Anthony Gonsalves, legendary music composer, passes away

The veteran music composer, to whom the song My name is Anthony Gonsalves was dedicated, passed away last night. He was 84.

Anthony Gonsalves, a Goan orchestra maestro and the man to whom the Amitabh Bachchan‘s legendary Bollywood song My name is Anthony Gonsalves was dedicated, is no more. Gonsalves was suffering from pneumonia for the last few days, and died in hospital at the Goa Medical College Wednesday night. An orchestra maestro and a capable music arranger and known for his magical violin skills, Gonsalves had worked with well-known composer duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal, who dedicated the Amar Akbar Anthony song to the Goan musician.

The veteran had also worked with legendary music director SD Burman and was associated with Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa and BR Chopra’s iconic film Naya Daur among several other chartbusting films of the time. Gonsalves who used to play the violin in the choir at the Majorda church, 45km from Panaji, migrated to Mumbai in the pre-independence era and earned his laurels with Naushad, a great music director of the time.

Gonsalves is survived by his wife Melita, son Kiran and daughter Laxmi.

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