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Trending in Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s World
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Quick Facts
Born
1945
1945
From
IN
IN
Journey
Celebrated worldwide as the “Sarod Samrat,” Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is one of the foremost ambassadors of Indian classical music. A leading exponent of the Senia Bangash gharana, he has spent more than six decades expanding the global reach of the sarod while preserving one of India’s most distinguished musical traditions.
He was born in 1945 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India, as Masoom Ali Khan. Coming from a family of renowned sarod players, he represents the sixth generation in that lineage. His father, Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan, became his sole guru, and his training began in early childhood. By the 1960s, he was already performing internationally, establishing a reputation for lyrical phrasing, tonal clarity, and deep emotional expression.
Primarily recorded for Saregama and Saregama India Ltd, his discography comprises titles such as "Sarod Euphony," "Ustad Amjad Ali Khan Instrumental Hits," and "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram," besides many other classical and devotional albums. His collaborations have crossed artistic and geographic boundaries, bringing him together with Ustad Bismillah Khan, Joe Walsh of the Eagles, Charlie Byrd, Igor Frolov, Glenda Simpson, Barry Mason, Matthew Barley, and Carrie Newcomer. These projects introduced the sarod to audiences far beyond its traditional concert setting.
His achievements include India’s three major civilian honors: the Padma Shri (1975), Padma Bhushan (1991), and Padma Vibhushan (2001). He also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1989), the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (2011), the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize (2004), the Banga Bibhushan Samman (2011), and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. In 2026, he received the Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording.
That Grammy-winning project was created with his sons, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, reflecting his enduring commitment to transmitting the sarod tradition to the next generation. Through performance, recording, teaching, and international collaboration, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan has secured a lasting place not only in Indian classical music but also in the wider global conversation on acoustic artistry and cultural exchange.
