Wilfred Gerald “Wilfy” Rebimbus was an Indian singer, songwriter, lyricist and playwright famed for his Konkani and Tulu language compositions. He is popularly nicknamed as the Konkan Kogul meaning cuckoo (songbird) of the Konkan. Hailing from a Mangalorean Catholic family, Wilfy was born on 2 April 1942 to Landeline Rebimbus and Magdeline Mendonca in Mangalore.
Wilfy had his primary and high school education at Milagres High School in Mangalore, currently Mangaluru. Later, he did a mechanical course before joining St Joseph’s Workshop as an apprentice. He was a talented singer right since his student days, as was evident from the numerous prizes he had won in various singing events.
He had started composing Konkani songs at the age of 14 and authored his first drama Poixeancho Sonvsar (The World of Money) 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 when he was just It is now known as United Youngsters Cultural Association.
Apart from singing, Wilfy was also a good athlete and also a Kabaddi player during his school days. He was credited for taking modern Konkani music to new heights with his unique compositions and singing style. 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 forty albums, six devotional albums and at least one instrumental album. His poetry works comprise Vinchnar Podam (nine volumes), Kogull Gaita (two volumes), and audio cassettes and albums (47 in all).
On his 60th birthday in 2002, a third edition of a collection of songs written by Wilfy Rebimbus, called Kogul Gautha (The Koel Sings) was scheduled for release, together with a special edition of Poinnari, a weekly that dedicated an issue to Rebimbus. 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 came about in 1989 and his 200th in 199. He was credited with having written 2500 songs, produced 33 audio cassettes, and six volumes of devotional songs, besides composing music and songs for Konkani movies, as of 2002. He wrote nine plays, some of which were broadcast over All India Radio’s Mangalore station.
He was given the title Konkan Kogul by the Bishop of Mangalore at that time, the Late Basil Salvadore D’Souza on 26 September 1971.
Mandd Sobhann, a Mangalore-based Konkani cultural organisation, announced in 2009, that it would confer the Konkani music lifetime achievement award to Rebimbus “for his unparalleled contribution to Konkani music.” Former Karnataka chief minister and ex-union minister Veerappa Moily has described Rebimbus thus: “His talent is uncomparable; his legacy is unparallel[ed]. Rebimbus is undoubtedly an epochmaker.” A singing contest has been held in his name, including in the year 2013.
Wilfy was diagnosed to be suffering from lung cancer and underwent a surgery in September 2009. He died of complications from lung cancer on 9 March 2010. After his death at the age of 67, his mortal remains were kept for public viewing at the St. Joseph’s Seminary Church at Jeppu in Mangaluru on March 11, 2010. He was buried at the Jeppu Cemetery. He was survived by his wife Meena, daughter Veena, son-in-law Arthur, son, Vishwas, daughter-in-law Charlene, and grandchildren Arvin and Anna.
