Hemang Mehta - Mewati Gharana

Profile

Born on 16th October, Hemang Mehta comes from a family of Gujarati businessmen, steeped in culture, religion and music. Soothing strands of music fell on his ears from infancy, ever since he can remember. Inspiration came from the priceless music played around him of Padmabhushan Pandit Jasrajji. He received intense training from his Guru Sri Chandrashekhar Swamy under the strict guidance of Pandit Jasrajji as a result of day to day association with the maestro. Inspiration turned into ambition under the encouragement given by his parents. This ambition to reach the pinnacles of our rich musical heritage in turn, sparked off a burning desire to get high class training and untiring “riyaz” right from the tender age of nine .

Hemang’s family’s deep love for Indian music has allowed him to devote himself passionately in the pursuit of music as a career. Hemang’s music is an extension of his personality and philosophy viz. to reach out to God through singing, as he truly believes in ‘Naad Bramha’. This is why Hemang practices a very high degree of professional ethics.

A product of the time tested ‘Guru- Shishya Parampara’ but imaginative and creative enough to exploit the freedom within discipline, innovation within tradition, which is what our music is really about, this sincere young man strikes a most appealing balance between intellectual sensitivity and aesthetic creativity. Thus, he is most highly emotive and communicative.

Hemang excels in the high watermarks of the ‘Mewati Gharana’ such as ‘meend, layakari, kan-gayaki’ and proper bandish presentation. He has several awards to his credit such as the ‘Surmani’ award. He has performed widely in India as well as abroad, at prestigious festivals and has received a good press all over.

Training

It was Padmavibhushan Pandit Jasrajji's priceless music played around me that allowed me to eventually visualize devoting my life to music.I have been receiving training under Shri Chandrashekhar Swamy, a very senior exponent of the Mewati Gharana. Shri Chandrashekhar Swamy trained with Pandit Jasrajji from the 1960s to the 1980s. Chandrashekharji has performed at several prestigious festivals across India like the Tansen Sangeet Samaroh, Sawai Gandharva Sammelan.

I have been very fortunate to be training under him since the tender age of 8. Chandrashekharji stayed with us for two years when I was in my teens, during which I received intensive taalim. We would wake up everyday to start practice at 5 AM and our practice sessions would continue throughout the entire day, often until late at night. On certain mornings when I failed to get up at 5 AM, he was loving enough to wake me up to train. He was very patient with me during our lessons and would teach each intricate phrase several times until I was able to reproduce it. Through Chandrashekharji, I was able to imbibe the salient features of the Mewati Gharana, including Pandit Jasrajji's diverse repertoire of ragas. Chandrashekharji is an extremely affectionate Guru who has continued to mentor me during every stage of my musical journey.

My family has been extremely fortunate to be associated with Pujya Guruji Pt.Jasraj Ji for more than 30 years.It was Pujya Guruji who placed me in the very caring hands of Pt.Chandrashekhar Swami , to initiate me in this celestial art called Hindustani Sangeet.

Through the years while I was training with Chandrashekharji, I also received continued guidance from the maestro, Pandit Jasrajji. I have had many opportunities to accompany him in his performances both within India and abroad. He included me in all his training camps which would sometimes last for up to a month.

Once when I was 18, I was practicing at home in the late morning. Pandit Jasrajji visited our house at that time and advised me to practice music at 5 AM in the morning. Ever since, I made it a habit to wake up early at 5 AM to start my morning riaz.

