Dr.K.J. Yesudas (born 10 January 1940) is an Indian classical musician and a playback singer. He has won the National Award for the best male playback singer Seven times, the most by any singer and the State Award for the best playback singer Forty Five times by the Government of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Yesudas sings Indian classical music, devotional and popular songs. He has recorded more than 40,000 songs in many languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tulu, Malay, Russian, Arabic, Latin and English through his long career spanning Five Decades. He has been singing for most Indian languages except Assamese, Konkani and Kashmiri. He also composed number of Malayalam Film songs in 70's and 80's. He is fondly called 'Gana Gandharvan'.
Early life
K. J. Yesudas was born in Fort Kochi, Kingdom of Cochin, India into a Latin Rite Catholic family, to Augustine Joseph and Alicekutty. His name Yesu is Malyalam version for Jesus. His father, who was a well-known Malayalam classical musician and stage actor, was his first guru. Later he joined the Music Academy in Thrippunithura and underwent training. For a brief period, he was with Sri Vechur Hari Hara Subramania Iyer after which he took advanced training from Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, a maestro of Classical Music. Although he is a Carnatic Music expert,he mastered Hindustani Music. He has taken the words of Sree Narayana Guru, "One Religion, One Caste for all humans" to heart.
Film Awards
National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer a record seven times by the Government of India.
State Film Awards a record Twenty four times for the best Playback singer by the Government of Kerala.
State Film awards Eight times for the best Playback singer by the Government of Tamil Nadu.
State Film awards Six times for the best Playback singer by the Government of Andra Pradesh.
State Film awards Five Times for the best Playback singer by the Government of Karnataka.
State Film awards One time for the best Playback singer by the Government of West Bengal.
Birth name-Kattassery Joseph Yesudas
Also known as-Gana Gandharvan
Born-10 January 1940 (age 70)
Fort Kochi, Cochin, India
Origin-Kochi, Kerala, India
Genres-Indian classical music
playback singing
Music Director
Years active-1961–present