As Goa’s singing legend turned 81, a request was made to the state government to confer upon Lorna the Gomant Vibhushan Award, the state’s highest civilian award. The recognition would obviously be a fitting tribute to her lifelong dedication to encouraging Goan music and culture. The government has also been requested to officially recommend Lorna for the Padma awards. However one should not forget that Chris Perry’s valuable lyrics with his original soul-touching music and Lorna’s inimitable voice created a revolution in the Konkani singing and music scene. Chris Perry was a musician, composer, songwriter, and film producer who combined jazz with Konkani music. He is known as the “Man with the Golden Trumpet”. Chris Perry wrote and recorded several Konkani albums with Lorna Cordeiro. In the film Nachom-ia Kumpasar, which won the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Award for best music, all original songs were written and composed by Chris Perry. To this very day Lorna entertains Konkani lovers across the globe by singing songs composed by Chris Perry. It would be in the fitness of things to award Chris Perry posthumously for his contribution to the Konkani music scene.
