Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar will be honoured with a lifetime achievement Grammy award, organisers of the top music award announced on Thursday.
The award will be presented on February 10 at the 55th Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, said the Recording Academy, which gives the prestigious awards.
“As one of the world’s most renowned sitar players, three-time Grammy winner Ravi Shankar is a true ambassador for international music,” said a statement issued by the Recording Academy.
“As a performer, composer, teacher and writer, he is considered a pioneer in bringing Indian music to the West. With a performance career spanning more than 80 years, he has influenced a variety of musicians, including the Beatles, John Coltrane, Philip Glass and his daughters, Norah Jones and Anoushka Shankar,” it said.
“A humanitarian and philanthropist, in 1971 Shankar, along with George Harrison, organised the Concert for Bangladesh, which paved the way for many other fundraising charity concerts,” it said.
Other recipients of this year’s lifetime achievement Grammy awards are Glenn Gould, Charlie Haden, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Carole King, Patti Page and the Temptations.
Pandit RaviShankar fully deserves the life time Grammy. His self expressive improvisation made his audience connect to their spiritual selves. He used his art of improvisation as a way of communication, as a creative connectivity, as an emotional release, as a catharsis and as an inspiration to nurture that spirit in his students. His virtuosity enabled him to be at ease with classical as well as eclectic and work with masters from different artistic genres and category. But he didn’t compromise his classical moorings even when the imaginative air under his audacious wings took him to far off places. His liberating musicality will transcend time.
What a great difference if they could have offered it earlier. Why
this realization when somebody passes away only... When the living
legend was around it didn't occur to the organizers?
Isn't it the same in corporations also? they will give 2x the salary, stock options etc, when you say u are ready to quit...When people who are worthy are living, with you, wish the world could honor them (not that they need it). If done that way the awards themselves will elevate in its recognition and purpose. Legends such as Ravi Shankar don't need an award to get recognized. Their name
itself does the magic. Everything in life has an expiration date. Take
note of opportunities when they are around...
Sorry grammy folks, u missed the bus. A bit too late. You should have
woken up when he was around.
Wish that such honors are bestowed when one is alive.
Grammy added a feather in its crown by honoring Panditji.
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