Venkatesh Kumar

Early life

Venkatesh Kumar's father late Huleppa was a folk singer and a leather puppeteer. In 1968, when he was 12 years old, Venkatesh Kumar was taken by his uncle Belagallu Veeranna to the Veereshwara Punyashrama in Gadag, run by the Veerashaiva saint and Hindustani musician, Puttaraja Gawai. Kumar lived and learned at the ashram for the next 12 years.

Musical training

Venkatesh Kumar learnt Hindustani vocal in the Gwalior and Kirana gharana styles under Gawai. Kumar blends these styles effortlessly in his presentations, though he admits to influences beyond these gharanas, chief among them being Bade Ghulam Ali Khan of the Patiala gharana. His guru was also trained in Carnatic music, and as a result, there are traces of Carnatic elements – especially in his sargam patterns – in Pandit Kumar’s music

Career

Kumar got his first break in 1993, 14 years after he left the ashram. He received a telegram-invitation from the great Pandit Bhimsen Joshi to perform at the Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav in Pune that year. On that occasion, Venkatesh Kumar had sung raag yaman and raag shankara.He had established a significant local reputation by then, but the performance in Sawai was the first step towards national exposure. However, he had to wait for almost another ten years before he became a regular on the national festival circuit. Since then he has featured in many National musical programs, and has been an "A" grade Artist of All India Radio since 1988

In 2002, when the government of Maharashtra was conferring the Maharashtra Bhushan award to Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Joshi was asked whom he would like to hear on the occasion. His first choice was Ustad Rashid Khan, but when he was told that Khan was unavailable, he did not hesitate to name Pt Kumar as his choice.

Prof. Venkatesh Kumar is gifted with a mellifluous, robust and vibrant voice, rich in tradition and deep in devotion. His vast experience and deep-rooted commitment has made him a name to reckon with. He has performed at all major music festivals in India and abroad.

Devotional music

In devotional music, Pt Kumar was most acclaimed for his Kannada vachana and dasara pada Singing, Popular ones include "smarane saalade" of Nada Varshini Album. He also has multiple Devotional and Classical CD album to his credit.

As Teacher

As a teacher, Pandit Venkatesh Kumar started his teaching carrier in Vijay Mahantesh Arts College near Gadag for one and half years. He had also taught in Mukunda Kripa in Udupi.

Pandit Kumar held a teaching job at the University College of Music, Dharwad. This commitment regularly forced him turn down concerts, but he refused to quit the job that offered him stability at a time when concerts were hard to come by. Every morning, the maestro can be seen on his journey from his home to the campus, a journey he still makes on his scooter. He also received a post graduate degree in music from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya.

He has authored the text book of Music prescribed for the Examination conducted by the Govt. of Karnataka. Sri Venkatesh Kumar had served as a faculty member at Music College, Dharwad University and had taught Music to masters classes.

He taught music at the Karnataka College of Music, Dharwad for 33 years and took retirement from the job in 2015.

Awards

He is the recipient of several titles such as

1. Swarashree

2. Sangeet Sudhakara

2. Sangeeta Ratna

3. Karnataka Rajyotsava Award (1999)

3. Karnataka Sangeet Natya Academy Award (2007)

4. Vatsala Bhimsen Joshi Award 2008

5. Krishna Hangal Award (2009)

6. Honoured by Kendra Sangeeth Nataka Akademi Award (2012)

7. Honorary Doctorate from The Karnataka University, Dharwad (2014)

8. Swara Laya Samrat (2014)

9. Padma Sri Award by the Government of India(2016)