Rakesh Yankaran

Rakesh Yankaran, nicknamed The Raja[2] (pronounced [rɑːkeːɕə jəⁿkərənə]; born 12 March 1959) is an Indo-Trinidadian musician.[3] He is the son of the late Indian classical musician, Isaac Yankarran and brother of the late Indian classical and chutney musicians Anand, Suresh, and Sharm Yankaran.[4] His grandfather came from Andhra Pradesh, India to Trinidad and Tobago during the indentured labour times.[5] He is a self-taught musician. As a child, young Rakesh loved to listen to his father sing. As a teen he started to play music himself. Today he is a professional chutney artist. He can play the Indian instruments tabla, dholak, harmonium, dhantal, and the tassa drum.

Rakesh Yankaran
Rakesh Yankaran performing at the Chutney Soca Monarch.
Background information
Birth nameRakesh Yankarran
Also known asThe Raja
Born (1959-12-03) 3 December 1959 [1]
Brickfield, Carapichaima, Trinidad and Tobago
OriginCentral Trinidad
GenresChutney, Bhajans, Kirtan, Indian classical, Indian folk
Occupation(s)Singer
InstrumentsVocals, Harmonium, Dholak, Tabla, Dhantal
Years active1974-present
LabelsPraimsingh Productions
Associated actsRasika Dindial, Ravi B, Raymond Ramnarine

Rakesh Yankaran was born in Brickfield, Carapichaima, Trinidad and Tobago and is of Telugu and Bhojpuri Indian descent.[6] He began his career in 1974, but first gained national acclaim in 1991 with Dadiyya Moday Lay Lay. Other hits include Mousie, Dulahin Chale Sasural and Naroro Ray. He won the National Chutney Monarch competition in 1996 and 1997[2] and 2008,[7] and the National Traditional Chutney Monarch in 2008.[2]

References
  1. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XONzJ-e8pt8
  2. Boodan, Adrian (10 December 2008). "Yankaran reigns as Chutney king". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 March 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  3. Jankie, Ariti. "Yankaran crowned champ of champs". Trinidad and Tobago Express. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  4. Persad, Seeta. "NCIC promotes authentic classical singing". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  5. "Arrival Day: 103 FM pays tribute to Isaac Yankaran". Newsday.co.tt. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  6. Deane, Martin (2011). The Untold Story of Waterloo: As the Centre of Indian Spirituality. Bloomington: Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 9781465376091.
  7. Boodan, Adrian (5 February 2009). "Massive launch under the samaan tree". Retrieved 22 January 2010.


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