R. Prasanna (better known as Guitar Prasanna), is a pioneer in performing Carnatic music on the guitar. He also plays jazz, progressive rock, and world fusion. Early life and background Prasanna grew up in Chennai, India and fell in love with the guitar at age of five after hearing his neighbor play. He received his first guitar when he was ten years old and would try to play Tamil and Hindi film songs and imitate the sounds of his sister's Carnatic singing with the instrument. Prasanna's interest in Western pop music developed when his father's colleague gave him some cassette tapes with songs by the Bee Gees, ABBA, Toto, Peaches and Herb, and the Pointer Sisters. While still in high school he began making a reputation as a guitarist with local band XIth Commandment. During his years studying naval architecture at Indian institute of Technology, Madras (where he also met his wife Shalini), he toured India with his rock bands (The Haze and then Shakuni & the Birds of Prey), covering songs by Santana, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Rush, Steely Dan, Jethro Tull, and the Scorpions and compositions like "Peaceful" and "Blues for Saraswati". Prasanna's musical development led him to blues and jazz. After working as a software consultant, he gave up a career in engineering and IT and moved to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music where he majored in Jazz and Classical Composition. Education Prasanna received a Bachelor's degree in Naval Architecture from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras in 1992. He also graduated magna cum laude from the Berklee College of Music, Boston. Educator Established Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music and served as it president Faculty member at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Canada for international workshop in Jazz and Creative Music in May 2008 Lectures and clinics at Harvard University, Institute of Music at Osnabrück University, Berklee College of Music, MIT, Tufts University, New School in New York, University of Arizona, Utah State University Discography As leader Guitar Goes Classical (Audio Fine, 1993) (India) Evergreen Melodies on Guitar (Keerthana, 1993) (India) Evergreen Classicals on Guitar (Keerthana, 1993) (India) Vibrant Aesthetics (Inreco, 1993) (India) Spirit of Youth (Saragam, 1993) (India) Guitar Indian Style (Oriental, 1996) (U.S.) Roots (Sangeetha/HMV, 1997) (India) Echo (Saican, 2000) (Canada) Apoorva Ragas on Guitar (Kalakendra, 2000) (U.S.) Natabhairavi (Inreco, 2000) (India) Shakthi: The Omnipotent (Music Today, 2000) (India) Peaceful (Susila, 2001) Ragamorphism