Forty four Konkani quality music albums, with good music, good lyrics and top singers, in a short span of flat 18 years is simply an amazing feat Lawrence de Tiracol has achieved for Goan music
If one were to ask for him by his birth name, LawrenceFernandes, very few people would know who the person in question was. Addresshim as Lawrence de Tiracol, and there would be many present to sing hispraises. But to his near and dear ones, Lawrence is simply ‘Larry’. Hisnoteworthy contribution to Goan Konkani music is magnanimous and people in theright places are yet to take note of the same. The TAG should acknowledge hiscontribution and document his works.
Born and brought up in Mumbai, he did his schooling in StSebastian High school in Dabul, a popular Goan settlement. Like every otherGoan he was initiated into tiatrs at an early age. In his case, 12 years.
Lawrence de Tiracol has performed alongside the tiatr greatsof yesteryears like Kid Boxer, C Alvares, Francis de Parra, Seby Coutinho,Souza Ferrao, Remmie Colaco and Anthony Mendes just to name a few. Lawrence deTiracol would pair with Jessie Dias while in Mumbai in the past to render manymemorable duets live on stage.
Lawrence, upon completing his studies in engineering, landeda job with OTIS, the multinational company manufacturing lifts and escalators.He gradually distanced himself from the Konkani stage, when he was sent on anassignment to the Middle East by his employers to look after their businessinterests there. He served across several countries there, ranging from Iran toSaudi Arabia, Dubai and other states for 18 years.
“I may have been away from Mumbai and Goa, but while workingaway from home I would indulge in writing lyrics for songs and compiling them.That is how, when I returned to Mumbai in 1994, after finishing my Gulfassignment, I produced my first audio cassette ‘O Daina’ for TIPS Cassettes.This was followed by another album ‘Bhangarache Tandul’ for HMV in the sameyear,” recalled Larry as he spoke to The Goan at while in Mapusa recently.
Perhaps Lawrence de Tiracol had a God given mission tofulfil when he returned to Konkani music. He was instrumental for bringing backLorna to the music scene after a 27 year long hiatus. Reminiscing having doneso he recalls, “While I was in Mumbai I came closely in contact with RonnieMonserrate. He expressed the desire to work on an album with Lorna that wouldbe her ‘comeback’ to the Konkani music industry. I took up the mission andeventually succeeded in convincing Lorna. That is how the album ‘Hello Lorna’happened in 1994. All the songs in this album were penned by me, except for thespecial song ‘Aikat Mhozo Tavo’ that was especially composed for Lorna’scomeback by the late Gabru Gomes of Mumbai. The irony is that I did not evenmeet him in person when he was given this assignment.” concludes Lawrence.
