Ali Akbar Khan

Ali Akbar Khan (born April 14, 1922, Shibpur, Bengal, India [now in Bangladesh]—died June 18, 2009, San Anselmo, Calif., U.S.) was a composer, virtuoso sarod player, and teacher, active in presenting classical Indian music to Western audiences. Khan’s music is rooted in the Hindustani (northern) tradition of Indian music (see also Hindustani music). Khan was trained by his father, the master Alauddin Khan, and began performing at age 13, soon becoming the court musician to...