Biography of Kudau Singh

(1815 - 1910)

Kudau Singh is remembered as one of the greatest Pakhawaj players in India. Kudau Singh was born in 1815 in Banda, Uttar Pradesh. His father's name was Gappa.

When he was merely nine years old, he lost his parents and started wandering here and there. He learnt different techniques of playing Pakhawaj from Shridas, the famous Mridang player and Bhagwan Singh.

At Tikamgarh, he played the Gajarpan raga in such a fashion that an insane elephant was pacified. Kudau Singh introduced a number of complex and strong syllables, which required considerable strength in playing. He made a lot of Parans' and most of them required twenty-four tala' (cycles) to complete one rendition. Even the back of the palm was used to give powerful strokes. Singh was conferred the title of Kunwardas' by the king of Ayodhya. He also presented his show in different corners of India. He died in 1910.