Ravi Shankar, 1977 - Ravi Shankar is a renowned master of the Indian sitar (a stringed instrument, pictured on the left).  He is considered one of the world’s greatest musicians, and at the age of 85 continues to give concerts, tour, teach, and compose.  Born in 1920 in India, he studied with a famous Indian musician and dedicated himself to his music.  In 1954, he performed in the Soviet Union, in 1956, he played his debut solo concerts in Western Europe and the U.S.  Within a decade he would be the most famous Indian musician on the planet – in 1966, Beatles guitarist George Harrison studied with him and featured the sitar on the Beatles song “Norwegian Wood.”  His association with the Beatles made Shankar an international star.  His life-long mission has been to bring the music of the East to Western ears, and his English-language autobiography, “My Music, My Life” (1969), is still one of the best general introductions to Hindustani music.