Krishna Das (singer)

{{short description|American vocalist (born 1947)|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use American English|date=May 2015}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2015}} {{Infobox musical artist  | name = Krishna Das | image = Krishna Das.jpg | caption = Krishna Das in 2005 | image_size = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Jeffrey Kagel | alias = Krishna Das | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|5|31}} | birth_place = [[Long Island]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S. | origin = | instrument = [[Pump organ|Harmonium]], vocals | genre = [[Kirtan]], [[new age]], [[ethnic music]] | occupation = [[Singing|Singer]], [[songwriter]], [[record producer]] | years_active = 1994–present | label = Krishna Das Music, Nutone Music, End Hits | associated_acts = [[Arjun Bruggeman]], [[Genevieve Walker]], [[Mark Egan]], Mark Gorman, [[Patrick Lee Hammond]], [[Nina Rao]], [[David Nichtern]], [[Steve Gorn]], [[Walter Becker]], [[Ty Burhoe]], [[John McDowell (musician)|John McDowell]], [[Wah (singer)|Wah!]] | website = {{ConditionalURL}} }} '''Krishna Das''' ([[IAST]]: ''Kṛṣṇa dāsa''; born '''Jeffrey Kagel'''; May 31, 1947) is an American vocalist known for his performances of Hindu devotional music known as ''[[kirtan]]'' (chanting the names of God). He has released seventeen albums since 1996. He performed at the 2013 Grammy Awards, where his album ''Live Ananda'' (2012) was nominated for the [[2013 Grammy Awards|2013]] [[Grammy Award for Best New Age Album]]. He has been described by the New York Times as "the chant master of American yoga".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/04/arts/music-tuning-in-to-the-chant-master-of-american-yoga.html|title = MUSIC; Tuning in to the Chant Master of American Yoga|newspaper = The New York Times|date = June 4, 2000|last1 = Powers|first1 = Ann}}</ref>

==Biography== [[File:Krishna Das at Bhakti festival concert 2014.jpg|thumb|right|Krishna Das at Bhakti concert 2014]] In June 1967, a small group of high school and college students on Long Island formed a rock band, Soft White Underbelly, that would eventually become [[Blue Öyster Cult]]. For a brief time, Jeff Kagel, then a student at [[State University of New York at Stony Brook]], was the group's lead singer, but he quit even before the band had a name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/12/ex-rocker-finds-a-different-path-to-fame-chanting-all-the-way/|title=Ex-Rocker Finds a Different Path to Fame, Chanting All the Way|date=September 12, 2012}}</ref>

In August 1970 he traveled to India,<ref>{{cite web |title=About Krishna Das |url=http://www.krishnadas.com/about.cfm |date=Feb 2012 |publisher=krishnadas.com |access-date=Feb 27, 2013 |archive-date=March 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313202026/http://www.krishnadas.com/about.cfm |url-status=dead }}</ref> where, as [[Ram Dass]] had done, he became a devotee of the [[Hindu]] [[guru]] [[Neem Karoli Baba]] (Maharaj-ji). He consequently began to use the name Krishna Das, given to him by the guru.

He was referred to as the "Rockstar of Yoga" by the Grammys, when he was nominated for a 2013 Grammy Award.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/krishna-das-yoga-rock-star|title=Krishna Das, The Yoga Rock Star|date=2014-04-17|work=GRAMMY.com|access-date=2018-10-12|language=en}}{{dead link|date=February 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

[[File:KDBhaktifestWest 20140906 (15217667881).jpg|thumb|left|Krishna Das at [[Bhakti Fest|Bhakti Fest West]] in 2014]] Krishna Das has been associated with many other artists. Two of his albums have featured [[Hans Christian (musician)|Hans Christian]] as a multi-instrumentalist, and [[Sting (musician)|Sting]] appears on the album ''Pilgrim Heart''. He has also appeared on an album with Baird Hersey & Prana, a group combining Western music and [[overtone singing]], entitled ''Gathering in the Light''. [[Walter Becker]] of [[Steely Dan]] plays bass guitar on, and co-produced, ''All One'' (2005), which also features [[Rick Allen (drummer)|Rick Allen]] of [[Def Leppard]] on drums and [[Steve Gorn]] on flute. [[Ty Burhoe]] plays [[tabla]] on several albums. [[Rick Rubin]] produced ''Breath of the Heart''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/krishna-das|title=Krishna Das : Songwriter Interviews|last=Wiser|first=Carl|date=March 27, 2015|website=Songfacts|language=en|access-date=2018-10-12}}</ref>

