Wilfy Rebimbus

Wilfred Gerald Rebimbus, popularly known as Wilfy Rebimbus was a Mangalorean Singer and lyricist of Konkani and Tulu compositions. He is nicknamed as Konkan Kogul. He was born on 02-02-1942 in Jeppu, Mangalore. Landline Rebimbus and Myagdaline Mendonca were his parents. He had his Primary and High School education at Milagres High School, Mangalore and he did mechanical course.
Career
Wilfy had started composing Konkani songs at the age of 14. He authored his first drama Poixeancho Sonvsar when he was 15 and staged it through the St. Joseph’s Natak Sangh. He founded the musical group called United Youngsters Music Party in 1959. He wrote songs for numerous occasions and situations in a career spanning about four decades. Wilfy wrote thousands of songs and staged a total of 248 Wilfy Nites. He released some 40 albums, 6 devotional albums and one instrumental album. His poetry works comprise Vinchnor Podam (9 volumes), Kogul Gaita (2 volumes), and audio cassettes and albums (47). On his 60th birtday in 2002, a 3rd edition of a collection of songs written by him, called Kogul Gaitha together with a special edition of Poinnari, a weekly was dedicated to Wilfy. The singer composed his first song in 1952, wrote a stage play in 1958 and performed his first music show in 1971. His 100th show was held in 1989 and his 200th in 1999. He wrote and composed music for movies like Mog Ani Maypas, Bhogsane and Padri. He wrote dramas including Poixancho Sonvsar, Modern Novro, Dot Mhaka Naka, Bebdyachi Dhuv, Mhay Mhaka Adayanaka, Teesri Chit, Kedi Bona B.A., Bespo Dubhav. Some of them were brodcasted in All India Radio, Mangalore.
Honour
Wilfy was given the title Konkan Kogul by the Bishop of Mangalore, Basil D’souza in 1971. He also bagged Karnataka Rajyotsav Award (1991), Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy Award (1996), Sandesh Prashasti (2006) Title Sangeeta Chakravarti from Abudabhi Konkani Sangh (1992), Artist of Millenium Award by American Konkani Association, Dayji Dubai Award (2007), All Karnataka Parishad Award (1993). Mandd Sobann, a Manglore based Konkani Cultural Organisation, announced in 2009, that it would confer the Konkani music lifetime achievement award to Rebimbus.