Ravi Shankar “godfather of world music” dies aged 92

12-12-2012 - 2 Comments

Ravi Shankar, the virtuoso sitar maestro who introduced Indian classical music to the world and inspired the Sixties 'psychedelic' sound through his collaboration with the Beatles, passed away at the age of 92.

The prime minister's office confirmed his death and called him a "national treasure."

Labelled "the godfather of world music" by George Harrison, Shankar helped millions of classical, jazz and rock lovers discover the centuries-old traditions of Indian music.

He also pioneered the concept of the rock benefit with the 1971 Concert For Bangladesh. To later generations, he was known as the estranged father of popular American singer Norah Jones.