His album ''Live Ananda'' (2012) was nominated for the [[2013 Grammy Awards|2013]] [[Grammy Award for Best New Age Album]].<ref>{{cite web |title=55th Annual GRAMMY Awards Winners:Nominees |url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees?genre=20 |date=Feb 2012 |publisher=Grammy.com |access-date=Feb 13, 2013}}</ref> He performed at the Grammy Awards ceremony as well.

In April 2014 his album ''Kirtan Wallah'' was released under his own label Krishna Das Music.<ref>{{cite web | title = New CDs in stores this week | url = https://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/musicandnightlife/new-cds-in-stores-this-week-b99245988z1-255240781.html|publisher=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel| access-date = 2014-04-18 | date = 2014-04-14}}</ref>

In 2014, Krishna Das helped to form the Kirtan Wallah Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit, dedicated to spreading the teachings of his spiritual teacher, Neem Karoli Baba.<ref>{{Cite web |last=LA YOGA |first=Amy V Dewhurst |date=31 August 2015 |title=Township Krishna |url=https://layoga.com/entertainment/music/township-krishna/ |access-date=30 October 2023 |website=LA YOGA}}</ref>

==Anusara Yoga invocation== Krishna Das composed the melody for an [[Anusara|Anusara Yoga]] invocation, ''Om Nama Shivaya Gurave'', at the request of [[John Friend (yogi)|John Friend]], founder of Anusara Yoga. Friend describes this composition as having been written during a summer night at a secluded mountain retreat center in Utah, in 1998.<ref>Ty Burhoe, ''Invocation'', CD liner notes, Sounds True Records, 2006.</ref>

==Zen Peacemakers chant== In the early 2000s, [[Bernie Glassman]], founder of [[Zen Peacemakers]], asked Krishna Das to compose a melody for the chant "Gates of Sweet Nectar", a traditional Japanese [[buddhist]] chant that had been translated to English by Glassman.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://krishnadas.com/blog/gate-of-sweet-nectar/|title = Gates of Sweet Nectar|date = November 7, 2018}}</ref> After composing a melody, Krishna Das realised it would work well with the [[Hanuman Chalisa]] both melodically and lyrically, since the former is a desire to offer one's heart and the latter gives one strength to follow through on a task.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://krishnadas.com/podcasts/call-response/spiritual-experiences-auschwitz-and-bernie-glassman/|title = Ep. 27 | Spiritual Experiences, Auschwitz and Bernie Glassman|date = June 15, 2020}}</ref>

