Ravi Shankar

Pandit Ravi Shankar ( Bengali: [ˈrobi ˈʃɔŋkor] ; born Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury , sometimes spelled as Ravindra Shankar Chowdhury ; 7 April 1920 – 11 December 2012) was an Indian sitarist and composer. A sitar virtuoso , he was, together with sarod virtuoso Ali Akbar Khan , among the most prominent exponents of Hindustani classical music in the second half of the 20th century, and played a major role in bringing Indian classical music to international audiences. Shankar influenced many musicians in India and throughout the world. He was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna , in 1999. He is also the father of American singer Norah Jones and British-American musician and sitar player Anoushka Shankar .

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