Dr.K.J.Yesudas a.k.a Kattassery Joseph Yesudas or alternatively Jesudas is a Malayali Indian classical musician and a noted playback singer of Indian films.
K.J.Yesudas was born in Fort Kochi, Kerala on January 10,1940. His father Augustine Joseph was a noted Malayalam classical musician and stage actor of that era.His father was also his first guru (teacher). His talent for singing become apparent when he joined the music academy at Thrippinithura and won the gold medal for music at a local competition Fort Kochi at age seven.
He was trained by the eminent Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar whose training established the groundwork for his shining musical career. Although a Carnatic expert he is also proficient in Hindustani classical music.He combined both Carnatic and Hindustani classical music to render beautiful songs; he also sang Russian,Arabic,Latin and English songs during his long and illustrious career.
Jesudas started playback singing in the middle of the 1960’s. At first he sang in Kollywood movies; after a while he started playback singing in Bollywood during the middle of the 1970’s.He won the National Film award for best singer seven times.
Jesudas has performed all over the world. In the Middle East he rendered Arabic songs in Carnatic style.He promotes Indian music abroad through innumerable performances. For his effort he has been awarded the title Asthana Gayakan (official singer) of Kerala state. He also bagged the Padma Shri (1973) and Padma Bhushan (2002) by the President of India.
Dr.K.J Yesudas was invited by the Soviet Union government to perform at music concerts in the erstwhile USSR. In 1970 he headed the Sangeet Natak Academy of Kerala, the youngest person to hold the post in its history.
In 1970 Jesudas established the Tharangini music company at Chennai.It was a pioneering effort of recorded Malayali film songs with stereo effect. The studio continues to produce high quality recordings of Dr. K.J Yesudas till date.
Dr.K.J.Yesudas and wife Prabha currently resides in Chennai and Florida,U.S.A.