Rahul Sharma (musician)

Rahul Sharma (born 25 September 1972) is an Indian classical musician of Hindustani classical music. He plays santoor and is also a vocalist.

Rahul Sharma was born in Mumbai to the Dogra Brahman family of santoor player Shivkumar Sharma and Manorama, from a family steeped in the tradition of Jammu and Kashmir. His grandfather, Uma Dutt Sharma, was a master of the santoor. Married to his sweetheart Barkha in 2009. The couple have a son named Abhinav born on 17 June 2014.

Sharma in Pune "2012"

He was named Rahul after musician Rahul Dev Burman by his father, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma.

Rahul started playing the harmonium at an early age. Learning the santoor at age 13, he wasn't completely sure of pursuing music until he turned 17. After studying economics at Mumbai's Mithibai College, Rahul Sharma began performing with his father. He started accompanying him in concerts in 1996, at the age of 24.

Rahul sharma plays the 100 stringed Kashmiri santoor. Having learnt from his father and Guru Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Rahul has taken the santoor into world music with various collaborations. Having done around 60 albums, in various genres some of Rahul's important collaborations are Namaste India, Rahul sharma and Grammy Award-winning American saxophonist KennyG.

Rahul and KennyG's album reached #2 on Billboard world charts and #4 on Board Smooth jazz charts.

Rahul also collaborated with Grammy-winning electronica group Deep Forest, founded by Eric Miquet on 10 tracks which combined Indian folk and santoor with electronica.

Rahul has also experimented by taking the santoor into the rock genre with his album The Rebel

Rahul Sharma has been awarded The Sangeet Natak Academi award (Bismillah khan yuva puruskar) for Hindustani instrumental music.

Rahul has performed in North America and throughout Europe, and at various folk and world music festivals, including WOMAD.

He has released several CDs, some solo and some with his father. He has collaborated with international musicians such as pianist Richard Clayderman and keyboardist Kersi Lord. The Confluence (2002) has mostly Indian titles, six of which were composed by Rahul Sharma himself. He provided the music for the Hindi feature film Mujhse Dosti Karoge, for which he received the award in the "Best Debut-Music Director" category at the 2002 ZEE Bollywood Music Awards. His last album Time Traveler, which has been described as New Age, was released on 10 March 2006.

He also collaborated with Zakir Hussain.

Taj Mahal Tea signed Rahul Sharma as their new Brand Ambassador.

• Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards

• Sweet Romance (Navras Records) (1999)
• Moonlight Magic (Navras Records) (2001)
• Music of the Himalayas (2002)
• Two Generations: Santoor Duet (2002)
• The Confluence: Santoor & Piano (2003)
• Zen (2003)
• In Hope for Peace (2003)
• Native Signs (2003)
• Celebration (2004)
• Akaash (2005)
• Maya: The Illusion (2006)
• White (The Science of Consciousness) (2006)
• Samandar: (A World Beneath the Ocean) (2006)
• H2O (2006)
• Time Traveller (2007)
• Ladakh: In Search of Buddha (2007)
• Mountain Trail (2007)
• Confluence II (2008)
• Namaste (2011)
• Mystic Soundscapes: Mountain (2011)
• Rhythm of Love (2011)
• Indradhanush - Live Concert (2011)
• Amazing India: Kashmir (2011)
• Music Soundscapes: Water (2011)
• Antariksh (2011)
• White (2011)