Bhimsen Joshi

Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi (pronunciation ; 4 February 1922 – 24 January 2011) was an Indian vocalist from Karnataka (later settled in Maharashtra) in the Hindustani classical tradition. He is known for the khayal form of singing, as well as for his popular renditions of devotional music (bhajans and abhangs). In 1998, he was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour conferred by Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama. Subsequently, he received the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, in 2009. He is also known as the 'God of Singing' or 'God of Music'.