All India Radio (AIR) FM Rainbow, Panjim, celebrated 25 years of serving Goa with
their entertainment in January besides creating two records with Lorna. She was
the star and only live performance for their celebrations and now a few of the
members of All India Radio (AIR) FM Rainbow are enroute to Mumbai to celebrate
the birthday of the living legend of Goa, Lorna.
Savio Noronha, a radio jockey and anchor
who has spent 30 years with FM Rainbow says, “The celebrations included the
25th anniversary of All India Radio (AIR) FM Rainbow, 50 years of Lorna being
broadcasted on radio everyday and still is, and the 75th year of her life.
Lorna is always featured on the radio at least with one song every day. We
wanted to make her birthday special, so we have created placards with her
iconic songs and are travelling all the way to Mumbai to wish her and present
our gifts,” says Savio, who is travelling along with almost 6 members to Mumbai
to celebrate her birthday with gifts including Goan produce, which she loves.
“There can’t be another duo like Lorna and Chris Perry.
Professionally, they were made for each other. Besides transcending three
generations, she transcends all communities in Goa and that is one thing I made
sure that in the dance group for our performance at the Silver Jubilee of FM
Rainbow, we had Catholics, Hindus and Muslims in the dance. She is a unifying
factor,” says RJ Savio, who was part of the dance performance choreographed by Cecille
Rodrigues.
“Lorna’s discipline is par excellence. When Lorna came to Goa
one day in advance for her performance, we picked her from the airport. She
asked about the auditorium and we requested her to have lunch first. She
insisted on visiting the venue and seeing the green room. She mentally prepares
herself even at this age. She was happy with the arrangements,” adds RJ Bambino
Dias.
Norman Fernandes, a radio jockey and videographer who has been
associated with for over a decade is excited to once again meet Lorna. When she
visited Goa, I asked her, ‘Who was your first fan?’ She said it was her Parsi
neighbour who used to clap after listening to her sing. But what is interesting
about the impact of her voice was that he was not her next door neighbour but
he used to live in the next building across the road. She used to sing so
impressively,” says Norman.
“She is one of the very few international artists who made a comeback after two decades. First of all, there are few who make a comeback, some have comebacks after 3-4 years. But 23 years is half a lifetime and that too to have that motivation which she credits her mother and her own determination. Even without a comeback, she was already Lorna. She had already established herself as a legend. That is her passionate side of music. She has proved that voice has no age,” says Savio.