Pandit Shivkumar Sharma was a luminary in the world of Indian classical music, renowned for his mastery of the santoor, a hammered dulcimer native to the Kashmir valley. Born on January 13, 1938, in Jammu, Sharma's musical journey began under the tutelage of his father, Uma Dutt Sharma, who was a singer in the Dogri language. His initial training was on the tabla, but destiny had a different stringed path for him. It was Sharma's pioneering spirit that transformed the santoor, traditionally used in folk music, into a prominent instrument in the classical genre.

Over his illustrious career, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma collaborated with many other great artists and composed music for Indian cinema alongside the flutist Hariprasad Chaurasia, with the duo famously known as "Shiv-Hari." His contribution to Indian classical music was not just through performances and collaborations, but also through a vast discography that brought the sound of the santoor to audiences worldwide. Albums such as "Rare Masterpiece - Raga Bhinna Kauns," "The Last Word in Santoor," "Platinum - Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma," and "Sangeet Sartaj" are but a glimpse into his vast treasury of recordings. His music was characterized by a profound understanding of the raagas and a technical virtuosity that made each performance feel like a spiritual conversation. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma's legacy endures through the music he has left behind, inspiring generations to come.

Genres

Hindustani Classical

Hindustani Instrumental

Indian Classical

Santoor

Related Artists

Shivkumar Sharma & Zakir Hussain

Bismillah Khan

Vishwa Mohan Bhatt

Ronu Majumdar

Nikhil Banerjee

Amjad Ali Khan

Hariprasad Chaurasia

Niladri Kumar

L. Subramaniam

Ali Akbar Khan

Vilayat Khan

Shahid Parvez

Latest Release

Sote Sote Ho Gaya Re Kamaal

Shivkumar Sharma

Single - Released July 19, 2024