RIP Ravi Shankar

Written by

MBE producer Ariana Morgenstern, Ravi and Tom Schnabel by Steve Laufer (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Ravi Shankar was the first guest Tom Schnabel (KCRW’s first Music Director) interviewed on Morning Becomes Eclectic, in 1979. He returned to chat with our next music director Chris Douridas and then finally entered our studios for a live performance, with his daughter Anoushka, with host Nic Harcourtin 2002.

Ravi introduced the world to Indian music in the 60’s including, most famously, The Beatles.

Check out a snippet of an interview hosted by Tom and revisit the performance in our archives.

Tom Schnabel Talks About Ravi Shankar by KCRW

by Larry Hirshowitz (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Ravi Shankar and Anoushka Shankar by Larry Hirshowitz (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

Read a beautiful dedication from Tom Schnabel on the Rhythm Planet blog.

Here is a remembrance from MBE Producer Ariana Morgenstern about Ravi, as the first artist ever interviewed in MBE:

“In those early days, it was hard to get well-known musicians to come by a college radio station. but little by little we got in some great artists.

Ravi Shankar, we met several times and liked each other immediately. I was in my early 20’s. Once, he came by and I noticed this opulent diamond ring. I couldn’t avoid it and asked him about it. He told me his guru had given it to him as a gift. He materialized it out of nothing, sheer will.  That seemed unlikely to me but he said that was true. he invited me to his show that night at Royce Hall. after a stunning concert, I went to the meet and greet. As the doors opened, I saw a long line of friends, fans waiting to kiss his bare feet and have a chat. He turned toward the door saw me and left his place and came to greet me. I couldn’t believe what was happening. Years later, when Tom went to interview him at his house, Tom returned with a note for me.”

Chris Douridas and Ravi Shankar (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)