Rahul Sharma (musician)

Rahul Sharma (musician) Biography

Rahul Sharma is a vocalist of Hindustani classical music. He plays Kashmir’s folk instrument, Santoor as well. He is the son of great Shivkumar Sharma, who popularized Santoor as a music instrument worldwide. Sharma regards his son as the gift of god and consider him as his favourite disciple only. Rahul was born on 25 September 1972 in Mumbai. He was born in a traditional Kashmiri family. His mother’s name is Manorama. His grandfather, Uma Dutt Sharma, was a vocalist and master of Santoor who desired to popularize Santoor as an Indian classical instrument through his heirs. Rahul too, is known as a santoor player as well as a trained classical singer.

Rahul earned lessons of santoor from his father. He experimented with various striking positions and tones. Being great santoor player’s son, Shivkumar's status grew over borders and continents and reached worldwide. He used to play harmonium at a younger age. He learnt santoor at the age of 13. He completed degree in economics at Mumbai's Mithibai College. Later he began to assist his father in live concerts. This practice started in 1996 when Rahul was 24.

In the year, the album ‘Music Of The Himalayas’ was released which included live performances of many great musicians of the country. After that he became a popular artist from India, who released many solo albums as well as a few with his father. He has performed live in many countries including America and Europe. His most recent released albums are Deep India - Rahul Sharma & Deep Forest (2013) and Namaste - Rahul Sharma & Kenny G (2011). He has collaborated with music maestros like Pandit Bhavani Shankar Kathak, Ustad Zakir Hussain and Shafat Ahmed Khan in many projects and concerts. Rahul Sharma is married to Barkha Patel, a Guajarati-Kashmiri pandit from Mumbai.

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Updated: January 03, 2014