Career Timeline
In 2023, Ricky Kej won his third Grammy for his album "Divine Tides" at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in the Best Immers
In 2023, Ricky Kej won his third Grammy for his album "Divine Tides" at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in the Best Immersive Audio Album category, which took place in Los Angeles in February.
In 2023, Ricky Kej won his third Grammy for his album "Divine Tides" at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in the Best Immers
In 2023, Ricky Kej won his third Grammy for his album "Divine Tides" at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in the Best Immersive Audio Album category, which took place in Los Angeles in February.
After winning two Grammy Awards together, Kej and Stewart Copeland teamed up again to launch their album Police - Beyond
After winning two Grammy Awards together, Kej and Stewart Copeland teamed up again to launch their album Police - Beyond Borders in August 2023. Featuring a reimagination of some of the most iconic songs of The Police with symphony orchestra in diverse global languages and traditional musical styles, this album featured global artists such as the frontman of System of a Down - Serj Tankian, Chinese superstar Cui Jian, Soweto Gospel Choir and Mzansi Youth Choir from South Africa, Indian singers and composers Shankar Mahadevan and Salim-Sulaiman, Berklee Indian Ensemble and many more.
After winning two Grammy Awards together, Kej and Stewart Copeland teamed up again to launch their album Police - Beyond
After winning two Grammy Awards together, Kej and Stewart Copeland teamed up again to launch their album Police - Beyond Borders in August 2023. Featuring a reimagination of some of the most iconic songs of The Police with symphony orchestra in diverse global languages and traditional musical styles, this album featured global artists such as the frontman of System of a Down - Serj Tankian, Chinese superstar Cui Jian, Soweto Gospel Choir and Mzansi Youth Choir from South Africa, Indian singers and composers Shankar Mahadevan and Salim-Sulaiman, Berklee Indian Ensemble and many more.
In June 2021, Kej released Divine Tides in collaboration with Stewart Copeland who is the founder of The Police
In June 2021, Kej released Divine Tides in collaboration with Stewart Copeland who is the founder of The Police. Kej and Stewart Copeland recorded this album in its entirety virtually over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and only met in person later on. Featuring artists from around the world, Divine Tides garnered rave reviews and eventually won Kej his second Grammy Award for the Best New Age Album category at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards held in Las Vegas in April 2022. This album was critically acclaimed by numerous news agencies such as Rolling Stone, Bloomberg, The Sunday Guardian, India Today among others.
In June 2021, Kej released Divine Tides in collaboration with Stewart Copeland who is the founder of The Police
In June 2021, Kej released Divine Tides in collaboration with Stewart Copeland who is the founder of The Police. Kej and Stewart Copeland recorded this album in its entirety virtually over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and only met in person later on. Featuring artists from around the world, Divine Tides garnered rave reviews and eventually won Kej his second Grammy Award for the Best New Age Album category at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards held in Las Vegas in April 2022. This album was critically acclaimed by numerous news agencies such as Rolling Stone, Bloomberg, The Sunday Guardian, India Today among others.
In 2018, Kej released My Earth Songs, music for children on the environment and sustainability
In 2018, Kej released My Earth Songs, music for children on the environment and sustainability. Each of the 27 songs is based on a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal aimed to create awareness and inspire the younger generation to make a tangible positive impact in their lives and lives of people around them. Notably, Kej has released these songs in the public domain for completely non-commercial purposes. Kej has teamed up with Macmillan Publishers to feature these songs in English language school textbooks from 2019. He has also partnered with UNICEF to spread these songs to children across the world and is working on translating them to several different Indian and global languages. My Earth Songs was honoured at the UN SDG Action Awards in Bonn, Germany on 2 May 2019 for its outreach and impact. The UN SDG Action Awards recognize outstanding achievements and innovative efforts to promote action on the Sustainable Development Goals. My Earth Songs has been featured in over seven million school textbooks across India as part of educational material promoting environmental awareness and sustainability among students.
