Krishna Das, born Jeffrey Kagel, grew up on Long Island, New York. In the late 1960s he sang in a rock band that would later become Blue Öyster Cult.
India
In 1970 he travelled to India and became a follower of Neem Karoli Baba, Maharaj-ji. That period led him to his calling: devotional chanting.
Kirtan
Kirtan is call-and-response chanting: one person sings a mantra and the group repeats it. Krishna Das blends Sanskrit devotional chanting with a Western sound, and over time has added country and folk influences.
Career
- In 2012 he was nominated for a Grammy for Best New Age Album for Live Ananda.
- He wrote the book Chants of a Lifetime (2011).
- He is the subject of the documentary One Track Heart (2012).
- He hosts a radio station dedicated to yoga and chant.
To listen
Try chanting a simple mantra along with him. You don’t need to be a singer: kirtan is for everyone.
