In Pictures: Ravi Shankar

Ravi Shankar: The life and times of a legend

Shankar popularised Indian classical music across the world and influenced western artists like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

Shankar, a three-time Grammy winner with legendary appearences at the 1967 Monterey Festival and Woodstock, was identified as a "national treasure" by the Indian government.

Shankar, here pictured with George Harrison, went on high profile tours and helped millions of classical, jazz and rock lovers in the West discover the centuries-old traditions of Indian music over a eight-decade career.

Shankar was born into a Bengali family in the city of Varanasi. His brother, Uday Shankar was a decorated Hindu dancer.

Shankar studied under Baba Allauddin Khan, founder of the Maihar Gharana style of Hindustani classical music, and later taught the sitar to George Harrison of The Beatles who labelled him " the godfather of world music".

His two daughters, Norah Jones and Anoushka Shankar are internationally acclaimed musicians.

Anoushka Shankar studied the sitar from her father as a child. She has been nominated for the Grammy award in 2003 and 2005 and again in 2013 with her father.

His other daughter, nine-time Grammy winner Norah Jones, was born to Shankar and Sue Jones in New York. Jones has sold over 50 million albums worldwide and received critical acclaim [WIREIMAGE]

Shankar(***)s illustrious career received worldwide recognition and he participated in numerous charity concerts. He was closely associated with a number of celebrity figures and international politicians.

Shankar collaborated with Harrison, violinist Yehudi Menuhin and jazz saxophonist John Coltrane as he worked to bridge the gap between West and East.