Pandit Pran Nath

A master vocalist and teacher, Pandit Pran Nath was born in 1918 in Lahore, India. He began his music studies at age six and became a disciple of the late Sufi Master Vocalist Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan Chisti Sabri of Kirana at the age of 15.  By age 19, Pandit Pran Nath had his first professional engagement with All India Radio. His path led him to a cave in Tapkeshwar, the oldest Shiva temple in India, where he spent 5 years, singing only for God.  His Guru’s last wish before dying was that his disciple give up the life of a recluse, marry and take his music and teachings into the world. Pandit Pran Nath soon became revered as a “musician’s musician”  in India.  In 1970, he came to the West, teaching in California and New York and performing in   the United States and Europe. He also taught at Mills College in Oakland, California. He lovingly planted the exquisite Kirana vocal music tradition of North India in the Western world. He taught many American composers including Terry Riley, La Monte Young, Allaudin Mathieu and Jon Hassell as well as Sufi leaders Shabda Kahn and Michael Harrison.  His music has deeply touched many admirers in the West, and it is our hope that the seeds he planted flourish.