Garimella Balakrishna Prasad

Indian Classical Vocalist, Composer

Indian Rajamahendravaram, Andhra Pradesh, India

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Quick Info

ProfessionIndian Classical Vocalist, Composer
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth09/11/1948
Age76 years (died on 09, Mar, 2025)
BirthplaceRajamahendravaram, Andhra Pradesh, India
Date of Death09/03/2025

Latest News about Garimella Balakrishna Prasad

25/05/2026

Garimella Balakrishna Prasad was conferred the Padma Shri posthumously in 2026. The award recognized his contribution to Indian devotional music, especially his work in reviving and popularizing Annamacharya compositions. His son received the honor on his behalf at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

09/03/2025

Garimella Balakrishna Prasad died in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, on 9 March 2025 at the age of 76. His death was widely reported as a major loss to Carnatic and devotional music, with tributes highlighting his lifelong association with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and his work on Annamacharya songs.

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Bio/Wiki

Overview
  • Known for being a legendary Carnatic classical vocalist and composer in India.
  • Renowned for his devotional music in the Carnatic tradition and for reviving and popularizing Annamacharya compositions.

Physical Stats & More

Eye ColourLight Brown
Hair ColourSalt and Pepper (partially bald)

Educational Qualification(s)

Qualifications
  • Diploma in Carnatic Classical Vocal Music from Technical Education Department of Andhra Pradesh Government (1978)
  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with Modern Telugu Language from Dr. Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad (1992)

Personal Life

ReligionHinduism
LanguagesTelugu

Relationships & More

Marital StatusMarried

Family

Wife/SpouseGarimella Radha
Children
  • Garimella Pavana Kumar
  • Garimella Anila Kumar (Musician)
Parents
FatherGarimella Narasimha Rao (Music Composer)
MotherKrishnaveni (Vocal and Violin Artist)

Career

Awards
  • Annamayya Nada Jyoti Award (1997)
  • Ugadi Puraskaram (2007)
  • Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2020)
  • Padma Shri (2026, posthumously)
Asthana Vidwan Titles
  • Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)
  • Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham (2010)
  • Sri Ahobhila Mutt
Contributions
  • Composed music for more than 1,000 Annamacharya Sanskritanas.
  • Recorded nearly 800 of them for TTD.
  • Authored over 10 books containing musical notations of Annamacharya compositions.
  • Released more than 100 music albums.
  • Served with TTD’s Annamacharya Project as a Special Grade Vocal Artiste from 1978 to 2006.
  • Presented more than 6,000 concerts across India and internationally.

Social Media

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/uniquemusicworld2021/posts/garimella-balakrishna-prasad-9-november-1948-9-march-2025-was-an-indian-classica/1049384173883541/
YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@gbkprasad

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Born and raised into a family of musicians.
2. Received first lessons in Carnatic music from his parents.
3. Underwent advanced training under renowned Carnatic master Dr. Nedunuri Krishnamurthy.
4. Worked extensively to revive the compositions of the 15th-century saint-poet Tallapaka Annamacharya.
5. Set to tune hundreds of Annamacharya songs, helping transform the tradition into a widely performed devotional repertoire.
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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