Prabhakar Karekar

Pandit Prabhakar Karekar (1944 – 12 February 2025) was an Indian Hindustani classical vocalist, born in Goa, Portuguese India.^[1] He was awarded Tansen Samman in 2014 and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in the year 2016.^[2][3]

Pandit Prabhakar Karekar
Born	Prabhakar Janardhan Karekar 1944 (1944) Portuguese Goa
Died	12 February 2025 (aged 80) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupation(s)	Classical singer, vocalist
Awards	Gomant Vibhushan (2021) Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2016) Tansen Samman (2014)

Background

Prabhakar Janardan Karekar was born into a Daivadnya family in 1944,^[4] which was then Portuguese Goa. His Hindustani vocal music training came from Suresh Haldankar, Jitendra Abhisheki, and C. R. Vyas.^[4] He was known as an outstanding performer and teacher, and was a graded artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan.^[4]

Death

Karekar died on 12 February 2025, at the age of 80.^[5]

Promoting Hindustani vocals

Karekar was also the founder and Chairman of the Swarprabha Trust.^[4] He trained several promising and accomplished young musicians. He had recordings to his credit and performed, lectured and held workshops or taken part in conferences in different countries.^[4]

Fusion music

Karekar entered the world of fusion music with Ornette Coleman (U.S.A.), and Sultan Khan (India). The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award was for his contribution to Hindustani vocal music.^[4]

See also

• Shakuntala Bharne, who wrote his biography.