Tabla Maestro Shankar Ghosh Dead

Kolkata, Jan 22 (IANS) Legendary tabla player Shankar Ghosh died at a city hospital on Friday after being critically ill for over a month, family sources said.

Ghosh, 80, leaves behind his wife, Hindustani classical vocalist of Patiala gharana, Sanjukta Ghosh, and his famed percussionist son Bickram Ghosh.

The exponent of the Farrukhabad gharana of Hindustani classical music had undergone an Aangioplasty following heart complications in mid-December, but his condition deteriorated soon after.

He was on ventilator since Wednesday.

A recipient of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1999-2000, Ghosh had taken forward the concept of tabla ensembles -- a large number of tabla players showcasing their talent together.

He toured a number of countries to play solo or with celebrated classical musicians like sitarists Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Vilayat Khan and violinist Pandit V.G. Jog and earned rave reviews.