Shows
The Wire TalksFifty-Five Years After they Broke Up, Why Are the Beatles Still Popular? | Oliver CraskeGenerations have come and music genres have changed, but The Beatles and their music go on and on.
In this podcast, Oliver Craske and Sidharth Bhatia, both fans of the world’s first pop group, try to crack the mystery of their enduring popularity 60 years after The Beatles broke up.
“Their music sounds deceptively simple but it was actually not simple,” says Craske, who has worked on several books about the group including The Beatles Anthology: Get Back, which accompanied the Peter Jackson film on them.
“Lennon and McCartne...2025-03-2148 min
Gimme Some TruthGeorge Meets Ravi with Oliver CraskeThe date that George Harrison first met his friend and mentor Ravi Shankar has never been accurately pinned down until now. This week I am joined by author/editor Oliver Craske to present the evidence he uncovered for his brilliant biography Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar.
2024-07-1752 minGimme Some TruthGeorge Meets Ravi with Oliver CraskeThe date that George Harrison first met his friend and mentor Ravi Shankar has never been accurately pinned down until now. This week I am joined by author/editor Oliver Craske to present the evidence he uncovered for his brilliant biography Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar (more information here).
2024-07-1752 min
Great LivesRavi Shankar, India's famous sitar playerRavi Shankar was born in India in 1920 and came to prominence just as India gained independence from Britain in 1947. He was initially a dancer and then a virtuoso sitarist and composer, and became famous internationally because of his collaborations with Yehudi Menuhin and George Harrison and the Beatles.Bobby Seagull's parents came from Kerala, and while Ravi Shankar's music came from the north, Bobby still remembers hearing him play growing up. There are early clips of Ravi Shankar explaining the sitar, plus George Harrison's account of their North American tour. Joining the conversation is biographer Oliver Craske...2022-08-1627 min
Presto Music Classical PodcastA Life in Notes - The Art of Music BiographyThe relationship between musicians' lives and the music they create is one the most discussed and debated aspects of music, and examinations of the lives of great musicians is almost as old as their music itself. Three authors who produced highly praised music biographies in 2020 were Philip Clark, on the Jazz great Dave Brubeck, Oliver Craske on the Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar and Oliver Soden on the British composer Michael Tippett, and on this week's show I was delighted to welcome all three for a round table discussion on the art of music biography.Presto Music2022-02-111h 14
The Wire TalksWhy Are the Beatles So Popular Even Today? feat. Oliver CraskeThe Beatles are back in the news. Not that they ever were out of it, but now with the release of the three-part series 'The Beatles: Get Back' by director Peter Jackson, with so far unseen footage, has put them back in the limelight. What is the secret of their longevity that their music sounds fresh to every new generation of music lovers?On this episode, Sidharth is joined by Oliver Craske, author and freelance editor, has been associated with several prominent projects about The Beatles. He was one of a team of four editors of the...2021-12-1440 min
Jaipur BytesIndian Sun - Remembering Ravi Shankar: Oliver Craske in conversation with Guillermo RodríguezTo mark Pandit Ravi Shankar’s birth centenary, Oliver Craske has penned a comprehensive biography of the sitar maestro. Ravi Shankar excelled in Indian classical music and played a leading role in its post-independence revival within India, before becoming its pioneering global ambassador. A childhood immersed in dance and music with his older brother Uday Shankar, and the rigorous discipline of learning the sitar under the tutelage of the legendary Allauddin Khan, prepared him for transforming the international understanding of Indian culture from 1954 onwards. Ravi Shankar’s creative associations with George Harrison, Yehudi Menuhin and Satyajit Ray, among others, led...2021-03-1441 min
New Books in MusicOliver Craske, "Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar" (Hachette, 2020)At 10:20pm on August 15th, 1969, Ravi Shankar — then, and still, the most famous practitioner of the sitar and Indian classical music — takes the stage at Woodstock. It’s arguably the zenith of Indian music’s popularity in the West, with musicians like the Beatles, the Byrds and Led Zeppelin embracing elements of Indian music. But this was merely the middle-point of Shankar’s artistic development, nor was it a personal highlight in a long and storied career. For many musicians in several different genres, both in and outside of India, Shankar is the most important messenger for the ideas and concepts...2021-02-1138 min
New Books in BiographyOliver Craske, "Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar" (Hachette, 2020)At 10:20pm on August 15th, 1969, Ravi Shankar — then, and still, the most famous practitioner of the sitar and Indian classical music — takes the stage at Woodstock. It’s arguably the zenith of Indian music’s popularity in the West, with musicians like the Beatles, the Byrds and Led Zeppelin embracing elements of Indian music. But this was merely the middle-point of Shankar’s artistic development, nor was it a personal highlight in a long and storied career. For many musicians in several different genres, both in and outside of India, Shankar is the most important messenger for the ideas and concepts...2021-02-1138 min
New Books in South Asian StudiesOliver Craske, "Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar" (Hachette, 2020)At 10:20pm on August 15th, 1969, Ravi Shankar — then, and still, the most famous practitioner of the sitar and Indian classical music — takes the stage at Woodstock. It’s arguably the zenith of Indian music’s popularity in the West, with musicians like the Beatles, the Byrds and Led Zeppelin embracing elements of Indian music. But this was merely the middle-point of Shankar’s artistic development, nor was it a personal highlight in a long and storied career. For many musicians in several different genres, both in and outside of India, Shankar is the most important messenger for the ideas and concepts...2021-02-1138 min
Asian Review of BooksOliver Craske, "Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar" (Hachette, 2020)At 10:20pm on August 15th, 1969, Ravi Shankar — then, and still, the most famous practitioner of the sitar and Indian classical music — takes the stage at Woodstock. It’s arguably the zenith of Indian music’s popularity in the West, with musicians like the Beatles, the Byrds and Led Zeppelin embracing elements of Indian music. But this was merely the middle-point of Shankar’s artistic development, nor was it a personal highlight in a long and storied career. For many musicians in several different genres, both in and outside of India, Shankar is the most important messenger for the ideas and concepts...2021-02-1138 min
Beatles BooksOliver Craske - Indian Sun The Life and Music of Ravi ShankarI'm joined by editor and author Oliver Craske to discuss his major biography of Ravi Shankar.
