Indian Mandolin Maestro U Srinivas Dies at 45

U Srinivas, a leading Carnatic music artist who introduced the use of mandolin in Indian music passed away September 19, 2014 in a Chennai hospital.

Born in Palakol, Andhra Pradesh on 28 February 1969 Srinivas was a child prodigy who took up the instrument at the age of five after attending a function with his father where someone was playing it.

Upalappu Srinivas, better known as U. Srinivas was born February 28, 1969, in Palakol in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. U. Srinivas was a child prodigy. He began playing his father’s electric mandolin when he was only six years old. He was spotted by Subbaraju, a classically-trained musician and disciple of the famous musical innovator Chembai Vaidyanata Bhagavatar. Subbaraju taught the young boy classical music and, not having any knowledge on how to play the mandolin, would sing Carnatic music and Srinivas would play along, thus developing his own style.

Srinivas got his first big break in Gudivada in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, during the Sri Thyagaraja Aradhana festival. He was barely nine then. Following public recognition and acceptance in 1983, the next years of the boy were spent in touring the world extensively, enchanting his audiences. His concerts were highly acclaimed.

Thereafter his career surged ahead. The Indian Fine Arts Society in Madras afforded him the first major metropolitan concert during the musical festival in Dec 1981. Concert presenters competed with each other to showcase this prodigy with the mandolin – an unheard of phenomenon in the halls of Carnatic music. A worldwide concert tour followed.

“I thought that it’s common to hear people playing classical music on the violin or veena, so why don’t I try something new?” he said. “I never dreamed I would become so well known or that the mandolin would become so popular.”

By the age of 30, U. Srinivas had become a major international musical figure. In 1983, the Music Academy, Madras, honored him with the “Special TTK Award”

In 1995 he recorded Dream with renowned Canadian guitarist and producer Michael Brook. The album was constructed from recordings at Real World Studios. Assisting in the exploration of Eastern and Western themes were guests Nigel Kennedy, Nana Vasconcelos, Sikkil R. Bhaskarnan, Caroline Lavelle, Tchad Blake, Trey Gunn and Richard Evans; Jane Siberry provided guest vocals on the eponymous closing track.

Srinivas was the recipient of the Padma Shri, Rajiv Gandhi National Integration and Sangeet Ratna awards. He also ran a music school called the Srinivas Institute of World Music.

More details about his biography and discography.