https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/goa-net/conversations/messages/20865
www.navhindtimes.com dated February 16, 2002 Emiliano: Goa's Versatile Musician by REMEDIANA RODRIGUES LIFE is what you make of it. This is epitomised by Emiliano Da Cruz, the irrepressible, innovative and versatile musician on the Goan music scene. When asked who is behind his success he says, "It's not necessary that there has to be someone else behind your success. Its basically you, yourself. Like I am behind my own success. I have learnt one thing in life that one should never let go off one's ideas. Ideas are the foundation of all realities. What I have achieved today is because of my ideas and my faith in them." If you are looking for something slow, rhythmic, soothing and yet lively and plainly instrumental with music authentically Goan, then Emiliano's music may well be your choice. For Emiliano recognition didn't come easy. Born in Curtorim, music was obviously a part of Emiliano's life from an early age due to his father who gave him sound musical training at a very tender age. His musical talents were initially nurtured by maestro Paulo and later on by other music maestros. As a student of Escola Technica his group 'Young Cabaleros' won the first place at a competition organised by the Centro Informativo Cultural Indo-Latina. Around the same time his mando composition Eklench sandlem tunvem mhaka won the first place at the All Goa Mando Festival. Emiliano gave violin recitals on AIR in light western classical music and seriously considered taking up music as a profession. He got his first break to play the violin in the Hindi film industry with Shankar-Jaikishan. With his Latin-American pop group 'Gay Cabelleros' he played at many hotels in Bahrain. He's been playing music all his life but began serenading at an Italian restaurant. "Apparently the manager of the restaurant heard about me through somebody and asked me to play there. So I asked a friend of mine for some brochures of the restaurant. In the brochures I saw musicians playing the violin, accordion, mandolin, guitar, etc and so I got the idea of forming a string trio - Emiliano's trio." Emiliano had the great privilege to serenade VIP's like Indira Gandhi, Zail Singh, President Venkataraman, Margaret Thatcher, Pierre Trudeau of Canada, Bob Hawks of Australia, King Hussain of Jordan, Queen Beatrice of the Netherlands and many other dignitaries at the Commonwealth meet. "I asked the manager to give me a list of all the countries from where the different world leaders were coming and the first song we sang at each table was a song from that country. They were so impressed," he recollects with tears in his eyes. Emiliano got his first break as the music director of the Konkani film Girestkai. Rajesh Roshan, the famous music director from Bollywood was so impressed with Emiliano's Konkani songs that he appointed him as his junior assistant. Emiliano worked with Rajesh Roshan for three years during which he wrote obligato for many songs including Yaarana, Lootmar, and so on. He received an award for the Best Band Music from captain Nath of th Shipping Corporation of India during his musical trip to Singapore. Over 100 songs were recorded with music arrangements by Emiliano for various Konkani cassette producers. He has serenaded VIP's for various festivals in India and abroad. "I have performed 18 times abroad, in London, Berlin, Portugal, Macau, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Maldives and Nepal. My Trio presently comprises of myself, Avelino Cardozo and Mario Menezes. I have produced five albums namely Golden Melodies of Goa, Goenchem Ambit Tik, Goa se Aye hai, Best of Emiliano and Kuwaitkar Novro." His music gives one serene and blissful pleasures and a sense of contentment. Through his music albums, he intends to revive Goan music and to retain its identity. His albums, are a fusion of Latin and Indian music. He says, "Goa is influenced by Latin culture. Music is in our blood and we cannot do without it. There are numerous dance and music academies in Goa. In fact music performances have become tremendous money-spinners. Many young men and women make a living by singing or playing some kind of an instrument." Like most other musicians, Emiliano says his path to fame was not as smooth as most people try to make it sound. Though his parents were traditionally musicians, they had not wanted their son to make music his profession. How is Emiliano as a person? Emiliano is a jovial man full of fun and warmth. By nature he is a very generous man and goes out of his way to help people find themselves in the music world. So what is there left that he'd still like to achieve? "I'd love to make loads of albums," he says simply. "But I don't want to get stuck in a trap of releasing albums only. May be if I could release one album that could stand the test of time that would be the ultimate triumph."