Ravi had a remarkable and long life - and his influence on The Beatles and particular George Harrison was huge. Oliver's book deals with Ravi's amazing story in great depth and gets to the heart of Ravi's friendship with George.
More information and sales links for this book can be found at https://www.olivercraske.com/indiansun
2020-12-1152 min
The Next TrackEpisode #182 - Oliver Craske on His Biography of Ravi Shankar, Indian SunOliver Craske has just published the first biography of the legendary Indian musician Ravi Shankar. Craske knew and worked with Shankar near the end of his life, and carried out extensive research to tell the tale of the man who brought Indian music to the west. (Apologies for the poor Skype audio quality.)
Help support The Next Track by making regular donations via Patreon. We're ad-free and self-sustaining so your support is what keeps us going. Thanks!
Support The Next Track.
Guest:
Oliver Craske
Indian Sun
Show notes:
The Ravi...2020-05-1535 min
Music MattersRavi Shankar at 100Tom Service talks to author Oliver Craske about his new biography, which marks the 100th anniversary of one of the 20th century's most influential musicians, Ravi Shankar. Composer, Erkki Sven Tuur turned 60 last year. He speaks to Tom, from his home on an island in the Baltic Sea, about his Ninth Symphony and how his orchestral piece Sow the Wind is especially relevant during these times. We continue to mine the Music Matters archive and there is another chance to hear Angela Hewitt talk about Beethoven and Bach. And as lockdown continues to impact artists the world over, Tom...2020-04-2543 min
Let Free Audiobook Transport You to New WorldsIndian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar Audiobook by Oliver CraskeListen to this audiobook in full for free onhttps://hotaudiobook.com/freeID: 405479
Title: Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar
Author: Oliver Craske
Narrator: Sohm Kapila
Format: Unabridged
Length: 22:07:06
Language: English
Release date: 04-07-20
Publisher: Hachette Book Group USA
Genres: History, Biography & Memoir, Asia, Arts & Entertainment
Summary:
The definitive biography of Ravi Shankar, one of the most influential musicians and composers of the twentieth century, told with the cooperation of his estate, family, and friendsFor over eight decades, Ravi Shankar was India's greatest cultural ambassador. He was a groundbreaking performer and composer of Indian classical music, who...2020-04-0710h 07
Get Best Full Audiobooks in Biography & Memoir, Arts & EntertainmentIndian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar by Oliver CraskePlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/405479 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar Author: Oliver Craske Narrator: Sohm Kapila Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 22 hours 7 minutes Release date: April 7, 2020 Genres: Arts & Entertainment Publisher's Summary: The definitive biography of Ravi Shankar, one of the most influential musicians and composers of the twentieth century, told with the cooperation of his estate, family, and friendsFor over eight decades, Ravi Shankar was India's greatest cultural ambassador. He was a groundbreaking performer and composer of Indian classical music, who brought the music and rich culture of India to...2020-04-0703 min
Access Unmissable Full Audiobooks in History, AsiaIndian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar by Oliver CraskePlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/405479to listen full audiobooks.
Title: Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar
Author: Oliver Craske
Narrator: Sohm Kapila
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 22 hours 7 minutes
Release date: April 7, 2020
Genres: Asia
Publisher's Summary:
The definitive biography of Ravi Shankar, one of the most influential musicians and composers of the twentieth century, told with the cooperation of his estate, family, and friendsFor over eight decades, Ravi Shankar was India's greatest cultural ambassador. He was a groundbreaking performer and composer of Indian classical music, who brought the music and rich culture of India to the world's...2020-04-0710h 07
Access Unmissable Full Audiobooks in History, AsiaIndian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar by Oliver CraskePlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/405479 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar Author: Oliver Craske Narrator: Sohm Kapila Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 22 hours 7 minutes Release date: April 7, 2020 Genres: Asia Publisher's Summary: The definitive biography of Ravi Shankar, one of the most influential musicians and composers of the twentieth century, told with the cooperation of his estate, family, and friendsFor over eight decades, Ravi Shankar was India's greatest cultural ambassador. He was a groundbreaking performer and composer of Indian classical music, who brought the music and rich culture of India to the...2020-04-0703 min