Kamala Shankar
| Dr.Kamala Shankar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 December 1966 |
| Origin | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Genres | Indian classical music |
| Occupation(s) | Musician/Indian Slide Guitar Player/Classical Vocal |
| Instruments | Shankar Guitar |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Website |
www |
Kamala Shankar is an Indian classical slide guitar musician and Innovator of Shankar Guitar. She has employed a unique Gayaki style (also Tantraki) for more than 30 years. She was born in 1966 in the Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu.[1][2][3]
Shankar is the first slide guitarist to receive the National Award in Music " Rashtriya Kumar Gandharva Samman" in 2013 by the Government of Madhya Pradesh.
Early years
Kamala was trained in music by her mother at the age of six. She studied under Padmabhushan Pt. Channulal Mishra and sitar maestro Pt. Bimalendu Mukherjee. She is the only woman to hold a doctoral degree in slide guitar from Banaras Hindu University. She holds a bachelor's degree in zoology.
Shankar attracted worldwide attention by successfully converting the western Hawaiian slide guitar into the ‘Shankar guitar', which has overtones of the classical veena and sitar. A Shankar guitar is made from a single block of wood, with thicker walls and no sound hole. It has four melody strings, four chikari (rhythm strings) and 12 tarab (sympathetic strings).[4][3] The instrument is named after the deity of Varanasi Lord Shankar
Career
She performs across India and around the globe. [2][5]
Personal life
She resides in Varanasi.
She is the Director and founder of Shankara Arts Foundation, created in 2007at Varanasi. The aim is to make music available to a wider spectrum of society, especially those who do not have easy access to music. SAF organizes concerts, seminars, workshops and other such events that help people understand the power of music. Her recitals are featured regularly on All India Radio and Doordarshan.
References
- ↑ Pradeep, K (2003-10-30). "Dance & music fiesta". The Hindu. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
- 1 2 Pradeep, K (2003-10-13). "Guitar and gayaki". The Hindu. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
- 1 2 Pradeep, K (2003-10-02). "Odd woman out". The Hindu. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ Meend over Matter, The Music Magazine, 7 January 2002.
- ↑ "KAMALA SHANKAR: Shankar guitar". India Today. 6 March 2008. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
External links
- Official web site
- ‘Shankar guitar' performance enthrals audience, The Hindu KOLLAM, 12 January 2012.
- Her guitar is a Shankar, The Hindu Friday Review » Music 7 August 2014.
- Hindustani classics on guitar, The Hindu, KERALA 7 July 2010.
- Unique experience for music lovers, The Hindu, Kerala MALAPPURAM, 12 May 2014.
- A brush with the past The Hindu 1 January 2014.
- The Hindu 8 August 2014.
- Stringing along The Hindu, 10 October 2008 .
- INDIA TODAY MAGAZINE 30 June 2014