Beatles mentor Ravi Shankar dies

Citar virtuoso, called “the godfather of world music” by George Harrison, has died at the age of 92. Shankar was a hippie musical icon of the 1960s and was perhaps best known for his influence and inspiration to The Beatles. He taught the art of citar playing to lead Beatles guitar player George Harrison. Some of his other famous pupils were violinist Yehudi Menuhin and jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. He also introduced the concept of rock benefit concerts with his Concert for Bangladesh in 1971. Even though his focus was on traditional Indian music, he was adored and admired by classical, jazz and rock fans alike during his 80-year career. After his death, India’s prime minister called him a “national treasure.”