From The Washington Post, Ravi Shankar, sitar virtuoso who brought Indian music to West, mentored Beatles, dies at 92:
Labeled “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.
His last musical performance was with his other daughter, sitarist Anoushka Shankar Wright, on Nov. 4 in Long Beach, California; his foundation said it was to celebrate his 10th decade of creating music. The multiple Grammy winner learned that he had again been nominated for the award the night before his surgery.
Here’s a statement from Shankar’s official Facebook page:
It is with great sadness the we mark the death of Pandit Ravi Shankar, Sitar virtuoso, cultural ambassador, teacher, friend and inspiration to all of us. But it is with great joy that we celebrate his life of 92 years and its uncompromising dedication to musical collaboration beyond national boundaries, virtuosity in every creative endeavor and a fundamental love of Gurukul teaching of Indian classical music forms.
And here he is performing with his daughter Anoushka and others in 1997: