Sri Garimella Balakrishna Prasad
Garimella Balakrishna Prasad (born 9 November 1948) is an Indian classical devotional singer and composer. He has been the Asthana Gayaka of the Tirumala temple at Tirupati from 1978 to 2006.
He is regarded as a pioneer in rendering devotional music in classical style, especially the Annamacharya sankirtanas. He set the musical tune for more than 600 Annamacharya songs. He composed tunes for famous keerthanas such as Vinaro Bhagyamu Vishnukatha, Jagadapu Chanavula and Pidikita Thalambralu... which became popular among the devotees. He sings in classical styles like carnatic classical, light classical, folk and light music.
Early life and background
Balakrishna Prasad was born in Rajamundry, Andhra Pradesh to Krishnaveni and Narasimha Rao, who was a music teacher as well as a Vaggeyakara. He holds a Diploma in Carnatic Music. He is 'A' grade vocal artiste of All India Radio (AIR).
He specialised in Annamacharya songs under the tutelage of Sangita Kalanidhi, Nedunuri Krishnamurthy, who initiated him into the nuances of classical music. He is still closely associated with Sri Nedunuri Krishnamurthy in not only learning music, but also in composing music to Annamacharya Sankeerthanas and publishing books with musical notation and recording audio CD's. He also trained under Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna and Prof. D.Pasupathi also inculcated the finer aspects of music while he was undergoing two year scholarship course offered by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
Performing career
Garimella Balakrishna Prasad joined Annamacharya Project after completing the course in 1978 as a vocal artiste. The project established to promote Annamacharya's music and literature, soon became the medium through which he was able to bring forth his musical prowess. From the inception till his retirement in 2006, he remained the principal exponent of Annamacharya Project. He rendered remarkable services at various levels to raise it into a top cultural organization.
His Nadopasana spans over four decades. Absolute faith, total commitment and the zeal for perfection are the hallmarks of his music. He consistently endeavours to improve his art and continues to grow as an artist.
He presented more than 6000 vocal concerts, set tune to more than 600 Annamacharya songs, gave audio recordings for TTD, published books with musical notations and conducted classes, teaching Annamacharya songs to make them more popular.
Personal life
Wife - G.Radha
Elder son - G.S.Pavana Kumar, spouse - SriVidya
Younger son - G.V.N.Anila Kumar, spouse - Swarna
He is the nephew of playback singer S.Janaki.
Unique contributions and records
Garimella Balakrishna Prasad (born 9 November 1948) is an Indian classical devotional singer and composer. He has been the Asthana Gayaka of the Tirumala temple at Tirupati from 1978 to 2006.
He is regarded as a pioneer in rendering devotional music in classical style, especially the Annamacharya sankirtanas. He set the musical tune for more than 600 Annamacharya songs. He composed tunes for famous keerthanas such as Vinaro Bhagyamu Vishnukatha, Jagadapu Chanavula and Pidikita Thalambralu... which became popular among the devotees. He sings in classical styles like carnatic classical, light classical, folk and light music.
Early life and background
Balakrishna Prasad was born in Rajamundry, Andhra Pradesh to Krishnaveni and Narasimha Rao, who was a music teacher as well as a Vaggeyakara. He holds a Diploma in Carnatic Music. He is 'A' grade vocal artiste of All India Radio (AIR).
He specialised in Annamacharya songs under the tutelage of Sangita Kalanidhi, Nedunuri Krishnamurthy, who initiated him into the nuances of classical music. He is still closely associated with Sri Nedunuri Krishnamurthy in not only learning music, but also in composing music to Annamacharya Sankeerthanas and publishing books with musical notation and recording audio CD's. He also trained under Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna and Prof. D.Pasupathi also inculcated the finer aspects of music while he was undergoing two year scholarship course offered by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
Performing career
Garimella Balakrishna Prasad joined Annamacharya Project after completing the course in 1978 as a vocal artiste. The project established to promote Annamacharya's music and literature, soon became the medium through which he was able to bring forth his musical prowess. From the inception till his retirement in 2006, he remained the principal exponent of Annamacharya Project. He rendered remarkable services at various levels to raise it into a top cultural organization.
His Nadopasana spans over four decades. Absolute faith, total commitment and the zeal for perfection are the hallmarks of his music. He consistently endeavours to improve his art and continues to grow as an artist.
He presented more than 6000 vocal concerts, set tune to more than 600 Annamacharya songs, gave audio recordings for TTD, published books with musical notations and conducted classes, teaching Annamacharya songs to make them more popular.
Personal life
Wife - G.Radha
Elder son - G.S.Pavana Kumar, spouse - SriVidya
Younger son - G.V.N.Anila Kumar, spouse - Swarna
He is the nephew of playback singer S.Janaki.
Unique contributions and records
- He is the inventor of "Sankeerthana Yagnam", a stage where a large number of songs are sung by a singer on a single stage, which spans for more than one day. Sankeerthana Yagnam's performed by Garimella Balakrishna Prasad - Visakhapatnam in the year 1997 and Vijayawada in the year 1999 with more than 200 songs, Tirupati in the year 2001 with a record number of more than 300 songs, Hyderbad in the year 2003 and 2007 with more than 200 songs. Some of these features are being telecast through Tv channels like MAA Tv, Bhakthi Tv etc.
- He has crossed most successfully 100 number of Annamacharya sankeerthans teaching through "Hari Sankeerthanam", a unique feature of BHAKTHI Tv (a sister concern of NTv), to common folk. It is mentionable that his second son Sri GVN Anila Kumar has participated as student in this feature and thousands of music lovers are benefited by learning directly from Sri Balakrishna Prasad.
- "LAKSHA GALAARCHANA" is an extraordinary feature where in Sri Balakrishna Prasad has lead more than one lakh sixty thousand singers all across India on a single day, 10 May 2008, at Parade grounds, Secunderabad. This feature is conducted by "SILICON ANDHRA" (a U.S. based organization) in co-ordination with Andhra Pradesh (A.P.) State Government and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (T.T.D). This feature is telecast in live simultaneously by many TV Channels in India and abroad.
- More than 6000 concerts by a singer with Annamacharya sankeerthanas.
- More than 600 songs set to tune by a music composer for a lyricist.
- Tiramala Tirupati Devasthanams has honoured Sri Balakrishna Prasad with a certificate of appreciation and a silver dollar in the year 2006 for his extra ordinary service
- Being a Vaggeyakara he has penned sankeerthanas on lord Anjaneya "ANJANEYA KRITI MANI MALA" (21 kritis), on lord Ganesha (50 kritis), Navagrahas, Light music songs and on other lords. His own compositions are more than 1000 in number. Some of them are published as books with musical notations.
