Krishna Das (singer)
| Krishna Das | |
|---|---|
2005
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jeffrey Kagel |
| Also known as | Krishna Das |
| Born | May 31, 1947 |
| Origin | Long Island, New York, United States |
| Genres | Kirtan |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, record producer |
| Instruments | Harmonium |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Labels | Krishna Das Music, Nutone Music |
| Associated acts | Arjun Bruggeman, Genevieve Walker, Mark Egan, Mark Gorman, Patrick Lee Hammond, Nina Rao, David Nichtern, Steve Gorn, Walter Becker, Ty Burhoe, John McDowell, Wah!, |
| Website | www |
Krishna Das (born Jeffrey Kagel; May 31, 1947) is an American vocalist known for his performances of Hindu devotional music known as kirtan (chanting the names of God). He has released fourteen albums since 1996. He performed at the 2013 Grammy Awards, where his album, Live Ananda (2012), was nominated for the 2013 Grammy Award for Best New Age Album.
Krishna Das traveled to India in August 1970 where, as Ram Dass had done, he studied with the Hindu guru Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaj-ji). Krishna Das has studied ancient Indian meditation practices, Bhakti Yoga - in Hinduism this is the yoga of devotion, and is now devoted to singing and teaching. He has released several CDs, and he travels around the world giving performances and teaching, sometimes with Ram Dass. In recent years he also has often led workshops in combination with meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg. He has also offered workshops with yoga teacher Dharma Mittra. In India, he visits Rishikesh for practicing Yoga and meditation.
Krishna Das is arguably the best known U.S. singer of Indian kirtan-style devotional music. Other artists working within this genre include Bhagavan Das, Jai Uttal, Ragani, Sean Johnson and The Wild Lotus Band, Shyamdas, Lokah Music, Wah!, Deva Premal, Girish, Shantala and David Newman. He was referred to as the "Rockstar of Yoga" by the Grammys when he was nominated for a 2013 Grammy Award.
Krishna Das has recorded numerous variations of Hanuman Chalisa, a 40 stanza Hindi devotional poem to Hanuman by Tulsidas. In recent years, he has also performed and recorded the traditional gospel song, "Jesus is on the Mainline." Other heterodoxies are found on his album Door of Faith (2003), which includes a setting of the Hanuman Chalisa that interpolates the Buddhist "Gate of Sweet Nectar," and a setting of the Gospel tune "God is Real," which blends in "Hare Ram".
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