Ustad Aashish Khan passes away at 84

Renowned Indian sarod maestro and Grammy-nominated artiste Ustad Aashish Khan has passed away. The legendary musician breathed his last today (November 15) at Henry Mayo Memorial Hospital in California, USA. He was 84 years old.  

The news of his demise was shared on Facebook by his nephew, Siraj Ali Khan. Ustad Aashish Khan was a celebrated figure in Indian classical music, a grandson of the legendary Ustad Allauddin Khan, and the son of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.  

In 2022, Aashish Khan earned a Grammy nomination in the "Best Traditional World Music Album" category for his album "Golden Strings of the Sarod". His contribution to Indian classical music resonated globally, and he performed several times in Bangladesh during his illustrious career.  

A long-time resident of the United States, Ustad Aashish Khan was a professor of Indian classical music at the California Institute of the Arts and the University of California. He played a pivotal role in introducing Indian music to Western audiences.  

In 1967, Aashish Khan co-founded the Indo-American music group Shanti with tabla virtuoso Ustad Zakir Hussain. The group became a cultural bridge, blending Indian classical music with Western influences. Over the years, he collaborated with iconic musicians like John Barham, Eric Clapton, and George Harrison, further cementing his legacy.  

Aashish Khan also made history in 2007 as the first Indian classical musician to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland.  

Born in 1939 in Maihar, India, the artiste began his musical journey early. At just 12 years old, he performed on All India Radio, and later, alongside his grandfather and father, he graced the stage of the prestigious Tansen Music Conference in Kolkata. 

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