M.S. Subbulakshmi
This song may sound familiar to those of you who attended the Fundraiser Concert last weekend. It was the same song I sang at the beginning of the program, honoring the victims of the war in Ukraine. I was especially inspired by this particular recording by M.S. Subbulakshmi, at the 1966 United Nations General Assembly.
Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi was one of the most iconic singers to ever exist, like, ever. She’s kind of like the Starbucks of Carnatic (South Indian Classical) music. She’s EVERYWHERE–and for good reason.
When she was just 13 years old, she broke through that glass ceiling and gave her first performance at the prestigious Madras Music Academy in 1929. After that, she quickly rose to become one of India's most prominent Carnatic singers.
Throughout her long career, M.S. won numerous awards, performed over 200 charity concerts, and was recognized and praised by figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.
She passed away in 2004, but her iconic voice will live on for years to come.
Sources:
https://www.culturalindia.net/indian-music/classical-singers/m-s-subbulakshmi.html