Ananda Shankar

Ananda Shankar was an Indian sitarist and Bengali musician. Born on 11 December 1942, he was the son of renowned dancer Uday Shankar and Amala Shankar. Ananda's musical talent ran in the family, as he was the nephew of Ravi Shankar and Lakshmi Shankar, and brother of Mamata Shankar. He was also the uncle of Sreenanda Shankar, and cousin of Norah Jones, Shubhendra Rao, and Anoushka Shankar.

Ananda Shankar's music blended traditional Indian classical music with elements of rock, jazz, funk, and Western psychedelic sounds. His unique fusion style gained him recognition worldwide. Some similar artists who have been influenced by his innovative approach include Ravi Shankar, Zakir Hussain, Nikhil Banerjee, Ali Akbar Khan, Debashish Bhattacharya among others.

During his career spanning several decades until his untimely death on 26 March 1999 at the age of 56, Ananda released numerous albums that showcased his versatility as a composer and performer. His contributions to the world of music continue to inspire generations.