In 2018, Kej released My Earth Songs, music for children on the environment and sustainability
In 2018, Kej released My Earth Songs, music for children on the environment and sustainability. Each of the 27 songs is based on a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal aimed to create awareness and inspire the younger generation to make a tangible positive impact in their lives and lives of people around them. Notably, Kej has released these songs in the public domain for completely non-commercial purposes. Kej has teamed up with Macmillan Publishers to feature these songs in English language school textbooks from 2019. He has also partnered with UNICEF to spread these songs to children across the world and is working on translating them to several different Indian and global languages. My Earth Songs was honoured at the UN SDG Action Awards in Bonn, Germany on 2 May 2019 for its outreach and impact. The UN SDG Action Awards recognize outstanding achievements and innovative efforts to promote action on the Sustainable Development Goals. My Earth Songs has been featured in over seven million school textbooks across India as part of educational material promoting environmental awareness and sustainability among students.
On 30 November 2015, Kej's album Shanti Samsara – World Music for Environmental Consciousness was launched on 30 Novembe
On 30 November 2015, Kej's album Shanti Samsara – World Music for Environmental Consciousness was launched on 30 November 2015 at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then French president, Francois Hollande. The prime minister personally presented French president François Hollande with a copy of the CD. In the months since its launch, Kej has traveled widely speaking about conservation and the environment, including a visit to the Republic of Kiribati, where he interviewed and created music with three-term ex-president, Anote Tong. A video featuring music from the album was also played for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the gathering of world leaders. The album was one of several projects discussed during a meeting Prime Minister Modi had with Kej following his Grammy win. Kej found inspiration in Modi's concern for the environment and set out to specifically develop a project to express a message of environmental consciousness. When completed, more than 300 actors, artists and musicians from around the world had contributed to the making of the album's 24 tracks and four music videos. These include:
On 30 November 2015, Kej's album Shanti Samsara – World Music for Environmental Consciousness was launched on 30 Novembe
On 30 November 2015, Kej's album Shanti Samsara – World Music for Environmental Consciousness was launched on 30 November 2015 at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then French president, Francois Hollande. The prime minister personally presented French president François Hollande with a copy of the CD. In the months since its launch, Kej has traveled widely speaking about conservation and the environment, including a visit to the Republic of Kiribati, where he interviewed and created music with three-term ex-president, Anote Tong. A video featuring music from the album was also played for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the gathering of world leaders. The album was one of several projects discussed during a meeting Prime Minister Modi had with Kej following his Grammy win. Kej found inspiration in Modi's concern for the environment and set out to specifically develop a project to express a message of environmental consciousness. When completed, more than 300 actors, artists and musicians from around the world had contributed to the making of the album's 24 tracks and four music videos. These include:
On 23 December 2015, Kej was invited to perform a song from Shanti Samsara in a special arrangement featuring over a hun
On 23 December 2015, Kej was invited to perform a song from Shanti Samsara in a special arrangement featuring over a hundred students from the Bishop Cotton Boys' School in a special performance for India's President Pranab Mukherjee. Also in attendance were many state and national officials and an audience of nearly 13,000 people. In 2016 "Samsara" from Shanti Samsara received the December 2015 Global Music Awards Gold Medal for World Music – India, and the International Acoustic Music Awards for Best Open/Acoustic Open Genre and on 1 March 2016, he was named as a finalist in the 2015 in the World Music category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
On 23 December 2015, Kej was invited to perform a song from Shanti Samsara in a special arrangement featuring over a hun
On 23 December 2015, Kej was invited to perform a song from Shanti Samsara in a special arrangement featuring over a hundred students from the Bishop Cotton Boys' School in a special performance for India's President Pranab Mukherjee. Also in attendance were many state and national officials and an audience of nearly 13,000 people. In 2016 "Samsara" from Shanti Samsara received the December 2015 Global Music Awards Gold Medal for World Music – India, and the International Acoustic Music Awards for Best Open/Acoustic Open Genre and on 1 March 2016, he was named as a finalist in the 2015 in the World Music category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
Winds of Samsara, his 14th studio album and a collaboration with South African flautist Wouter Kellerman, was released o
Winds of Samsara, his 14th studio album and a collaboration with South African flautist Wouter Kellerman, was released on 15 July 2014 after being in production for two years. "The 'Samsara' in the album name has many meanings – the world around us, the world within us, family, ideals, etc. Winds was specifically chosen because of the album's flute-based style." The album debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard New Age Albums Chart in August 2014, a first for a person of Indian origin and stayed in the top 10 for 12 weeks straight. The album also peaked at No. 1 on the Zone Music Reporter Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart in the month of July 2014, and was ranked No. 3 on the ZMR Top 100 Airplay Chart for 2014. The album received the Grammy award for Best New Age Album in February 2015. Kej dedicated the award to non-film music composers in India.
