At the Grammy Awards on Monday in Los Angeles, the fusion group Shakti—which includes violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan, percussionist V Selvaganesh, vocalist Shankar Mahadevan, John McLaughlin, and Zakir Hussain—won the Global Music Album award.
The album "This Moment" by the well-known band Shakti won the coveted Best Global Music Album category at the 66th Grammy Awards, bringing famed Indian tabla player Ustad
Zakir Hossain and musician Shankar Mahadevan to a spectacular victory.
The winners were unveiled in a star-studded event in Los Angeles, with the announcement taking place at approximately 11 o'clock Bangladesh time on Monday. Ganesh Rajagopalan, another integral member of the 'Shakti' band, joined Shankar Mahadevan on stage to accept the coveted Grammy trophy. Following the win, Mahadevan expressed his gratitude and dedication, saying, "I dedicate the award to my wife."
'This Moment,' an eight-song masterpiece, was released on June 30, 2023, capturing the essence of Shakti's musical brilliance. The album's global appeal and cultural fusion resonated with the Grammy committee, earning them the top honor in the Best Global Music Album category.
Adding to the triumph, Ustad Zakir Hossain received the Best Global Music Performance award for the enchanting composition 'Pashtu,' a collaboration featuring Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer. The recognition of bassist Rakesh Chaurasia with a Grammy further highlighted Indian
musical prowess on the international stage.
In a broader spectrum of the Grammy Awards, Miley Cyrus secured the Record of the Year award for 'Flowers,' while Taylor Swift's 'Midnight' earned her the prestigious Album of the Year accolade. The event showcased a dazzling array of musical talent, with Shakti's win standing out as a testament to the global impact of Indian classical and fusion music.