Performance (Concert)

Harvallabh Sangeet Samaroh, Jullandur 2000, 2009
Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav, Kundgol 2002
Sangeet Kala Manch, Pune 2003
Deval Club Kolhapur 2004
Ganvardhan Pune 2005
Dadar Matunga Cultural centre Mumbai 2007
Pt.Jitendra Abhisheki Mahotsav Panjim 2007
Mewati Gharana Sammelan, Bhopal
Baithak, New Delhi
Swar Vilas, Vadodra
Nrityagram's Vasanthabba, Bangalore
Swar Sangam, Surat
Motiram Sangeet Natak Academy, hyderabad
Jhankar Music circle, Kolkotta
Swaranjali, Gulbarga
Pune Festival Sept.2008
Concerts Abroad

Milap Festival England
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan England ( As a Music Teacher At Summer School 2000-01)
Lotus Festival, New York, Detroit, Cleveland, Toronto etc.
Series Of Concerts In USA and Canada
Upcoming Tour Canada-USA July-Sept.2010


Vandana Somaia Performing Raag Malkosh With Hemang Mehta (November 12th 2009)


Website : http://www.hemangmehta.org/

Contact
Name/Address

Hemang Mehta
703 Oriole
Nyati Enclave
Mohamad Wadi,Hadapsar, Pune - 411028
Maharashtra, India


E-mail
mehtahemang@hotmail.com
hemangmehtavocal@gmail.com


Phone/Fax
Tel: +91 20 26802364
Mobile:- +91 9892376806

Pandit Ramarao Naik

Pandit Ramarao Naik, disciple of Ustad Faiyaz Khan, was an uncompromising exponent of the aggressive Agra gharana. He lived in old-worldly grace, singing and teaching in Bangalore.


Ramarao's father, a self-taught violinist, hailed from Neeralgi in Dharwad district. Sometime in the 1920s, he moved to Mysore and became a clerk in the maharaja's army. There the young Rama Rao happened to hear Hindustani music, thanks to the tastes of the Rajput, Maratha and Muslim soldiers. He spent long hours listening to gramophone records when other boys his age were mugging up their lessons in school.

Venkaji Rao learnt about his son's love of music, and found a teacher for him in B H Srinivasa Rao. Rama Rao learnt Karnatak music from him, and became a teacher himself. He charged Rs 5 a month. In 1993, when I met him at his house in Bangalore's brahmin-dominated Chamarajpet, he said, "Purandaradasa's songs bring the Lord before your very eyes. Many of his compositions should be sung only in the grand Karnatak ragas."

Theatre beckoned him too. For some time, Ramarao played the role of the thief in Sadarame, produced by the famous Gubbi Drama Company. When the company closed down, Rama Rao arrived in Bangalore looking for a job. He found one as a daily-wage worker at Binny Mills.

Around this time he started learning Hindustani music from Govind Vittal Bhave. Swami Vallabhdas, a prominent disciple of Ustad Faiyaz Khan, visited Mysore in 1930. Ramarao accompanied him on the harmonium, an instrument he had taught himself. Swami Vallabhdas invited him to Baroda to learn under his guru.

Faiyaz Khan was the court musician at Baroda. The master of the Agra gharana was a star attraction everywhere, and had little patience to teach. But he allowed his disciples to sit with him on the concert stage and sing along. Ramarao caught his attention, and was soon accompanying him on the tanpura and the harmonium.

Faiyaz Khan's brother-in-law Ata Hussain Khan and Swami Vallabhdas took Ramarao under their wings and taught him the complex Agra style. He spent 10 years in that city, eating fruits, and the pulses his guru got cooked in a separate kitchen.

Many critics say Ramarao was the most faithful exponent of the aggressive Agra style. In Bangalore he taught several students. Mohan Nadkarni, the well-known music critic, feels he was not known widely in other parts of India as his rituals and fasting did not allow him to travel easily. Ramarao was also caught up in domestic troubles.

Ramarao spoke excellent Kannada and Hindi. He wrote occasionally in Kannada, and composed in Hindi. He had no connection with the market-savvy English-speaking world; he lived in old-worldly grace, chatting, taking joy rides on the pillion of Sumati's TVS Scooty, attending to the concerns of his extended family, singing bhajans at the neighbouring math, and teaching. All his students vouch for his greatness as a teacher, especially his ability to explain abstract musical ideas with clarity and to spark in them a passion for musical exploration.

Padmavati Gokhale Shaligram

Padmavati Shaligram (Gokhale) – Hindustani Classical

Padmavati Shaligram – a Hindustani Vocalist who had spent more than 75 Years on Stage.

