Ram Narayan, born December 25, 1927 in Amber, near Udaipur, India, was an Indian classical sarangi player who popularised the instrument as a solo concert instrument. He began playing at an early age and studied under various musicians and singers. Narayan was hired by All India Radio in Lahore as an accompanist for vocalists in 1944. Following the partition of India, he relocated to Delhi in 1947, and moved to Mumbai in 1949 to work in Indian cinema. He recorded his first solo gramophone records in 1950 and became a solo concert artist in 1956. His international breakthrough came during a 1964 tour of America and Europe alongside his brother, tabla player Chatur Lal. Narayan's notable film collaborations include the song “Chalte Chalte” from the movie Pakeezah (1972). His honors include the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1975), the Padma Shri (1976), the Padma Bhushan (1991), and the Padma Vibhushan (2005). He died on November 9, 2024 in Mumbai.
