Renowned Indian Singer Yesudas

BIOGRAPHY

Yesudas: Renowned Indian singer
Full Name: Kattassery Joseph Yesudas (K. J. Yesudas)
Date of Birth: 10 January, 1940
Birthplace: Kochi, Kerala, India
Years Active: 1955-present

ABOUT K.J.YESUDAS:

Yesudas or K J Yesudas was the greatest musician of all times. He had sung more than 30,000 songs in almost every Indian language except Kadhmiri and Assamese. Yesudas was born on 10th Jan, 1940 in a musical family in Fort Cochin, Kerala, India. He was eldest amongst other five siblings. He has three brothers and one sister. His father Augustine Joseph Bagavathor was also a famous classical musician as well as a stage actor.

Yesudas took his first lessons in music from his father Augustine. After recognizing the music talent in his son, Augustine decided to provide him music training at any cost. Yesudas learnt the Carnatic music at the age of 5. Later he received music lessons from several other music teachers from Cochin. The main aspects of his sucess as a legndary singer was his passion, dicipline, hard work, dedication and determination towards music.

Music came as divine grace and paternal inheritance to K.J.Yesudas, one of India’s foremost exponents of classical carnatic vocal music and leading playback singer in all-Indian languages. His classical concerts and film songs programs continue to captivate millions of listeners at home and abroad.

Yesudas done his schooling from St. Sebastian's High School, Pallurthi, Cochin. He was the top singer at his school for several years. He won the first prize in Carnatic vocal singing at the school youth festival in 1957. Also he recceived gold medal for vocal singing at the all Kerala Catholic Youth Festival in Ernakulam. After schooling, Yesudas attended the R.L.V.Music Academy from Thrippoonithura, where he completed the course Ganabhooshanam with a double promotion and distinction in 1960. For higher studies, he attended Sree Swathithirunal Music Academy from Trivandrum. But he left the course incomplete due to financial problems.

Yesudas recorded his first song in 1961, which was a beautiful and veru meaningful verse written by Sri.Narayana Guru on the sage of the backward classes of Kerala. The song had great message for every human being saying that "This is a model place where all the people live like brothers and sisters, unaffected by the difference of caste and the enmities of religion." Shri. Narayana Guru was his role model. He was very much influencd by his words. He followed Shri. Narayana Guru’s words for his life which are "One caste, One Religion and One God for all Humans".

Dr. Yesudas is happily married to Prabha for more than 30 years. They have three sons, Vinod, Vijay and Vishal. The second son Vijay Yesudas, is a budding musician . The family is currently settled in Madras, India and visit Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA time and again for business reasons.

Yesudas - National Awards

* 1972 - for film Achanum bappayum - for song Manushyan mathangale
* 1973 - for film Gaayathri - for song Padmatheerthame unaru
* 1976 - for film Chitchor - for song Gori thera gaon bada
* 1982 - for film Megha Sandesam - for song Aakasa desana
* 1987 - for film Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayam - for song Unnikale oru kadha parayam
* 1991 - for film Bharatham - for song Rama kadha gaana layam
* 1993 - for film Sopanam - for song Sopanam (title song)