Wilfy Rebimbus

Wilfred Gerald Rebimbus popularly known as Wilfy Rebimbus was an Indian singer, songwriter, lyricist, and playwright famed for his Konkani and Tulu language compositions. He is popularly nicknamed the Konkan Kogul meaning cuckoo of the Konkani. 
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 248 Wilfy Nites. He released some forty albums, six devotional albums, and one instrumental album. His poetry works comprise Vinchnar Podam (nine volumes), Kogull Gaita (two volumes), and audio cassettes and albums.  He was credited with having written 2500 songs, and produced 33 audio cassettes, and six volumes of devotional songs, besides composing music and songs for Konkani movies. He wrote nine plays, some of which were broadcast over All India Radio. 
Hailing from a Mangalorean Catholic family, Wilfy was born on 2 April 1942 to Landeline Rebimbus and Magdeline Mendonca in Mangalore. He had his primary and high school education at Milagres High School in Mangalore. 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. He started composing Konkani songs at 14 and authored his first drama Poixeancho Sonvsar (The World of Money) when he was 15 and staged it through St. Joseph's Natak Sangh. He founded the United Youngsters Music Party musical group in 1959. It is now known as the United Youngsters Cultural Association.
He was given the title Konkan Kogul by the then Bishop of Mangalore the Late Basil Salvadore D'Souza in 1971. Mandd Sobhann, a Mangalore-based Konkani cultural organization, conferred the Konkani Music Lifetime Achievement Award to Rebimbus "for his unparalleled contribution to Konkani music" in 2009. 
Bishop Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza conferred the title Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice awarded by Pope Benedict XVI on Konkan Kogul Wilfy Rebimbus posthumously on 13 June 2010. This special honor has been given to Wilfy for his love of the Church and his extraordinary musical contributions to the Konkani community worldwide. 
Wilfy married Meena Gracia Rebimbus, who is also a popular singer, in 1970. She was given the title of Konkan Myna, by Benar Productions in 1984 for her melodious voice. Wilfy Rebimbus passed away on 9 March 2010.  *(Collected from the public domain)