close_game
close_game

British sitar maestro Mick Taylor dies aged 69

Hindustan Times, London | By, London
Jun 23, 2018 10:54 PM IST

Mick Taylor was the disciple of Imdad Hussain and Imrat Khan.

Mick Taylor, one of few exponents from the West who studied various aspects of Indian classical music and received rave reviews in India and elsewhere for his gayaki (vocal) style of playing the sitar, has passed away at the age of 69.

Mick Taylor’s engagement with Indian classical music began in 1969.
Mick Taylor’s engagement with Indian classical music began in 1969.

A disciple of Imdad Hussain and Imrat Khan, Cambridgeshire-based Taylor had been suffering from cancer for some years, and died on June 21, leaving behind his wife Alpana Sengupta, a distinguished Kathak dancer, son Arun, and grandchildren.

Stay tuned with breaking news on HT Channel on Facebook. Join Now

“Mick stood out among British exponents of Indian classical music due to his ‘sadhana’, dedication, he went through the whole process of learning. He performed solo and with many Indian musicians over the years”, said Jay Visvadeva of Sama Arts Network, a leading London-based cultural organisation.

“I have known him since the mid-1970s. He had many students and was also closely involved in organising concerts in the United Kingdom of leading musicians such as Hariprasad Chaurasia, Shankar Ghosh and Shujaat Khan,” he added.

Taylor’s engagement with Indian classical music began in 1969. He was particularly close to Imrat Khan, the sitar and surbahar maestro, and followed the Imdadkhani gharana. He also composed music for Kathak performances by Sengupta.

His performances in India over the years included several in New Delhi at the Kamani Auditorium and the India International Centre, and in Kolkata at the Sangit Kala Mandir, Birla Academy for Art and Culture, and Rabindra Bhavan.

Get Latest World News along with Latest News from India at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    Prasun Sonwalkar was Editor (UK & Europe), Hindustan Times. During more than three decades, he held senior positions on the Desk, besides reporting from India’s north-east and other states, including a decade covering politics from New Delhi. He has been reporting from UK and Europe since 1999.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, December 08, 2023
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now