Good morning, Netizens...

Here is a name from my past and yours, one that will unquestionably be remembered long after you and I are interred and forgotten. I have worshiped and idolized Indian classical music and Ravi Shakar since the first time I was introduced to it in the early 1960's. Among some of the other great musicians with whom Dr. Ravi Shakar has collaborated with in his lifelong experience as a musician and composer are (of course) the late George Harrison of the Beatles, jazz great Cannonball Adderly, conductor/composer/musician Yehudi Menuhin, Eric Clapton, conductor David Murphy and Jethro Tull, to name just a few.

Born in 1920, although quite advanced in years, I was astounded to read about it, if you browse to http://www.ravishankar.org/index.html and follow the link to their tour dates, you will see that although nearly 90 years of age, Shakar accompanied by his daughter, Anoushka Shankar, also a sitarist,will be touring the United States later on this year.

Did I mention that Anoushka Shankar's half-sister, Nora Jones, has been tearing up the charts, with five Grammy awards?

Yes, all that and more. The music, if not the legacy of Ravi Shankar is very much still alive and as vibrant as I recall it being at Woodstock and beyond. Thus as the morning, wandering from the dulcet fingertips of fog rasping along the remnants of the snow berms to the elegance of the early robin, speculatively examining a nearby plum tree for suitable accommodations to nest for the coming spring, I choose to remember Ravi Shankar, a living legend of music who is still with us, it seems.

Dave

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