Legendary vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, who mesmerized music lovers with his extraordinary presentation of Hindustani classical music, passed away at Sahyadri hospital in Pune today morning after a prolonged illness.
He was 89. A recipient of Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award, Joshi had been put on life support system since past one month. The most-celebrated exponent of 'Kirana gharana' his guru was Sawai Gandharva, in whose memory he had started the popular gandharva festival. Born on February 4, 1922 at Gadag in Dharwad district of Karnataka, Joshi got his first break for a live performance at the age of 19, during the 60th birthday celebrations of his guru Sawai Gandharva. His first album was released by HMW, when he was 22 years old.....read more