Born in 1918 in Kolhapur, Padmavati Shaligram (Gokhale) is one of the senior most vocalists of Hindustani music. She was groomed in the Jaipur – Atrauli tradition by her father and uncle who were students of the legendary Alladiya Khan, the founder of the gharana. She has been performing in public since she was thirteen and climbed to the height of success and glory very early in life. She has been a top ranked performer with the All India Radio, besides featuring in numerous concerts in both the northern and southern states of the country.

At its 13th Sangeet Sammelan (November 11-13, 2005) ITC SRA rediscovered Padmavati Shaligram for the Kolkata audience after decades, on the platinum jubilee year of her singing career. The sprightly Padmavati came, saw and conquered with her stupendous taans. This apparently frail and petite 86-year-old lady had to be helped on to stage. But all fears for her frailty vanished within the first 2 crystal clear notes that she sang. Her simple and direct approach had an old-world charm.Yet it was scintillating and full of vitality. (I have uploaded both the songs..)

Endless taan patterns at an electrifying speed used to be her forte in her prime. The mesmerized Kolkata listeners witnessed that the same was just as true now. She sang with passion and a rare rustic appeal and left the stage to a standing ovation


She has recieved:

"Sangeet Natak Academy Award" - 1988; Awarded by Govt. of India, Highest award for arts in India.
Kalidas Award - 1994-95
Award from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal
She has performed all over Hindustan (India and Pakistan) before partition. Ustad Alar Khan used to accompany her. She acted in at least 4 Hindi, Marathi and Telugu moviles.


Tracks

Rag Nand – Sung @ Calcutta at her 86th year….
Kausi Kanhara – Sung @ Calcutta at her 86th year
Kamod
Jaijaiwanthi
Todi
Poorvi

Dr. Sharayu Kalekar

Sharayu Kalekar, was a leading torch-bearer of the Rampur Sadarang tradition of Hindustani classical music. Dedicated all her live to classical music, the music icon was a brilliant exponent, musicologist and Principal of Government College, Chandigarh.

Dr. Kalekar has participated in various seminars, workshops, and refresher courses of national and international level, sponsored by different universities, Sangeet Natak Academy, Lucknow (UP), Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi and I.C.C.R. Delhi. She was nominated as the representative of the State Government (Chandigarh) U.T. for the general council of Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi. She was the member of Executive Board and General Council of Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi for five years nominated by the Govt. Of India. During her long splendid career, Dr Kalekar was associated with many institutions, Boards and prestigious Universities for Research Guidance and valuation of Ph.D thesis.
She visited Mauritius, Kenya and Bangladesh as a music performer, teacher and an expert sponsored by the Govt. Of  India. Dr. Kalekar has been honoured with numerous musical awards. She received Sangeet Sewa  Puruskar from Harvallabh Sangeet Samiti, Jallandhar in 1977, honoured by Prachin Kala Kendra, Chandigarh in 1998 and received the prestigious State Award for Indian Classical Vocal Music from Sangeet Natak Academy Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow for the year 1996 for her services in the field of music.

Shruti Sadolikar

Shruti Sadolikar Katkar (born 1951) is an Indian classical singer of the khyal style in the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She is a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Hindustani vocal music for 2011.


Early life and career

Sadolikar was born 1951 into a family from Kolhapur which was known for its musical tradition and owning sugar mills. She received training in Indian classical music from childhood. Her initial training was given by her father, Wamanrao Sadolikar, who was taught by the founder of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana, Alladiya Khan, and his son Bhurji Khan. Following her studies with her father, Sadolikar learnt music for twelve years from Gulubhai Jasdanwala, who was known for his large collection of raga compositions, including compositions in rare ragas. Sadolikar earned a master's degree from SNDT Women's University in Mumbai and wrote a thesis on Haveli Sangeet, a type of temple music.

Sadolikar performs all forms of Indian classical and semi-classical music, including thumri, tappa, and natya sangeet, and has performed in India, Canada, the United States, France, Switzerland, Germany, and the West Asian countries.[5] She had several musical and educational recordings published and holds the Homi Bhabha Fellowship of the National Centre for the Performing Arts. In 1999, Sadolikar produced a play named "Sangeet Tulsidas" for which she set the music, and she performed for SPIC MACAY to interest young Indians in Indian classical music. Sadolikar has regularly performed playback for Indian movies. She had Katkar added to her name after marriage and is a student of Azizuddin Khan, son of Burji Khan. Sadolikar works as Vice Chancellor of the Bhatkhande Music Institute University in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.


Shruti Sadolikar - Raag Maru Bihag

Pandit Yashpaul

Pandit Yashpaul (born 22 March 1937) is a performing artiste of the Agra gharana of Hindustani Classical Music. He has made significant contributions towards the preservation of the heritage of the classical vocal music of India’s north western region. He received his music training under the gurus Pt. Kasturi Lal Ji Jasara (Qasoor Gharana), Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan Saheb and Ustad Yunus Hussain Khan Saheb, the virtuosos of the Agra gharana of Nohar Bani. He also bears the influence of the inspirations of the Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Saheb and Pt. Malikarjun Mansoor Ji.
He is a composer, educationist and musicologist. He has composed many compositions in common and rare ragas with his nom de plume Sagun Piya. He has received many awards including the Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 2011.

Early life

Pandit Yashpaul was born in Gujranwala in 1937. After the partition his parents migrated to India and settled in Jalandhar, where he was initiated into music under the care and training of Guru Pt. Kasturilal ji ‘Jassra’, who himself was the disciple of Late Ustad Chhotte Ghulam Ali Khan Saheb of Lahore.

Teaching Methodology

Pandit Yashpaul believes in the guru - shishya parampara under which the student is taught the core techniques of the gharana. He puts emphasis on swar-sadhna and the purity of the raga. His teaching methodology involves instilling a unique aesthetic sense in individuals. He teaches only one student per class as he believes that education must take place by one-on-one interaction.

Career

Pandit Yashpaul first performed when he was 11 years old at the "Hariwallabh sangeet samelan". He is the oldest alumni of Swami Harballabh Sangeet Akademi Jalandhar. He has been performing from the All India Radio since 1952. At present he is a performing artiste of All India Radio (Akashvani & Doordarshan). So far he has performed in many nationally-broadcast programmes of music, as well as annual Akashvani Sangeet Sammelans.

Awards and honors

Awards received by Pandit Yashpaul include:

National Sangeet Natak Academy Award
Award of National Scholarship,1962 (Ministry of Education Govt. of India)
Punjab State award
Punjab Sangeet Natak Academi award
Dedicated Educationist award
Sangeet Sumeru award
Sangeet Shiromani award
The Music Monarch of India’s north western region (the life time award by FFF)
Honored by Senior Citizens Association of Chandigarh
Received Pb. University Colour in 1958
He is the founder and former Chairman of Deptts. of Music i.e., M.C.M. D.A.V. College for Women and Punjab University Chandigarh respectively




Noted maestro of Agra Gharana Pandit Yash Paul. Pt. Yash Paul is a traditional and eminent performing artiste, in the field of Hindustani classical vocal music. He was awarded The Top Grade by the directorate general All India Radio Ministry of I&B Govt. of India New Delhi. He is an affectionately respected adored senior most, performing artiste from this region. He is an artiste of par excellence and a restless innovatory genius. He is a dedicated educationist as well. He has made a signal contribution to the training of young vocalists, many of whom have achieved high distinction in this part of the country. He has innovated special features of his system of training to benefit the learners. He established his reputation as a popular performing artiste, composer and teacher.

Chhannulal Mishra

Pandit Chhannulal Mishra (Hindi: पंडित छन्नूलाल मिश्रा) (born 3 August 1936) is a Hindustani classical singer from Banaras, a noted exponent of the Kirana gharana (school) of the Hindustani classical music and especially the Khayal and the 'Purab Ang' - Thumri.
He has been awarded the 'Shiromani Award' of Sur Singar Sansad, Bombay; Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi Award; Naushad Award of U.P. Govt., and the Bihar Sangeet Shiromani Award. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honor, in 2010.

