Hettiarachchige Reginald Jothipala (February 12, 1936 – July 7, 1987) was a prolific playback singer in the Sinhala cinema.He worked as an opera singer. He died in July 1987 at the age of 51 years and 5 months old.

Jothipala rendered his voice to all classes of actors ranging from Eddie Jayamanne, Ananda Jayaratne, Gamini Fonseka, Vijaya Kumaratunga, Sanath Gunathilaka, Tony Ranasinghe, Ravindra Randeniya and even several of the young generation of actors in Sri Lanka. He is considered as the father of Sri Lankan popular song industry and also the all time greatest artist ever born in Sri Lankan Music industry and playback singing. Early life Jothipala was born the first child of a middle-class family from Southern,Matara Sri Lanka.

He attended St. Lawrence College in Maradana and St.

John’s College in Dematagoda. Jothipala would visit tea kiosks during this period to hear music as his family didn't own a radio. His wife is Mrs. Vintor Blosem, and they have 2 daughters.

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The first two letters of his name 'H.R', was renowned by Sri Lankan people as 'Hadawatha Raththaran Jothipala', meaning that 'Kind hearted Jothipala', due to his kindness to every people in any age, caste or family. Also it is known that, Jothipala did not refused to give all of his money from his stage singings to a begger or poor people met in road while making way to home after stage singing. He did not able to get much awards during his lifetime, but he did not make any commence about it; but when he gets an award, he was really apperciated it very much. Jothipala is known as the Singer of Normal People, who born among them, and rendered all his lifetime for poor people's welfare. Jothipala was refused many times by Media, because of his loud voice and songs for Hindi tune. Jothipala made his debut as a playback singer on Cyril P. Abeyratne's Surathalee singing, 'Siriyame Sara,' in 1956.

Prior to this he had recorded a song for the late Sirisena Wimalaweera's Podi Putha. This song didn't make the final cut, as the Indian film composer on the film didn't consider Jothipala's voice good enough. Jothi has said that he contemplated taking his life when he went with his friends to watch Podi Putha and found out that his song was not included. Later when Surathalee producer Jabir A. Cader wanted to hear one of his songs to consider him for the film, Jothipala almost passed on the offer as he did not possess enough money to create a record.

He was helped out by veteran musician Stanley Omar who financed him for the sum of 35 rupees – a large amount of money at the time. Jothipala's song on the film, 'Siriyame Sara,' still remains popular in Sri Lanka, having recorded the popular number under the direction of T.R.

Papa at Wahini Studio in India. Jothipala has worked with many reputed directors of Sri Lanka. In the early stages of his prolific career, Jothipala got the chance to work with prolific film maker, Lester James Peries on the movie Sandeshaya.

Jothipala sang the song 'Puruthugeesikara' for the film, which was composed by the legendary Sunil Santha and written by veteran lyricist Arisen Ahubudu. Success Jothipala was the undisputed choice in films that were made in the late sixties and through the seventies, the period during which he also began to act. Though Jothi was criticized for singing to the tunes of popular Hindi songs he also sang under the batons of Pandit W. Amaradeva, P.V.

Nandasiri, Premasiri Khemadasa, Sarath Dassanayake and Milton Mallawarachchi. He sang in hundreds of films including popular hits like Kasthuri Suwanda, Thushara, Sweeep Ticket, Hitha Honda Minihek, Kawuda Raja, Hondata Hondai, Wasana, Sangeetha and others. The award-winning singer also played some memorable roles in films including Ethulweema Thahanam, Sulalitha Sobani, Sujeewa, Sukiri Kella, Abirahasa, Bonikka, Shanthi and his own production Sumithuro'and 'Obai Mamai'. In the music scene, no musical show was complete without Jothi in the seventies and eighties. Jothipala died in the first week of July in 1987.

Until death, he sang more than 3000 sinhala songs and all of them were popularized equally and many more playbakc songs did not came into arena, due to production failures of films. Death Two days before his death, on 5 July 1987, he participated for 'Gam Udaawa', patrionic project by late President Ranasinghe Premadasa, and sang on his final open stage.

But while singing he was gets hurt, but finished the singing successfully. Next day he was admitted to the hospital. Jothipala died on July 7, 1987 at Ratnums Private Hospital. The cause of his death was said to be kidney failure due to alcohol usage. 'He came to our hospital very regularly.