Ravi Shankar

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Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Ravi Shankar (born April 7, 1920 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India) is an Indian musician best known for his virtuosity on the sitar.

A disciple of Allauddin Khan (founder of the of music), Pandit Ravi Shankar is arguably the best-known Indian , and is well known for his pioneering work in bringing the power and appeal of the music tradition, as well as music and its performers in general, to the West. This was done through his association with The Beatles as well as with his own personal charisma. His musical career spans over six decades and Shankar currently holds the Guinness Record for the longest international career.

He is the father of both Grammy award winning singer Norah Jones, and Anoushka Shankar, also a noted sitarist.

Born on April 7, 1920, in Varanasi into an orthodox, well-off Brahmin family, Rabindra Shankar Chowdery’s father, ShyÆm Shankar, was employed as a diwan (minister) by the Maharajah of Jhalawar. By the age of 13, Ravi Shankar was going along on every tour of his brother Uday Shankar’s Compaigne de Danse et Musique Hindou (Company of Hindu Dance and Music). At the All-Bengali Music Conference in December 1934, he met the multi-instrumentalist Allauddin Khan. Precisely when Allauddin Khan was born is uncertain. People hazard dates in the 1860s around 1862, but in later years he himself gave his age haphazardly. He would transform many musicians’ lives, but he had an incalculable effect on Ali Akbar (his son), Annapurna Devi (his daughter), and Shankar himself.
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  • The Ravi Shankar Collection
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  • Shankar: Symphony
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  • Chants Of India
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  • The Sounds of India
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  • ymmgeir

    Hill!

    27 days ago

  • Deato

    I had the pleasure of seeing Ravi Shankar on three occasions-once in Provincetown (Town Hall) and twice in Boston (Symphony Hall). Truly exceptional, wonderful and the audience adored him.

    last month

  • muhammed_ikbal

    मोहम्मद अल्लामा ‘इक़बाल’ सितारों के आगे जहाँ और भी हैं अभी इश्क़ के इम्तिहाँ और भी हैं तही ज़िन्दगी से नहीं ये फ़ज़ाएँ यहाँ सैकड़ों कारवाँ और भी हैं क़नाअत न कर आलमे-रंगो-बूपर चमर और भी आशियाँ और भी हैं अगर खो गया इक नशेमन तो क्या ग़म मक़ामाते-आहो-फ़ुग़ाँ और भी हैं तू शाहीं है पर्वाज़ है काम तेरा तिरे सामने आस्माँ और भी हैं इसी रोज़ो-शब में उलझकर न रह जा कि तेरे ज़मानो-मक़ाँ और भी हैं गए दिन कि तन्हा था मैं अंजुमन में यहाँ अब मिरे राज़दाँ और भी हैं

    last month

  • rameshhp

    So much full of grace on Sitar, even at 91! Check out his latest album!!

    last month

  • jcotteri

    loooooool.gif

    last month

  • pratyush_ACDC

    Pandit Ravi Shankar is still alive guys, come on. :|

    March 2012

  • Xoloitzcuintle_

    :O

    March 2012

  • pellitero

    Thanks for pointing that out

    March 2012
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