Annavarapu Rama Swamy
Annavarapu Rama Swamy (born 27 March 1926) is an Indian classical violinist from Andhra Pradesh, India. He is known for his contributions in the field of Carnatic music. He is noted for inventing new Ragas and Talas such as "Vandana Raga", "Sri Durga Raga" and "Tinetradi Tala" and "Vedadi Tala". In 2021, he was awarded India's fourth-highest civilian award the Padma Shri in the Arts and Literature category. He was awarded the Fellowship of Andhra Pradesh Sangeeta Akademi in 1983. Early life. Annavarapu Ramaswamy was born on March 27, 1926 in Somavarappadu, West Godavari district . His father Pentayya Nadaswara was a Nadaswaram scholar. His elder brother Annavarapu Gopalam worked as an "Ghatam" artist on the Akashavani for a long time and then retired and died. He learned music from Maganti Jagannadham Chaudhary and later from Parupalli Ramakrishnaiah Panthula. Among the disciples of Parupalli Ramakrishna - Balamuralikrishna, Annavarapu Ramaswamy, Neti Srirama Sarma and Nallana Chakravarti Krishnamacharya are famous. Career. Over the past eight decades, he has given concerts in many countries such as USA, Canada, UK, France, Muscat, Bahrain, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Doha, Sri Lanka. In 1998 and 2012, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations awarded him  the title of Outstanding Artist under the Violin category. Madras Music Academy conferred T. T. K. Memorial Award to him. He invented new Taal called "Vandana", "Sri Durga". He invented the locks called "Trinētrādi" and "Vēdādi". He composed new characters and works. He studied vocals, lute, clarinet, flute and vocal instruments along with many other violins. His disciples organize the Hyderabad Thyagaraja Worship Festival every year. He joined All India Radio Vijayawada in November 1948. The Vijayawada center had not yet been started. N. S. Ramachandran selected him, Krishnamacharya and Dandamudi and started the center. They worked as artists until  1986. He is now a top grade musician on the radio. He was elected for the Fellowship of Andhra Pradesh Sangeeta Akademi in 1983.