British India
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Ali Akbar Khan
Shibpur (Comilla), British India
Archival Overview
Indian classical sarod virtuoso and composer hailed by Yehudi Menuhin as the greatest musician in the world, who popularized North Indian classical music throughout the West.
Biographical Record
The son and pupil of legendary multi-instrumentalist Allauddin Khan of the Maihar gharana, Ali Akbar Khan (1922–2009) trained under brutal discipline for up to eighteen hours a day. He mastered the 25-string plucked lute (sarod), developing breathtaking technical virtuosity and spiritual microtonal nuance.
In 1955, at Menuhin's invitation, Khan performed the first Indian classical concert on American television and recorded the first Western LP of Indian classical music. In 1967, he founded the Ali Akbar College of Music in California, teaching thousands of international students for over four decades.
Key Life Milestones
Historic Debut at Museum of Modern Art
Introduced classical Indian sarod to the West at MoMA in New York City.
Founding of Ali Akbar College of Music
Established the premier institution for classical Indian music education in California.
Memorial Guestbook & Tributes
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Final Resting Place
Perpetual MemorialSan Rafael (California), United States