Guide Note:

Ravi Shankar is among the most iconic Indian musicians of the 20th Century, introducing the traditional instrument the Sitar to a worldwide audience through compositions, performances and collaborations with filmmakers and Western musicians. He is the winner of three Grammy Awards, 14 honorary doctorates and is an honorary member of the International Rostrum of Composers.

Fast Facts:

1. Born April 7, 1920 in Benares, British India
2. Disciple of Allauddin Khan
3. Father of Norah Jones & Anoushka Shankar
4. First public performance was in 1939
5. Composed scores for many films by Indian master Satyajit Ray
6. Won the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor

In 1938, Shankar went to live and study with famed Indian multi-instrumentalist and music teacher Allauddin Khan. After his formal training ended in 1944, he began composing film scores and ballets, and became a music director for All India Radio.

Shankar toured the world, becoming an international music star. In the 1960s and 1970s, he played at a number of significant musical events, including the Edinburgh Festival, the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, Woodstock and The Concert for Bangladesh in 1971.

Shankar frequently collaborated with Western musicians, particularly ex-Beatle George Harrison. He wrote the score for the 1982 Richard Attenborough film Gandhi with George Fenton, and was nominated that year for the Academy Award for Best Original Score. He has also worked with minimalist composer Philip Glass, who cites Shankar's music as a major influence.