M. Venkatesh Kumar | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1953-07-01)July 1, 1953 (age 72) |
| Occupation | singer |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Awards |
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| Musical career | |
| Origin | Bellary, Karnataka, India |
| Genres | Hindustani classical music,Dasara Pada,devotional songs |
Musical artist | |
Pandit M. Venkatesh Kumar (born July 1, 1953) is an IndianHindustani vocalist. He is best known for his rendition of devotional songs composed bySwami Haridas andKanakadasa. Kumar belongs to the Kirana and Gwalior Gharana.
Kumar was born in Lakshmipura in the Bellary region of northern Karnataka.[2][3] Kumar's late father Huleppa was a Janapada folk singer andleather puppeteer. In 1968, when he was 15 years old, Venkatesh was taken by his mothers brother, father in law Nadoja Belagallu Veeranna to the Veereshwara Punyashrama inGadag, run by theVeerashaiva saint andHindustani musicianPuttaraj Gawai. For the next 12 years, he lived at the ashram and learned Hindustani singing in theGwalior andKirana styles under Gawai. Kumar blends these styles in his presentations, though he admits to influences beyond these gharanas, chief among them beingBade Ghulam Ali Khan of thePatiala gharana.[4] His guru was also trained inCarnatic music, and as a result, there are traces of Carnatic elements in Pandit Kumar's music, especially in hissargam patterns.[2]
Kumar got his first break in 1993, 14 years after he left the ashram, when he received an invitation fromBhimsen Joshi to perform at theSawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav in Pune.[2] However, he had to wait almost ten more years before he became a regular on the national festival circuit. Since then, he has been featured in many national musical programs, and has been an "A top" grade artist ofAll India Radio since 1988.
In devotional music, Kumar is most acclaimed for his Kannada vachana and dasara pada singing.[4] He has recorded multiple devotional and classical CD albums.
Kumar began his teaching career at Vijay Mahantesh Arts College near Gadag, where he taught for one-and-a-half years. He has also taught in Mukunda Kripa in Udupi.
He received a postgraduate degree in music from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya.[4] He authored the textbook of music prescribed for the examination conducted by the government of Karnataka.[5]
Kumar taught at the University College of Music, Dharwad, for 33 years.[6] This commitment regularly required him to turn down concerts, but he refused to quit the job that offered him stability at a time when concerts were hard to come by. He retired in 2015.[4]
Kumar has received awards and titles including: