Vasant Rai
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Vasant Rai (1942-1985) was one of world's most acclaimed performers of Indian music. He was born in Paris, France and studied music in India. Rai was the last student of Allauddin Khan, who is best known as the teacher of Ravi Shankar.
Rai came to New York City in 1973 and lived mainly in the Greenwich Village area when he was not touring. From 1969 to 1985 he conducted the Alam School of Music. Alla Rakha, Mahapurush Misra, and Shamta Prasad usually accompanied him on the tabla. During the early 1980s, Rai and the jazz flutist Herbie Mann jammed together at clubs such as the Bottom Line and Village Gate. Vasant Rai taught many Western musicians such as George Harrison, John Coltrane, Colin Walcot and other rock and jazz personalities of that time.
Vasant Rai also trained a number of Indian classical musicians such as sarod players Pradeep Barot and Stephen James, and sitar player Amya Das Gupta. Pradeep Barot is a leading sarod player of the present generation. Rai's sons Satyam (b 1982) and Andrew (b 1977) are also upcomming sarodists. Satyam and Andrew continue to maintain the family school in New York City. After the death of Vasant Rai, Aashish Khan Debsharma took the responsibility to teach Vasant Rai's children and since then he is the guru of Satyam and Andrew.
