U. Rajesh Explained
Uppalapu Rajesh popularly known as Mandolin Rajesh is an Indian mandolin player of Carnatic classical music, a music producer, and a composer.[5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
Career
His work with John McLaughlin's album Floating Point, received a Grammy nomination in 2009.[4] He was the youngest participant in the Magic Mandolin Festival, (Germany), has performed at the Lincoln Centre, New York City, and has given concerts in BBC Live at London, Melbourne Concert Hall, Cité de la Musique, Paris,[3] Greece,[10] Canada,[11] Middle-East, United States,[12] and Europe.[13] [14]
He has performed live with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (with Dominique Di Piazza), KZN Philharmonic Orchestra,[15] and Closer home (with Stephen Devassy).[16] [17] [18] [19] His music performance at New York in 2006, was voted among the best concerts of the year, by The New Yorker. He was specially honored by the President of India, in April 2007.[20] [21]
He has released solo albums, namely – Coromandel Duet (with A.K.Palanivel), Amalgamation, Vikku Vinayakaram, Spirits, Following My Heart and Into the Light.[3] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] The musical album Samjanitha included himself, U. Srinivas, Zakir Hussain, Sivamani, and George Brook.[27] [17] [28] U. Rajesh has been involved in tours and recordings with many music artists in both North and South India, such as Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Sultan Khan, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharan, Louis Banks, Ranjit Barot, Mike Marshall, Sivamani and Pete Lockett, Karsh Kale and Greg Ellis, Bickram Ghosh, Kamal Sabri, Niladri Kumar etc.[22] [29] [30] U. Rajesh in 2014, teamed with singer Karthik to form the band Srishti.[31]
Personal life
U. Rajesh was born on 17 May 1977 at Palakol, Andhra Pradesh, as the youngest child of U. Satyanarayana (father) and Kantham (mother).[3] He is the younger brother of late U. Srinivas, a notable mandolin player in Carnatic classical music, in India.[32] [33] [34] [35]
In his childhood, his father and brother were his tutors in music. He started playing carnatic classical music on mandolin at the age of 6, and performed his first concert, at Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham in the presence of Shri. Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi. U. Rajesh is an ardent devotee of the Paramacharya of Kanchi. He is also a follower and devotee of Sri Sathya Sai Baba and has performed before him on several occasions.[17] [3]
He and his brother have performed in concerts together, and have released musical albums together.[36] [37] [38] [39] He is one of the directors of the music school, Srinivas Institute of World Music (SIOWM, named after U. Srinivas), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, which is providing free musical tuition to the students.[40] [22]
Concerts
Starting at the age of 10, Rajesh started performing along with his brother. Rajesh was initiated to music by Kanchi Pamacharya and has given performances in over 50 countries. He continues to perform in carnatic classical and fusion music.[41] [42]
Controversy
In 2018, as a part of what was widely considered as India's #MeToo movement, singer Chinmayi shared an account of a minor who was allegedly sexually harassed by Rajesh.[43] [44]
Notes and References
- Web site: U. Rajesh . AllMusic . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322143550/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/u-rajesh-mn0001630406 . 22 March 2018 .
- News: Voice and instrument merge seamlessly . The Hindu . 17 March 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160317123112/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/mandolin-and-beyond-show-was-a-tribute-to-mandolin-u-shrinivas/article8365425.ece . 17 March 2016 .
- Web site: Amalgamation: U. Rajesh . MusicIndiaOnline . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170704225846/http://mio.to/album/Rajesh+U/Amalgamation . 4 July 2017 .
- Web site: Soul Strings: U Rajesh on the legacy of playing an Italian lute in the Carnatic classical system . The Indian Express . 19 August 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322204500/http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/u-rajesh-soul-strings-4803160/ . 22 March 2018 .
- Web site: Mandolin Rajesh and Apache Indian Clips . BBC . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180609090727/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05nhwpl/clips . 9 June 2018 .