Biography

Mishra was born on 3 August 1936 in Hariharpur, Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh, in the home of Badri Prasad Mishra. His grandfather, “Gudai Maharaj” Shanta Prasad was a noted tabla player. Pandit mishra was conferred the Padmabhusan award by the Government oF India on the 25th Janauray, 2010.
He first learnt music with his father, Badri Prasad Mishra and was then was educated by 'Ustad Abdul Ghani Khan' of the Kirana gharana. He was trained thereafter by Thakur Jaidev Singh.
Today, he is considered one of Indian finest exponents of Hindustaani classical music because of his unique blend of the Banaras Gayaki and the Punjab Gayaki, in his khyal, dadra, thumri, chaiti, kajri, hori and bhajans.

Discography

Audio releases

Anjali (Hindi: अंजलि, literally Offering) – Audio CD with 10 tracks which include four Stutis, two Shlokas, two Chalisas, one Stotra and one Vandana dedicated to various aspects of Shakti - Durga, Mahakali, Kali, Saraswati, Vindhyeshwari, Sitala, Ganga, Bhavani.
Echoes of Benaras Volume 3 – Audio CD with three Thumris, one Sawani and one Chaiti.
Holi Ke Rang - Tesu Ke Phool (Hindi: होली के रंग - टेसू के फूल, literally The colours of Holi, the flowers of Tesu) – Audio CD with eight songs on Holi, seven describing the Holi of Radha and Krishna and one describing the Holi of Parvati and Shiva .
Kabir (Hindi: कबीर) – A set of two audio CDs with 12 Bhajans authored by Kabir, a middle-age mystic from Benares.
Krishna Madhav (Hindi: कृष्ण माधव) – A set of two audio CDs with 12 Bhajans dedicated to Krishna.
Purvaiya - Chaiti (Hindi: पुरवइया - चैती, literally From the Orient - Songs of Chaitra) – Audio CD with nine songs of the Chaiti genre which are traditionally sung in the Hindu month of Chaitra (March-April) which falls during spring.
Purvaiya - Kajari (Hindi: पुरवइया - कजरी, literally From the Orient - Songs of Rain) – Audio CD with eight songs of the Kajari genre which are traditionally sung during the rainy season.
Rama Raga (Hindi: राम राग, literally The Raga of Rama) – Audio CD with a one-hour rendition of the three words Raja (King), Rama and Raga in various Ragas.
Tulsidas - Ramcharitmanas (Hindi: तुलसीदास - रामचरितमानस) – Audio CD with five excerpts from the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas in different Ragas.
Shiv Vivah (Hindi: शिव विवाह, literally The marriage of Shiva) - Audio CD with the marriage of Parvati and Shiva from the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas sung in eleven different Ragas, along with four Bhajans dedicated to Shiva.
Spirit Of Benares – Audio CD with two Khayals, two Thumris and two Dadaras.
Krishna - From The Heart Of Benaras – Audio CD with nine songs dedicated to Krishna.
Sundar Kand (Hindi: सुन्दरकाण्ड) - A set of four audio CDs with the entire Sundar Kand of the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas sung in different Ragas, along with two Bhajans dedicated to Hanuman.

Bollywood Song

Aarakshan (Hindi: आरक्षण) (2011) – Two songs Kaun Si Dor with Shreya Ghoshal and Saans Albeli.


khelain masane me hori chhannulal mishra

Vasundhara Komkali

Vasundhara Komkali is a vocalist of Hindustani music genre. She is the wife of the music maestro late Kumar Gandharva & Mother of Kalapini.

Vasundhara Komkali is well-known name in the arena of Indian Classical music. She has created a niche for herself in the hearts of millions by her unique style of singing.


