and led by Rodney Ondaatjie until his untimely death in a motorcycle accident in the late 1950s. 

Neville Gunasekara subsequently took over management of the band, also playing the double bass and the drums for the combo. Several of Ceylon’s leading musicians played for the Morton Cole combo at one time or another before going on to join other groups. Among the original members of the combo were Nihal Manickawasagar, Ralph Maas, Markie Rosairo and Ernie walker. 

During its heyday, the Morton Cole Combo had regular engagements at the Atlanta nightclub in Horton Place and the Tropicana nightclub in Bambalapitiya. It also received frequent bookings in the outstations including at upcountry planters’ clubs. Its days as one of Colombo’s most popular dance bands were to come to an end when Neville Gunasekara migrated to New Zealand in 1974 and the Combo disbanded. However, several of its musicians went on to play for other leading bands in Sri Lanka including the Peter Prins Combo and the Harold Seneviratne Combo. 

While many musicians that played for the Morton Cole Combo have passed away, several are residing abroad — from Australia to England. This video is a tribute to the unique sounds of the Morton Cole Combo and all those musicians and vocalists that have played or sung with the group. 

Some of the many musicians that have been associated with the combo include: Romany Piertersz, Valentine Manickawasagar, Lucky Manickawasagar, Malcolm de Zilva, Dallas Achilles, Milroy Payes, Ainsley Ekanayake, Tubby Modder, Evan Lourensz, Jewel Gunatilleke, Rodger Phillips, Clare Croner, Shanthi Perera, Larainne Hoffman, Mervyn Wettasinghe, Averyl Nathanielsz, Derrick Bastiansz, Wilma Gunasekara, Ronnie Abayasekara, Sondra Sriyananda, Patrick Abeykoon, Dr Subesinghe, Sheila Peterson, Theodore Ramanaden, Patrick Nelson, Tilina Gunasekara