- Web site: Mandolin Rajesh . 29 March 2015 . BBC . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180609090727/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02n13wh . 9 June 2018 .
- Web site: Mandolin U. Rajesh & Friends . iTunes Store . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322143049/https://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/mandolin-u-rajesh-friends/194874922 . 22 March 2018 .
- Web site: U. Rajesh . gaana.com . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322143727/https://gaana.com/artist/u-rajesh-1 . 22 March 2018 .
- Web site: U. Rajesh . bookmyshow.com . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322143458/https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/u-rajesh/1063981 . 22 March 2018 .
- Web site: The master of mandolin U. Rajesh in Athens . elinepa.org . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322143622/http://elinepa.org/2017/10/16/the-master-of-mandolin-u-rajesh-in-athens/?lang=en . 22 March 2018 .
- Web site: Exciting North-South Indian Music Concert in Toronto . raagmala.ca . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322142751/http://raagmala.ca/news/exciting-north-south-indian-music-concert-in-toronto/ . 22 March 2018 .
- Web site: BALAM Dance Theatre to Debut at International Dharma Conference in Edison, New Jersey . musicalamerica.com . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322143346/https://www.musicalamerica.com/news/newsstory.cfm?storyid=34647&categoryid=5&archived=0 . 22 March 2018 .
- Web site: Phoenix Marketcity celebrates Bengaluru Dasara Habba . eventshigh.com . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322143122/https://www.eventshigh.com/detail/bangalore/214641c69e350fdcdfccc13c92389c62-phoenix-marketcity-celebrates-bengaluru-dasara . 22 March 2018 .
- Web site: Mandolin man warms up to the ramp . Deccan Chronicle . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322145039/https://deccanchronicle.com/150524/entertainment-tvmusic/article/mandolin-man-warms-ramp . 22 March 2018 .
- Web site: Homepage . kznphil.org . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180323030543/http://kznphil.org.za/ . 23 March 2018 .
- Web site: When music showed the way to defeat cancer . 7 June 2015 . oneindia.com . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322204726/https://www.oneindia.com/bengaluru/indian-cancer-society-event-when-music-beat-cancer-1769509.html . 22 March 2018 .
- News: Mandolin magic . The Hindu . 27 August 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180609090727/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/Mandolin-magic/article16147030.ece . 9 June 2018 .
- Web site: Tribute To Mandolin Shrinivas by U. Rajesh and world music ensemble . rasika.org . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322143601/http://www.rasika.org/singleevent/tribute-to-mandolin-shrinivas-by-u-rajesh-and-world-music-ensemble/ . 22 March 2018 .
- Web site: Mandolin maestro's humble beginnings . Sunday Times (Johannesburg) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322143033/https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/lifestyle/2010-09-26-mandolin-maestros-humble-beginnings/ . 22 March 2018 .
- Web site: Tribecastan; also U Rajesh . townecc.tunestub.com . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322143429/http://townecc.tunestub.com/event.cfm?id=218340 . 22 March 2018 .
- Web site: Sai Bhajans (Instrumental) – Volume 6 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180323030608/https://www.amazon.in/Sai-Bhajans-Instrumental-Mandolin-Rajesh/dp/B018CGPTY0 . 23 March 2018 .
- Web site: Mandolin U Rajesh Music Director . justdial.com . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322143214/https://www.justdial.com/entertainment/artist/Mandolin-U-Rajesh/A631782 . 22 March 2018 .
- Web site: Mandolin U Rajesh into The Light . AllMusic . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322143601/https://www.allmusic.com/album/into-the-light-mw0001535293 . 22 March 2018 .
- Web site: U. Rajesh . discogs . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322143747/https://www.discogs.com/artist/2728410-U-Rajesh . 22 March 2018 .
- Web site: U. Rajesh . tidal.com . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180323030518/https://tidal.com/browse/artist/4281997 . 23 March 2018 .
- Web site: Spirits . Amazon . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180609090726/https://www.amazon.com/Spirits-Mandolin-U-Rajesh-Friends/dp/B004KKYF2A . 9 June 2018 .