Vasundhara Komkali has been regarded as one of the prominent Indian classical vocalists. Her rise as the classical vocalist took place in the very recent years. Vasundhara Komkali under the expert tutelage of Pt. Kumar Gandharva has received training in Indian classical music. She was also being trained in classical music under Dr B R Deodhar, `a doyen of Gwalior Gharana and a disciple of Pt. Paluskar`. Today she has earned a prominent place in the arena of Indian classical music for herself.

Early Life of Vasundhara Komkali

In the year of 1931, Vasundhara Komkali was born in Kolkata. She was brought up in an environment where she was always encouraged to learn music. Her musical career started taking its proper shape when she came to Mumbai in the year 1946. Vasundhara Komkali is the student of the Gwalior gharana. There she underwent training under Dr B R Deodhar. She got married to her guru Kumar Gandharva at the time of her training under him. As the disciple of Kumar Gandharva she started companioning him at the time of his executions. She started executing as the `supporting vocalist` to Kumar Gandharva. In ameliorating her talent, this experience helped her.

Career of Vasundhara Komkali

Vasundhara Komkali used to help Kumar Gandharva in preconceiving as well as executing many themes such as Geet-Varsha, Geet-Hemant, Geet-Vasant, Rituraj-Mehfil, Triveni, Surdas, Tulsidas-Darshan, and Mala-Umajlela-Balgandharva. Audience have always been mesmerized with her extremely melodious and potent voice. She has also executed khayal, bhajan and lokgeet espousing the footsteps of her guru Kumar Gandharva. This noted Indian classical vocalist to her credit has been a regular broadcaster of AIR and Doordarshan. There are many released solo cassettes in her name.

Awards won by Vasundhara Komkali

In the domain of Classical music Vasundhara Komkali is being honoured as the `Sangeet Praveen`. As the performing artist, she has travelled in an extensive manner and simultaneously performed in many highly esteemed music festivals. She has executed her `gayaki` as a solo-artist as well as a concomitant vocalist to the celebrated Kumar Gandharva. To her credit, the first and second volumes of the Anoop Raag Vilas series she has published as a reprint.

Vasundhara Komkali and daughter Kalapini Komkali's

Abdul Rashid Khan

Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan (born November 1908) is a vocalist of Hindustani music genre. His sings in the tradition of Mian Tansen. Apart from khayal, he sings dhrupad, dhamar and thumri with equal versatility.

Early life

Khan was born in a family of musicians tracing back to Behram Khan, who was a singer of traditional Gwalior gharana gayaki. His father's elder brother Bade Yusuf Khan and his father initially trained him. This was followed with extensive taleem from his family elders, like Chand Khan, Barkhudar Khan, Mahtab Khan who had imbibed the Gwalior Gayaki. He further developed this style suiting his own artistic sensitivity.

Career

Khan's traditional compositions have been recorded by the BBC and Iraq Radio. Organizations like Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academi, Lucknow and ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata have recorded and preserved more than 1500 compositions. During the past several decades, he has been a regular performer on Akashvani and Doordarshan Lucknow. Khan has participated in many national and regional conferences like Sadarang Conference, Godrej Conference, Lucknow Mahotsav, Dover Lance Conference, ITC Sangeet Sammelan, Prayag Sangeet Samiti Sangeet Sammelan all over India and has been felicited by Critics, fellow artists and many reputed recognized institutions like Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy, (1981), Banaras Hindu University (1993), Eastern Zone cultural center and Press club Kolkata.
Khan has composed more than two thousand compositions and is also a prolific writer and poet under the pseudonym "Rasan Piya". Many compositions (bandish) that he sings are his own creations. He has trained numerous students in his lifetime. He is now a "guru" at ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata.

Awards

ITC award (1994)
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2009)
Kashi Swar Ganga Award (2003)
Ras Sagar (titlle) Award 2004

He has been a member of the All India Radio Audition Committee, New Delhi and has been awarded with many titles by the different reputed organizations like 'Sangeet Maharishi', 'Sangeet Sartaz', 'Rassagar', 'Bandish Samarat'.


