The Gypsies

The Gypsies are a Sri Lankan baila band that performs Sinhala and English songs. The band was founded in the early 1970s and has since garnered a huge fan base across Sri Lanka and is one of Sri Lanka's most famous bands. They are a highly paid band in Sri Lanka, as they constantly perform at parties, dances and at many concerts. The band was once banned by the Government of Sri Lanka due to many of its songs carrying antigovernmental sentiments. History The band was formed in 1970 by Anton Perera, father of lead singer Sunil Perera and a confectioner working for the Glucorasa company. The band composed of his five sons- Sunil, Nihal, Piyal, Nimal and Lal- all of whom had recently completed high school. Anton Perera renovated a portion of his house on Galle Road (in Rathmalana) into a recording studio and the band began recording their first album. Initially, the band only performed western music, but after a few years, the band began to perform Sinhala songs as well, and eventually the band members began composing their own Sinhala music. The first Sinhala songs released by the Gypsies, Linda Langa Sangamaya and Amma Amma, were released in 1973.