Vellore G. Ramabhadran

Vellore G. Ramabhadran was a renowned mridangam artist from Tamil Nadu, India. Born on August 4, 1929, he began his journey into music at an early age, learning mridangam from his father, Konnakol T. P. Gopalachari, who was also a musician. Ramabhadran's early exposure to Carnatic music was enriched by the presence of legendary musicians at his family's music sabha in Vellore, where he got to perform alongside and learn from masters like Kancheepuram Naina Pillai and Palghat Mani Iyer. He made his professional debut as a mridangam accompanist in 1942 and went on to collaborate with numerous celebrated musicians throughout his career.

Ramabhadran was acclaimed for his supportive and self-effacing approach to percussion, which made him a sought-after accompanist. He was also a trained vocalist and participated in various musical events, including lecture-demonstrations, fusion concerts, and jugalbandis with artists like Zakir Hussain and Amjad Ali Khan. In recognition of his contributions, he received the prestigious Sangeetha Kalanidhi award from the Madras Music Academy in 2004. Ramabhadran passed away on February 27, 2012, leaving behind a legacy of fostering musical talent through initiatives like the Vellore Gopalachariar Memorial Award.

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