==Discography== {{BLP unsourced section|date=December 2017}} * 1996: ''One Track Heart'' * 1998: ''Pilgrim Heart'' * 2000: ''Live... on Earth'' * 2001: ''Breath of the Heart'' * 2001: ''Pilgrim of the Heart'' * 2003: ''Door of Faith''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-08-26 |title=Door of Faith |website=[[Spotify]] |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/4UzuGkn5njGlV09JHz1AWd |access-date=2022-08-24 |language=en}}</ref> * 2004: ''Greatest Hits of the Kali Yuga'' * 2005: ''All One'' * 2007: ''Gathering in the Light'' with Baird Hersey & Prana<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-09-21 |title=Gathering in the Light |website=[[Spotify]] |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/17wAnEMrRM5dsXwowlN4H8 |access-date=2022-08-24 |language=en}}</ref> * 2007: ''Flow of Grace: Chanting the Hanuman Chalisa''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-05-08 |title=Flow of Grace |website=[[Spotify]] |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1coxyhjee04qEyUWfzLaZM |access-date=2022-08-24 |language=en}}</ref> * 2008: ''Heart Full of Soul''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-09-16 |title=Heart Full of Soul |website=[[Spotify]] |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/0fsxraPhziCDexAyBFiucE |access-date=2022-08-24 |language=en}}</ref> * 2010: ''Heart as Wide as the World''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-03-02 |title=Heart as Wide as the World |website=[[Spotify]] |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/0DF3e2GhKvW08WcYjE2iFE |access-date=2022-08-24 |language=en}}</ref> * 2012: ''Live Ananda'' * 2014: ''Kirtan Wallah''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-04-15 |title=Kirtan Wallah (Bonus Version) |website=[[Spotify]] |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/30ZrG4aRlyV5O4DKOHVSwn |access-date=2022-08-24 |language=en}}</ref> * 2015: ''Laughing at the Moon''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-03-03 |title=Laughing At The Moon: A Collection of Classics 1996-2005 |website=[[Spotify]] |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/3gtqJgQtO3rWenEm9AtFrf |access-date=2022-08-24 |language=en}}</ref> * 2017: ''Trust in the Heart''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-06 |title=Trust in the Heart |website=[[Spotify]] |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/3cRWMuMlFjjnKA1t8Hl1jO |access-date=2022-08-24 |language=en}}</ref> * 2018: ''Peace of My Heart''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-19 |title=Peace of My Heart |website=[[Spotify]] |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/04EwHr829750phfYIJ59Tt |access-date=2022-08-24 |language=en}}</ref> * 2025 ''Home in the Heart''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-26 |title=Home in the Heart |website=[[Spotify]] |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/0JUmCjw6brgv1zOOZK47Un |access-date=2026-05-28 |language=en}}</ref>

==Books== * ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=Mb_GykYKDNMC&q=inauthor%3A%22Krishna+Das%22 Flow of Grace: Chanting the Hanuman Chalisa]'', Sounds True, 2007. 100 pages. {{ISBN|1-59179-551-6}}. * ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=pOdvo4DcwtkC&q=inauthor%3A%22Krishna+Das%22 Chants of a Lifetime: Searching for a Heart of Gold]'', by Krishna Das. [[Hay House]], Inc, 2010. {{ISBN|1-4019-2022-5}}. (Memoir)

==Other appearances== * ''Open to the Infinite: Live at the Inner Directions Gathering'' (video), with Ram Dass, Bertram Salzman, Matthew Greenblatt. Inner Directions, 1999. {{ISBN|1-878019-11-2}}.

==Documentary== In 2011 and 2012, a documentary was made about Krishna Das called ''[[One Track Heart: The Story of Krishna Das]].''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://onetrackheart.com/|title=Onetrackheart|website=Onetrackheart}}</ref> It was directed by filmmaker Jeremy Frindel, and features interviews with Krishna Das and others, commenting on his life and spiritual quest. In late 2012, the documentary was picked up by distributor [[Zeitgeist Films]] for US distribution,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/zeitgeist-grabs-krishna-das-documentary-one-track-heart-for-april-release|title=Zeitgeist Grabs Krishna Das Documentary 'One Track Heart' for April Release|date=December 11, 2012}}</ref> and it came out in the US in May 2013. The soundtrack includes tracks by Krishna Das, and the film score was by [[J Mascis]] and Devadas.

==Money laundering== In 2002, Krishna Das pled guilty to a federal charge of [[money laundering]] and was sentenced to three years' probation and six months' house arrest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/krishna-das-i-feel-like-i_b_1514082|title=Krishna das: 'I Feel Like I'm the Same Jerk I Always Was, but I Don't Think About Myself as Much as I Used to.'|date=May 14, 2012}}</ref> In a 2013 interview, the singer recounted how he had introduced some old friends who imported [[hashish]] to a banker, and many years later was contacted by the US [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] regarding the matter.<ref name="ramdass">{{Cite web |title=The Man Behind the Kirtan: A Talk with Krishna Das |work=Ram Dass |date=November 15, 2013 |url=https://www.ramdass.org/man-behind-kirtan-talk-krishna-das |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915033626/https://www.ramdass.org/man-behind-kirtan-talk-krishna-das/ |archive-date=2015-09-15 |access-date=2025-04-05}}</ref> Krishna Das has described the experience as "one of the most liberating experiences of my life... I don't have to keep any secrets anymore".<ref name="ramdass" />

