Ricky Kej brings home laurels

Bengaluru: This tall Bengaluru boy sees music in everything – a gentle, touching rhythm. Ricky Kej – dentist by profession, composer by choice – reached for the stars and touched them with his Winds of Samsara. A collaborative effort with famed flautist from South Africa Wouter Kellerman, Winds… picked up the Best New Age Album trophy at the 57th Grammy Awards. Kej and Kellerman were present at the Staples Center, Los Angeles on Sunday, holding aloft their Grammy. The album topped the US Billboard and New Age Chart. Recorded over two years ago by Ricky with over 120 musicians from five continents, Winds of Samsara is a truly global effort. It has devoted listeners from across the world too, and has succeeded in grabbing the attention of music aficionados. The album speaks of world peace and harmony, spotlighting the musical, cultural and political connections between India and South Africa.Though Ricky’s first preference is independent music, he shot to fame by directing music for Accident, the movie directed by Ramesh Aravind. His debut song ‘Baa Maleye Baa…’ was a great hit, as was the music of Crazy Kutumba and Venkata in Sankata. Ricky’s lounge album Kamasutra, released in the US, was a huge success.On his album, Ricky says, “It’s a dream come true for me as it has challenged us as artists to push borders and have one common thread, and truly be the universal language of music.’’Ricky also composed an anthem for Karnataka Police Commemoration Day celebrations, besides music for the video ‘Jaya Hai Kannada Thaye’ filmed by wildlife photographer Amoghavarsha. “We conserve only what we love. So let's make the world fall in love with these fantastic animals of our Karnataka. They are as important to our state as us! The wellness of a state can be told by the health of its forests. By that measure, Karnataka is super-rich,’’ Ricky said on FB about the album.LOCAL LADBorn in August 1981 in North Carolina, Ricky moved to Bengaluru when he was eight years old. The lad did his schooling at Bishop Cotton Boys' School, and his dentistry at the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. But instead of repairing teeth, he opted for a career in music, starting Raveolution Studios in 2003. The composer who considers his studio and his space his favourites things, loves dal, roti and subzi. His favourite actors are Marlon Brando and Eva Green. The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins is his favourite read. Proud of him: Old CottoniansWe are delighted to announce that Old Cottonian Ricky Kej (Class of '97, Pope House) has just won a Grammy Award for his album Winds of Samsara! On behalf of Old Cottonians worldwide, we send Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman our congratulations and warm good wishes.