Born on February 4, 1922, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was an Indian vocalist from Karnataka, who specialised in Hindustani Classical Music. 

He belonged to the Kirana gharana tradition of Hindustani Classical Music. Pandit Joshi is renowned for his concerts and between the years 1964 and 1982, he went on music tours to Afghanistan, Italy, France, Canada and the USA. 

He was the first musician from India whose concerts were advertised through posters in New York City, USA. Pandit Joshi played a key role in organising the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival every year, as homage to his guru, Pandit Sawai Gandharva.

He died on January 24, 2011, and in order to commemorate his art, here are a few mellifluous songs he sang.

1. Baaje Re Muraliya Baaje

2. Aata Kothe Dhave Man

3. Tum Meri Rakho Laaj Hari

4. Sanvale Sundar Roop Manohar

5. Ram Ram Bhajo Bhai

  In 1998, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour conferred by Sangeet Natak Akademi, India’s National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama.

Later, he received the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, in 2009.