Ustaad Abdul Rashid Khan: Performing at the age of 102 years-Part 1

Kesarbai Kerkar

Personal Information

Born 13 July 1892

Origin Keri, Goa

Died 16 September 1977 (aged 85)

Kesarbai Kerkar ( कॆसरबाई कॆरकर) (July 13, 1892 – September 16, 1977) was an Indian classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana.She is considered one of the finest and most powerful Indian classical singers of the 20th century

Early life

Born in the tiny village of Keri (also spelled "Querim"), in the Ponda taluka of North Goa, Goa (then a Portuguese colony), at the age of eight Kerkar moved to Kolhapur where she studied for eight months with Abdul Karim Khan. Upon her return to Goa, she studied with the vocalist Ramkrishnabuwa Vaze (1871 -1945). At the age of 16 she migrated to Mumbai, where she studied with various teachers, eventually ending up as disciple to Ustad Alladiya Khan (1855–1946), the founder of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana, beginning in 1921. She belongs to Gomantak Maratha Samaj.

Career

Kerkar eventually achieved wide renown, performing regularly for aristocratic audiences. She was very particular about the representation of her work and consequently made only a few 78 rpm recordings, for the HMV and Broadcast labels.

Kerkar was awarded the decoration of Padma Bhushan by the government of India in 1969, and in the same year the government of the Indian state of Maharashtra conferred upon her the title of "Rajya Gayika." Indian Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) is said to have been very fond of Kerkar's singing. Her honorific title "Surashri" (or "Surshri") literally means "excellent voice" (sur meaning "voice" and shri meaning "excellent), and was bestowed on her in 1948 by the Sangeet Pravin Sangitanuragi Sajjan Saman Samiti of Calcutta. In her ancestral village of Keri, the Surashree Kesarbai Kerkar High School now occupies the site of Kerkar's former second home, and the house where she was born still stands, less than one kilometer away. A music festival called the Surashree Kesarbai Kerkar Smriti Sangeet Samaroha is held in Goa each November and a music scholarship in her name is awarded annually to a University of Mumbai student.

Kerkar has the further distinction of having one of her recordings, "Jaat Kahan Ho", duration 3:30 (an interpretation of raga Bhairavi) included on the Voyager Golden Record, a gold-plated copper disc containing music selections from around the world, which was sent into space aboard the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecrafts in 1977. The recording was recommended for inclusion on the Voyager disc by the ethnomusicologist Robert E. Brown, who believed it to be the finest recorded example of Indian classical music.

Since 2000, several CDs of her archival recordings have been released, including one on the Golden Milestones series, which contains several of her most famous songs.

Recordings

Classical Vocal CD (2008) from Sangeet Natak Akademi

Golden Milestones (2003)

Vintage 78 Rpm Recording on CD

Living Music of the Past CD from Underscore Records site

Baithak Series - Live concert Recordings A set of 4 CDs Published by Sangeet Kendra

Kesarbai Kerkar: Raga Bhairavi

Pandit Madhav Gudi

Madhav Gudi (Kannada:ಮಾಧವ ಗುಡಿ, Devanagari:माधव गुडि)(1941 – 22 April 2011) was a Hindustani classical vocalist, specialising in Khayal and light forms

Early life and background

Madhava Gudi was born in Dharwad, Karnataka into a family of keertankars and harikatha (devotional) musicians.
Madhava Gudi was introduced to music at a very early age. His initial training was under Pandit Nageshrao Deshpande and later from the great maestro of Gwalior gharana, Pandit Basavaraj Rajguru. He finally received his most important training from the Kirana scion Pandit Bhimsen Joshi in a guru-shishya milieu which lasted well over twenty six years.

Singing career

Gudi's voice suited for Hindustani classical as well as light classical (dasavani and abhang) music. A top-grade All India Radio artiste, he toured all over India and performed with Pt. Bhimsen Joshi in several centers in India and overseas.

Awards

Among several accolades that he received were the Sangeeta Nritya Academy award from the Government of Karnataka, Surashri, Gaana Bhaskar, Smt Vatsala Tai Joshi Award, Gaana Kala Tilaka and the Yashavant Rao Chauhan Samata Gaurav Puraskar.