Pandit Shivkumar Sharma was an Indian composer and santoor player from Jammu. The santoor is originally a folk instrument but became an instrument for Indian classical through his internationally recognized playing style.
Shivkumar Sharma was born in Jammu to the singer Uma Dutt Sharma, and his mother tongue is Dogri. His father started teaching him vocals and tabla when he was just five. Shivkumar started learning santoor at the age of thirteen. He married Manorama and has two sons.
Shivkumar Sharma is credited with making the santoor a popular classical instrument. He composed the background music for one of the scenes in Shantaram’s film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje in 1956. He recorded his first solo album in 1960.
In 1967, he teamed up with flutist Hariprasad Chaurasia and guitarist Brij Bhushan Kabra to produce a concept album, Call of the Valley (1967), which turned out to be one of Indian classical music’s greatest hits. Further, he composed music for many Hindi films in collaboration with Hariprasad Chaurasia, starting with Silsila in 1980. They came to be known as the Shiv-Hari music duo. Some of the movies they composed music for were musical hits, such as Faasle (1985), Chandni (1989), Lamhe (1991), and Darr (1993).
He died today On 10 May 2022, at the age of 84, due to cardiac arrest. may his soul rest in peace.