- Web site: U Srinivas – Samjanitha CD . cduniverse.com . 22 March 2018 . 22 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322211454/https://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8263664 . live .
- Web site: U. Shrinivas: Samjanitha . AllMusic . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322143617/https://www.allmusic.com/album/samjanitha-mw0000791008/credits . 22 March 2018 .
- News: Where speed ruled . The Hindu . 22 December 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161223175726/http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/Where-speed-ruled/article16925485.ece . 23 December 2016 . Swaminathan . G. .
- Web site: Noida – HCL Concerts – at Shiv Nadar School Noida . #arts #music . 7 September 2016 . tennews.in . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322153613/http://tennews.in/noida-hcl-concerts-shiv-nadar-school-noida-arts-music/ . 22 March 2018 .
- News: U and I . The Hindu . 3 December 2014 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20141203190835/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/interview-with-u-rajesh/article6658472.ece . 3 December 2014 .
- News: Brother to pay musical tribute to Mandolin maestro Srinivas . The Times of India . 26 September 2014 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150707195653/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Brother-to-pay-musical-tribute-to-Mandolin-maestro-Srinivas/articleshow/43472157.cms . 7 July 2015 .
- News: Band of friends . The Hindu . 25 February 2015 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180609090727/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/band-of-friends/article6933074.ece . 9 June 2018 .
- Web site: ICMA Foundation . icmafoundation . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180419151636/http://www.icmafoundation.org/ . 19 April 2018 .
- Web site: A Broken Record . 3 December 2014 . openthemagazine.com . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322143137/http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/art-culture/a-broken-record . 22 March 2018 .
- Web site: A Mandolin Duet featuring Mandolin Maestro U. Srinivas & his brother U. Rajesh . sruti.org . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322143520/http://www.sruti.org/concerts/2013/usrinivas/usrinivas.asp . 22 March 2018 .
- Web site: Mandolin U Srinivas – Mozart of Indian Classical Music . riyazapp.com . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322144019/https://riyazapp.com/community/mandolin-u-srinivas-mozart-indian-classical-music/ . 22 March 2018 .
- Web site: A mandolin and a miracle, remembering U Srinivas . 25 September 2015 . thenewsminute.com . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170803155659/http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/mandolin-and-miracle-remembering-u-srinivas-34623 . 3 August 2017 .
- News: U. Shrinivas, 45, Indian Mandolin Virtuoso With Global Reach, Dies . The New York Times . October 2014 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170902101613/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/arts/music/u-shrinivas-indian-mandolin-virtuoso-dies-at-45-.html . 2 September 2017 . Martin . Douglas .
- Web site: Ray of Hope – Sri U. Rajesh . saivrinda.org . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322204635/https://saivrinda.org/my-sai-i/featured-article/ray-of-hope . 22 March 2018 .
- News: Milapfest cancels UK events featuring U Rajesh, mandolin player named in #MeToo allegations. 2018-11-01. Firstpost. 2022-11-22. 22 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221122215740/https://www.firstpost.com/india/milapfest-cancels-uk-events-featuring-u-rajesh-mandolin-player-named-in-metoo-allegations-5479881.html. live.
- News: Singer names celebrities on #Metoo. 2018-10-12. Gulf Today. 2022-11-22. 22 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221122221240/https://www.pressreader.com/bahrain/gulf-today/20181012/282041918090181. live.
- News: Milapfest cancels UK events featuring U Rajesh, mandolin player named in #MeToo allegations. 2018-11-01. Firstpost. 2022-11-22. 22 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221122215740/https://www.firstpost.com/india/milapfest-cancels-uk-events-featuring-u-rajesh-mandolin-player-named-in-metoo-allegations-5479881.html. live.
- News: Singer names celebrities on #Metoo. 2018-10-12. Gulf Today. 2022-11-22. 22 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221122221240/https://www.pressreader.com/bahrain/gulf-today/20181012/282041918090181. live.