Pandit Ravi Shankar to receive Grammy award posthumously

13 December, 2012

The sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar has been named a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award recipient, a day after his death. The Grammy awards are the most prestigious awards for the recording industry.

AWARDING THE legendary artist with such an honourable award has come just at the right time. The annual Grammy Award presentation brings together the creative and technical professionals of the recording industry from all over the world.

The sitar maestro will be honoured with this award along with six other artists at an invitation-only ceremony at Los Angeles on 9th February 2013. Along with Pandit Ravi Shankar, two other artists will also receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously.

This will be the 55th annual Grammy Awards ceremony which is going to be held at Staples Centre in Los Angeles. This Special Merit Award is presented by vote of The Recording Academy's National Trustees to performers for their lifetime contributions to the outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording, reported Firstpost.

Pandit Ravi Shankar was named as one of the Grammy nominees for Best World Music Album. One of the nominees for the same category was his daughter, sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar, 31. This was the first time when albums of father and daughter were competing for the same honour at the Grammy's.

Neil Portnow, President/ CEO of The Recording Academy, under whose auspices the Grammys are presented told IANS, “Each year, The Academy has the distinct privilege of honouring those who have greatly contributed to our industry and cultural heritage, and this year we have a gifted and brilliant group of honourees.” He also said that 'their exceptional accomplishments, contributions and artistry will continue to influence and inspire generations to come'.