Kadri Gopalnath

Kadri Gopalnath was born in Panemangalore (near Mangalore) in Dakshina Kannada in 1950. Thaniappa and Gangamma were his parents. He acquired a taste for music from his father, a nadaswaram vidwan. But nadaswaram didn’t sway young Gopalnath. He saw the saxaphone being played in the Mysore palace and set thrilled on hearing the vibrant tone of saxophone , he decided to master it. It took nearly 20 years for Kadri Gopalnath to conquer the complex wind instrument and he was eventually crowned as " Saxophone Chakravathy".

Gopalnath learnt playing Carnatic music on the saxophone under Gopalkrishna Iyer of Kalaniketana, Mangalore. His dedication and tireless efforts enabled him to imbibe all the nuances of Carnatic music and the sax.

When he came in contact with the versatile T.V. Gopalkrishnan at Madras, the latter identified the youngster’s potenital and chistled him into an internationally famed artiste. Gopalnath humbly acknowledges the fact that it is the blessings of his guru that is responsible for his success.

His maiden performance was for the Chembai Memorial Trust. It was a roaring success. Since then Gopalnath has never looked back, ceaselessly performing in all prestigious sabhas of our country and abroad.

His very sweet and charming personality has son him innumerable friends all over. He is disciplined in his habits.
Titles and honours have come his way, the most cherished being the asthana vidwan of Kanchi Kamakoti peedam and the Shringeri Sharada Peedam.
Gopalnath has the distinction of being the first Carnatic musician to be invited to perform in the BBC Promenade concert in 1994 at London. His recital was sponsored by the Asian Music Circuit, London. Among his other distinctions are:

Saxophone Chakravathy, Saxophone Samrat, Ganakala Shree, Nadopasana Brahma, Sunaada Prakashika, Sangeetha Vadyaratna (from film director, K. Balachandar), Nada Kalaratna, Nada Kalanithi (from Sringeri Peetam), Sangeetha Ratna, (from Balamurali Krishna), Karnataka Kalashree 96 (Karnataka State Award) and Vocational Excellency Award from the Rotary of Madras.

Gopalnath has extensively toured abroad on invitation. He has participated in the Jazz Festival in Prague, Berlin Jazz Festival , International Cervantino Festival in Mexico, Music Halle Festival, Paris, Concerts in Switerland, United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Bahrain, Malaysia and Singapore.

Happily married to Sarojini, who is a school teacher, the couple has two sons and a daughter.

TITLE AND HONOURS HAVE COME HIS WAY

the most cherished being the Asthana Vidwan of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.
The Shringeri Sharada Peetam.

HIS DISTINCTIONS ARE

Saxaphone Chakravathy
Saxaphone Samrat
GanakaLa Shree title Rotary club of Madras.

HIS TOURS INVOLVE
Gopalnath has extensively toured abroad on invitation.

He has participated in the Jazz Festival in Prague
Berlin Jazz Festival
International Cervantino Festival in Mexico
Music Halle Festival, Paris, Concerts in Switerland, United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Bahrain, Malaysia and Singapore.