The very famous Saxophonist and Padma Shree awardee, Kadri Gopalnath passed away at 69. The Carnatic jass music magician took his last breathe at early hours on Friday in a private Hospital, Mangaluru.
The Saxophone magician is no more
Kadri Gopalnath passed away on October 11 following a brief illness at the age of 69. Sources said he was admitted to A. J. Hospital and Research Centre on October 10 complaining a back pain. He took his last breath at 4.45 am on October 11 due to cardiac arrest.
Gopalnath’s body will be kept at the Town Hall to allow people to pay the last honor. Gopalnath is survived by his wife Sarojini and two sons, Manikanth Kadri who is a famous music director, Guruprasad Kadri, who is now in Kuwait, and a daughter Ambika Mohan.
The legendary musician
The legendary musician was born in Mittakere in Sajeepa Mooda village in Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada on December 6, 1949. He obtained a taste for music from his father Thaniappa, a ‘nadaswaram’ player. As a kid, he saw the saxophone being played in the Mysore palace band set. On hearing the lively tone of the saxophone, Gopalnath decided to comprehend it. It took him nearly 20 years to conquer the complicated western wind instrument, and he was finally honored as the “Saxophone Chakravarthy”.
Apart from Padmashree, the legend had won the Kendra Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award, Karnataka Kalashree. Mr. Gopalnath has performed in many places across the world including in Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, Sri Lanka, and West Asia. Gopalnath has participated in the Jazz Festival in Prague, the Berlin Jazz Festival, the International Cervantino Festival in Mexico, the Music Hall Festival in Paris. He had the distinction of being the first Carnatic musician to be invited to the BBC Promenade concert in 1994, in the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Some of other titles to his name: Saxophone Chakravarthy, Saxophone Samrat, Ganakala Shree, Nadapasana Brahma, Sunada Prakashika, Nada Kalarathna, Nada Kalanidhi, Sangeetha Vadya Rathna, Karnataka Kalashree in 1996, Vocational Excellency Award from the Rotary of Madras, Tamil Nadu State Award “Kalaimamani” and Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 1998.
Twitter pays respect
Padmashree Dr kadri gopalanath sir Huge loss to the world music? ? pic.twitter.com/VdJWBr477U
— Rakshith Kj (@KjRakshith) October 11, 2019
Vid. Sh. Kadri Gopalanath passed away this morning! HUGE LOSS! The Music fraternity & all rasikas have truly lost a gem. My pranams to you maestro ???? @PMOIndia @narendramodi_in @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/OalLFzNV7Z
— Rashmi Kumble (ರಶ್ಮಿ ಕುಂಬ್ಳೆ) (@RashmiSrivatsa) October 11, 2019
Kadri Gopalanath- a brilliant Saxophonist is no more! He was an outstanding musician. His Jugalbandi "Raag Rang" with Pravin Godkhindi is evergreen. A great loss. pic.twitter.com/7ZjRp900vy
— Sanjeev Sirnoorkar, ಸಂಜೀವ, సంజీవ, संजीव, சஞ்சீவ் (@sirnoorkar) October 11, 2019
Sad to hear about padmashree awardee saxophonist kadri gopalanath passing away.. kudla has lost a part of it's soul.. he was a musical magician who could transform the audience and take them to a different world. Maestro par excellence.. RIP
— Harsha IPS CP Mangaluru City (@compolmlr) October 11, 2019
Omshanthi #kadrigopalanath sir.. I am always a fan of your rag rang album. Listen to this.. It will make ur week. https://t.co/cUqbbRxQyw
— Rajesh Acharya (@ujirerajesh) October 11, 2019
ಕದ್ರಿ ಗೋಪಾಲನಾಥ್ ನಿಧನ Kadri Gopalanath passes away – Indeed end of an era.
— hamsanandi (@hamsanandi) October 11, 2019
The king is dead. The king of the Carnatic Saxaphone. Just so so sad. RIP #kadrigopalnath #kadri
— sharada ramanathan (@sharadaramanat1) October 11, 2019
Farewell India’s Saxophone king.
The flowing mane, the genial smile, the rings & bling,
And the magical music.Endaro Mahanubhavulu… #kadrigopalnath #kadri https://t.co/57mme6NByb via @YouTube
— S. Krishnan (@krishnanism) October 11, 2019
Om Shanti ???#KADRIGopalnath #Kadri pic.twitter.com/wgsGbWfjS5
— Laveen SK (@laveenkotian) October 11, 2019
Great are those few men who create Paths that is followed by generations..
Kadri Gopalnath was one of them..
Pioneered a combination of Saxophone and Carnatic Music..
Saxophone has lost one of its favorite son Today.. ??#KADRI— Vyshwanara (@Vyshwanara_k) October 11, 2019
My jugalbandi partner the saxophone legend padmashri dr kadri gopalnath ji is no more, a sad day for music.. he was a like a guru to me.. RIP maestro ?? #kadri #gopalnath #icm #jugalbandi pic.twitter.com/qdr1yyuMWj
— pravin godkhindi (@pravingodkhindi) October 11, 2019
Kadri Gopalnath, you will be missed – #KadriGopalnath #Kadri #Gopalnath #rip https://t.co/BKY0Qi46AW pic.twitter.com/O0OGjC7cgs
— The Grim Reaper (@deadpeoplecom) October 11, 2019
Rest in piece #Kadri #Gopalnath saxophone maestro! https://t.co/EYeAMNxVFZ
— Karthik Ananth (@Kar_Ananth) October 11, 2019
Saxophone legend padmashri dr kadri gopalnath is no more. Om Shanti ?? #kadri #gopalnath
— hari krishna (@hkrishnagooty) October 11, 2019
