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Pop icons Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus may got all the headlines in the West but India was smiling that Monday morning (February 5)…
IT WAS quite the night for Indian music maestros at the at this year’s Grammy Awards with five musicians of Indian heritage picking up accolades.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was moved to note on X: “Congratulations @ZakirHtabla, @Rakeshflute, @Shankar_Live, @kanjeeraselva and @violinganesh on your phenomenal success at the #GRAMMYs! Your exceptional talent and dedication to music have won hearts worldwide. India is proud! These achievements are a testament to the hard work you keep putting in. It will also inspire the new generation of artists to dream big and excel in music.”
The biggest winner on the night was tabla legend Zakir Hussain who bagged three Grammys, while flautist Rakesh Chaurasia picked up two. Hussain’s awards were for Best Global Music Performance for ‘Pashto’ and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for ‘As We Speak’. Chaurasia’s Grammys were as part of the same ensemble of American banjo player Bela Fleck and American bassist Edgar Meyer for ‘Pashto’ and ‘As We Speak’.
Hussain in his acceptance speech told the audience: “Without love and music we are nothing. Thanks to the Academy, thanks to all the great musicians for giving up this beautiful music today…Families are here and without them, we are nothing. Without love, music, harmony, we are nothing.”
Chaurasia told the Press Trust of India: “More than the joy I felt for myself , the pride of winning it as an Indian musician ranks higher. To win two Grammys on my first ever nomination definitely makes it sweeter.”
Hussain’s fellow Shakti group members – singer Shankar Mahadevan, violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan, and percussionist Selvaganesh Vinayakram all picked up an award each as the group was honoured. The group won the Best Global Music Album Grammy for ‘This Moment’ and collected the award alongside the group’s founder British veteran guitarist John McLaughlin.
Another of India’s top music maestros was in attendance – previous Grammy winner AR Rahman took to Instagram to hail the success. “It’s raining Grammys for India,” he posted adding his congratulations.
Another Indian Grammy winner composer Ricky Kej also added his praise – saying the night belonged to India. The Grammys took place on Sunday, February 4 at the Crypto. Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
www.asianculturevulture.com saw Shakti when it was in the UK on tour in June last year. We did social media posts on it (we think?).
*delayed publication because of technical problems…
