Akkaladevi Srinivas

Akkaladevi Srinivas, born February 28, 1979 in Palakol, in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, is a musician in the Carnatic musical tradition of southern India. He came to prominence not only for his playing but for his choice of instrument - an electric mandolin. His brother U. Rajesh is also an accomplished mandolin player. In recent years he has toured with John McLaughlin as part of the group Remember Shakti. Quite soon, Srinivas realized the potential of U. Srinivas and started teaching him. At the age of five Akkaladevi Srinivas picked up his father Satyanarayana's mandolin. Upon realising the talent of his son, his father started teaching him whatever Carnatic music he knew. Since Akkaladevi Srinivas did not know how to play it he would only sing and Srinivas would play it on the mandolin.