A very late tribute to Ravi Shankar

 

On December 11, 2012, famed sitar player and composer of classical Indian music, Ravi Shankar passed away at the age of 92. He was known as a father, musician, and innovator, bringing Indian music and the sitar to world recognition. With the help of George Harrison, Ravi brought intense spirituality back to music.

George met Ravi in 1965 at a party at Zsa Zsa Gabor's Los Angeles mansion during one of the Beatles' U.S. tours. From there, George's interest and ultimately lifelong connection to India and Indian culture and music skyrocketed, first taking sitar lessons from Ravi and making numerous trips to India in the ensuing years. The influence that Ravi had on The Beatles and their music cannot be understated. "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)," the first pop song to feature a sitar, was just the beginning. Rubber Soul, Revolver, and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band were all heavily inclusive of Indian culture. Ravi exposed them and more importatnly George to spirituality that comes through an absolute devotion to music.

Of course, Ravi Shankar is more than his influence and with The Beatles, working with countless other musicians, such as John Coltrane, but his involvement with the band created unbelievable music and propelled the counterculture movement forward.

Ravi leaves behind a wife and four children, one of which is Norah Jones, the popular pop singer. The years he spent developing his relationship to God through the sitar prepared him for the moment of transition.

                                                   RAVI SHANKAR 1920-2012