Ali Akbar Khan (1922–2009) was a legendary Hindustani classical musician and sarod virtuoso. Trained in the Maihar gharana tradition, he became a central figure in bringing Indian classical music to the West. A pioneer, he was the first Indian musician to record an LP album in the United States and to perform the sarod on American television. In 1967, he established the Ali Akbar College of Music in California. He also served as an adjunct professor of music at the University of California, Santa Cruz. A celebrated artist, he was nominated five times for a Grammy Award and was a recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship. Beyond formal instruction, he collaborated extensively with Western musicians, famously mentoring Grateful Dead drummers Mickey Hart and, by extension, Bill Kreutzmann, leaving an enduring global musical legacy.
