PRAKASH SONTAKKE
Prakash is the son and disciple of Dr. R.B . Sontakke, a Doyen of the Gwalior Gharana and a direct disciple of the Legendary Pt. Omkarnath Thakur. Both of Prakash’s parents were distinguished music teachers at the prestigious Benares Hindu University. Prakash has a triple masters degree in Hindustani classical music – guitar, vocals and violin.
Greatly inspired and personally blessed by Pt Brijbhushan Kabra, the pioneer of Indian slide guitar, Prakash prefers to play the Gayaki Ang (vocal style) which recreates the emotion of the human voice on the instrument.He is equally at home jamming multi-cultural Funk in concert with triple Grammy winners, Ozomatli as he is exchanging phrases with North and South Indian classical virtuosi, opening for Rock Legend Jethro Tull or jurying auditions and training India’s young future singing stars.
Prakash performs internationally, and his Classical Guitar concerts have been broadcast on All India Radio. Recipient of the prestigious Aryabhatta and Ganayogi Panchakshari Gawai awards, his creative explorations in Jazz and World music are deeply underlined by his classical training. He was awarded a scholarship from the Indian Department of Culture for his second instrument, the violin, and gives lectures and workshops on classical Indian music and slide guitar at home and abroad.
