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A child prodigy, born in Madras, Southern
India, who studied violin from the age of five, Shankar moved
to America in the year 1969. On being the music teacher of
the University Chamber Orchestra, Shankar met jazz musicians
like Ornette Coleman, Jimmy Garrison, and John McLaughlin.
In 1976, he alongwith guitar maestro John McLaughlin cofounded
the group known as "Shakti" which compromised musicians
such as Zakir Hussain, Vikku Vinayakaram, Selva Ganesh, Hariprasad
Chaurasia and the latest to follow is the sensational debutant
Mandolin wizard U. Shrinivas. His works are widespread from
Indian classical music to international fusion performances.
He also founded his own group popularly known as the "Epidemics".
He also holds a doctorate in ethnomusicology from the university
of Wesleyan. Shankar was instrumental in the commission of
the creation of the unique 10-stringed double violin.
Worked With: Peter Gabriel,Phil Collins, and Frank Zappa.
"The first time I worked with Shankar was on Across The
River, which appeared on the Music and Rhythm record that
we put together to launch the first WOMAD Festival in 1982.
Although I was a little intimidated by his virtuosity, he
was very open and generous and I found singing with him very
exciting. As we began trading melodies with the violin as
voice, the experience was like nothing else I'd known. His
work is always spiritual and has really helped me develop
the ways in which I use my voice as an instrument."
Peter Gabriel
liner notes to Plus From Us
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