== References == {{Reflist}}

== Further reading == {{refbegin}} * {{Citation | last1=Adams | first1=Noah | title=Music Interviews: Krishna Das | newspaper=[[National Public Radio]] | date=March 8, 2000 | url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1071337 }} * {{Citation | last1=Powers | first1=Ann | title=Tuning In to the Chant Master of American Yoga | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | date=June 4, 2000 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/04/arts/music-tuning-in-to-the-chant-master-of-american-yoga.html?pagewanted=1 }} * {{Citation | last1=Nadrich | first1=Garett R. | title=Hip-Hop Honchos Feel the Hindu Beat | newspaper=[[Fox News]] | date=August 14, 2001 | url=http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,32013,00.html }} * {{Citation | last1=Wartofsky | first1=Alona | title=Fans Bend an Ear to Soundtrack of Yoga | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | date=November 28, 2003 | page=C01 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A17672-2003Nov27?language=printer }} * {{Citation | last1=Hynes | first1=Mary | title=The Devotional Chant of Krishna Das | newspaper=[[CBC Radio]] | date=April 20, 2008 | url=https://www.cbc.ca/tapestry/archives/2008/042008.html }} * {{Citation | last1=Seacoastonline | title=Chant master Krishna Das performs in Portsmouth Jan. 21 | newspaper=Seacoastonline.com | date=January 16, 2009 | url=http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090116-ENTERTAIN-901160316 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * {{Citation | last1=Callicott | first1=David | title=Das Affects: Krishna Das seems all-knowing but... | newspaper=[[The New York Press]] | date=January 28, 2009 | url=https://newyorkpress.com/das-affects/ }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * {{Citation | last1=Eckel | first1=Sara | title=Yoga Enthusiasts Hear the Call of Kirtan | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | date=March 4, 2009 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/05/fashion/05fitness-01.html }} * {{Citation | last1=Mallozzi | first1=Vincent M. | title=Ex-Rocker Finds a Different Path to Fame, Chanting All the Way | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | date=September 12, 2012 | url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/12/ex-rocker-finds-a-different-path-to-fame-chanting-all-the-way/?ref=nyregion }} * {{Citation | last1=di Perna | first1=Alan | title=Krishna Das, The Yoga Rock Star | newspaper=Grammy.com | date=April 17, 2014 | url=https://www.grammy.com/news/krishna-das-the-yoga-rock-star }} {{refend}}

==External links== * {{Official website}} * {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p200657|label=Krishna Das}} * [https://www.last.fm/music/Krishna+Das Krishna Das] at [[last.fm]] * [http://www.siriusxm.com/krishnadasyoga Krishna Das Yoga Radio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514185335/http://www.siriusxm.com/krishnadasyoga |date=May 14, 2013 }} at [[SiriusXM]] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20050505025926/http://www.ascentmagazine.com/articles.aspx?articleID=89&page=read&subpage=past&issueID=10 "If music be the food of love, play on"] an interview with ''Ascent'' magazine * [http://reelchangefilms.com/portfolio/walking-the-path/krishna-das/ Krishna Das, Bhakti Yogi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303172634/http://reelchangefilms.com/portfolio/walking-the-path/krishna-das/ |date=March 3, 2016 }}, 2007 interview at Satchidananda Ashram, Yogaville, VA * {{YouTube|sydFZ652v_s|Krishna Das interview discussing Neem Karoli Baba}} * {{cite interview |last=Das |first=Krishna |display-authors=0 |subject-link=Krishna Das |date=2000-03-08 |title=Krishna Das |url=https://www.npr.org/2000/03/08/1071337/krishna-das |work=[[All Things Considered]] |interviewer-last=Adams |interviewer-first=Noah |interviewer-link=Noah Adams |publisher=[[NPR]] |access-date=2025-06-06}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Das, Krishna}} [[Category:1947 births]] [[Category:21st-century American Jews]] [[Category:21st-century American composers]] [[Category:American Hindus]] [[Category:American male singer-songwriters]] [[Category:Bhajan singers]] [[Category:Converts to Hinduism]] [[Category:End Hits Records artists]] [[Category:Harmonium players]] [[Category:Jewish American musicians]] [[Category:Kirtan performers]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Long Island]] [[Category:Performers of Hindu music]] [[Category:Record producers from New York (state)]] [[Category:21st-century American male composers]]