K. J. Yesudas (Kattassery Joseph Yesudas), often referred to as the “Gana Gandharvan” (The Celestial Singer), is one of India’s most celebrated playback singers and classical musicians. Born on January 10, 1940, in Fort Kochi, Kerala, India, Yesudas has built an illustrious career over six decades, earning accolades for his contributions to Indian music across multiple languages and genres.
Early Life and Training
Yesudas was born into a Roman Catholic family. His father, Augustine Joseph, was a well-known stage singer and actor, which greatly influenced Yesudas’ early passion for music. Recognizing his son’s talent, Augustine Joseph enrolled him in formal music training at an early age. Yesudas initially trained in Carnatic music, studying under prominent musicians like Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, and later expanded his repertoire to include Hindustani classical music.
Despite his humble beginnings, Yesudas’ dedication to classical music laid the foundation for his remarkable vocal control and ability to sing across genres. He pursued his education at RLV College of Music and Fine Arts, Thrippunithura, and further honed his skills at the prestigious Swathi Thirunal Music Academy in Thiruvananthapuram.
Playback Singing Career
Yesudas made his playback singing debut in 1961 with the Malayalam film Kalpadukal. His first song, “Jaathi Bhedam Matha Dwesham,” a social commentary, became widely popular and established him as a voice to be reckoned with in Malayalam cinema.
Over the years, Yesudas’ voice became synonymous with Indian playback music, contributing extensively to the music of films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi, among other regional languages. He has sung over 80,000 songs, a record in itself, and has worked with some of the greatest Indian composers, such as Ilaiyaraaja, M. S. Viswanathan, R. D. Burman, and A. R. Rahman. His ability to adapt to different styles, from classical ragas to contemporary film music, made him a favorite among both audiences and music directors.
