ANTHONY
SAN
Real Name: Jose Antonio Agostinho Fernandes
Stage Name: Anthony San
Date of Birth: 13th June 1956
Albums Released:
1.Goa
2.Ttik Ttok Typist
3.Ekvott
4. Rakhnno Boddvo
5. Goencho Saib
6. O Ami Goenkar
7. Axirvad
8. Xitkoddi
9.Goenchea Saibacho Bhavarth
10.Mog’
As a
little boy Anthony happen to accompany his father to watch M. Boyer’s tiatr, ‘Atam
Konn Ghatki?’ and was seated just behind the musicians. The legendry
singer Alfred Rose came on stage to render the opening song. It was at this
moment that his father whispered in his ears. “Will you be able to sing like
Alfred Rose?” This was the turning point in his career for this versatile
singer who has come a long way lending his melodious voice to several tiatrs
and musical shows.
Born in
the year 1956 on the feast day of St. Anthony on June 13 at Sanguem, Jose
Antonio Agostinho Fernandes (Anthony San) is the eldest son of late Sebastiao
Fernandes and late Christalina. He took to singing when he was seven years old
when he got an opportunity to sing for his school cultural programme at
Guardian Angel High School. He picked up Alfred Rose’s popular song ‘I
love Esta, Lovely Esta’ and sang it with gusto and passion. The
standing ovation that followed motivated him to pursue singing career.
During
his childhood, his paternal uncle, Antonio Fernandes would purchase gramophone
records, especially of Alfred Rose. When they used to be played at home,
Anthony would learn all the songs by heart. As his uncle was also a great lover
of tiatr, Anthony San would accompany him for several shows and that’s how his
interest and love for tiatrs developed.
Unfortunately,
during those days, there were no music schools in the villages where Anthony
could be groomed in singing. For him the passion to learn music came along only
when he was able to stand on his own feet and when he got a suitable job in a
nationalized bank. When he got his first salary, his first thought was to buy a
guitar. He went ahead and purchased one in 1978. That prized possession is
still preserved by him.
Anthony
San is one of the few from the existing senior tiatrist who have undergone
training in music and voice modulation. He is a product of Kala Academy’s
School of Western Music being trained under voice teacher Miss Leopoldina
Figueiredo and learnt guitar with Mr. Schubert Cota, a classical guitar
exponent. He also enrolled himself in ‘Music Circle’, a reputed music school in
Margao to further sharpen his musical skills. It was late Fr. Lourdino Baretto
who felt that Anthony San’s considerable talents were not being given due
credit and offered him a lead role in an English opera ‘Princess
Ida’ whose dramatic success led to two more offers, both English
operas by late Fr. Camilo Xavier called ‘La Belle Helen’ and ‘Gypsy
Love’. These English operas exploited his acting and singing talents to the
maximum, thereby laying a good foundation for his future prospects on the tiatr
stage.
Anthony
San’s entry on professional stage came when he acted in co-villager and
celebrated tiatr artiste Remmie Colaco’s tiatr ‘Don Kallzam’ at
the early age of 19. It was a huge opportunity for him to sing in company with
tiatr greats like Souza Ferrao, C. Alvares, M. Boyer, Jacinto Vaz, Antonette
Mendes, Alfred Rose, Rita Rose, Ophelia, Betty Naz, etc. Very soon he got a
second offer. It was Rosario Dias’ tiatr ‘Beiman Avoicho Bodmas Put’.
Initially, he was known to the tiatr fraternity as Anthony Fernandes which
later he changed it to Anthony De Sanvordem in tribute to his village. The
present stage name came to him when the stage manager of Aristides Dias’ troupe
Mr. Fellow Rebello pasted the summary of the tiatr ‘Koidi’,
referring to him as Anthony San (shorter word for Sanvordem) in the line-up.
Anthony somehow liked this name and adopted it immediately.
In the
70’s and 80’s, big recording companies like HMV and Polydor were reluctant to
introduce young voices or new faces in their albums. They only preferred senior
and established singers and, of course, Alfred Rose and Chis Perry topped their
list. Anthony San took a big risk and produced his very own first audio album
(cassette) called ‘Goa’ in 1980, thus earning the credit of
being the youngest tiatr artiste to bring out audio album at that time. The
music for this album was arranged by famous music director late Emiliano D’Cruz
backed by topmost cine musicians. His musically inclined brother Vincent and
two highly talented sisters Luiza and Felly also sang in this album.
Thereafter, he went on to produce nine more albums like ‘Ttik Ttok
Typist’, ‘Ekvott’, ‘Rakhnno Boddvo’, ‘Ami
Goenkar’, ‘Goencho Saib’, ‘Goenchi Xitkoddi’, ‘Goenchea
Saibacho Bhavarth’, ‘Axirvad’and ‘Mog’. Many of his
songs can be heard regularly on All India Radio. Besides his own albums, he
also rendered his voice for other several audio/video albums and also did
playback singing for many Konkani films.
In 1984,
Anthony San staged his first tiatr ‘Darvontto’ followed
by ‘Faleam Euchonam’, ‘Ekuch Ghor’, ‘Moddko’, ‘Novem
Jivit’, ‘Paktte’, ‘Ghor vo Ghorabo’, ‘Mhaka
Tuji Goroz’ and ‘Sot’.
Anthony
was so ambitious to be a playback singer in film industry that he sought a
temporary transfer in Mumbai so that he can try his luck. He gave an
audition test for Cine Singers Association. Only 12 were selected out of 82 odd
participants. One of them being Anthony. He got an opportunity to sing a
popular jingle with now famous playback singer Shaan for Amul milk products.
But he had to return back to Goa as his indifferent health did not permit him
to continue in Mumbai environment.
Anthony
has several awards under his belt. His first award came in 1976 when he was
declared the Best Singer in All Goa Singing Competition organized by Goa
Cultural and Social Centre. Now and then he has been receiving several awards
for singing, acting and playback singing. He has been felicitated by various
cultural groups and associations for his dedicated efforts towards Konkani
stage. But he narrates proudly his most cherished moment which came when his
idol Alfred Rose included him in his troupe for performing musical shows in
Kuwait way back in 1985.
Presently
serving as a Branch Manager in Dena Bank at Loutulim, Anthony San has less time
on hand to mesmerize the crowds with his irresistible voice. In his opinion,
devotion to tiatrs demands full time for direction, rehearsals and marketing
strategy as well. Additional responsibilities deprive him from dedicating
himself whole heartedly to tiatr. But as and when he get any opportunity, he
never fails to grab it and give his best to his fans.
His
legacy in singing is carried forward by his daughter Clarissa who was first
introduced in his audio album,‘Axirvad’ at the age of nine. His son
Clifton also showed interest in music and accompanies Anthony on keyboards for
his musical shows. His better half Julieta has always been supporting him in
his activities. He is due to retire from his service in June 2016 and
thereafter he plans to devote his full time to tiatr and music. Presently he is
in process of producing a Konkani celluloid film for which he has already
recorded some songs. Simultaneously, he is also working on his long time
pending dream of producing a Hindi pop album.