Winds of Samsara, his 14th studio album and a collaboration with South African flautist Wouter Kellerman, was released o
Winds of Samsara, his 14th studio album and a collaboration with South African flautist Wouter Kellerman, was released on 15 July 2014 after being in production for two years. "The 'Samsara' in the album name has many meanings – the world around us, the world within us, family, ideals, etc. Winds was specifically chosen because of the album's flute-based style." The album debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard New Age Albums Chart in August 2014, a first for a person of Indian origin and stayed in the top 10 for 12 weeks straight. The album also peaked at No. 1 on the Zone Music Reporter Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart in the month of July 2014, and was ranked No. 3 on the ZMR Top 100 Airplay Chart for 2014. The album received the Grammy award for Best New Age Album in February 2015. Kej dedicated the award to non-film music composers in India.
Kej's 13th studio album, Shanti Orchestra, was released on 9 July 2013
Kej's 13th studio album, Shanti Orchestra, was released on 9 July 2013. The album peaked at No. 3 in November 2013 on the ZMR Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart, and was ranked No. 37 on the ZMR Top 100 Airplay Chart for 2013. The album was nominated for a 2013 ZMR Music Award and the track "Forever" from the album was also nominated for a Hollywood Music in Media (HMMA) Award in the same year.
Kej's 13th studio album, Shanti Orchestra, was released on 9 July 2013
Kej's 13th studio album, Shanti Orchestra, was released on 9 July 2013. The album peaked at No. 3 in November 2013 on the ZMR Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart, and was ranked No. 37 on the ZMR Top 100 Airplay Chart for 2013. The album was nominated for a 2013 ZMR Music Award and the track "Forever" from the album was also nominated for a Hollywood Music in Media (HMMA) Award in the same year.
Kej started off his career as the keyboardist of Bengaluru-based progressive rock band Angel Dust
Kej started off his career as the keyboardist of Bengaluru-based progressive rock band Angel Dust. Two years into the band, he moved on to become a full-time composer and set up his own studio, Raveolution, in 2003. He eventually went on to create music for over 3,000 ad jingles and Kannada films.
Kej started off his career as the keyboardist of Bengaluru-based progressive rock band Angel Dust
Kej started off his career as the keyboardist of Bengaluru-based progressive rock band Angel Dust. Two years into the band, he moved on to become a full-time composer and set up his own studio, Raveolution, in 2003. He eventually went on to create music for over 3,000 ad jingles and Kannada films.
Ricky Kej was born in North Carolina on 5 August 1981
Ricky Kej was born in North Carolina on 5 August 1981. Half Punjabi and Marwari by birth, Kej grew up in North Carolina and moved to Bangalore, India when he was six years old and has lived there since. He attended the Bishop Cotton Boys' School, Bangalore and studied dentistry at the Oxford Dental College in Bangalore. He did not pursue a career in the field and opted for a career in music instead. Kej holds two Doctorate Degrees (Doctor of Letters) from the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, Bubaneshwar and from Gitam University in Visakhapatnam, India. Kej's life and journey as a musician are now taught to 7th-grade children in India as part of the ICSE syllabus English textbooks. Kej is also a professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (at the Indian Institute of Science) and an Honorary Fellow at Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and The Environment (ATREE).
Ricky Kej was born in North Carolina on 5 August 1981
Ricky Kej was born in North Carolina on 5 August 1981. Half Punjabi and Marwari by birth, Kej grew up in North Carolina and moved to Bangalore, India when he was six years old and has lived there since. He attended the Bishop Cotton Boys' School, Bangalore and studied dentistry at the Oxford Dental College in Bangalore. He did not pursue a career in the field and opted for a career in music instead. Kej holds two Doctorate Degrees (Doctor of Letters) from the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, Bubaneshwar and from Gitam University in Visakhapatnam, India. Kej's life and journey as a musician are now taught to 7th-grade children in India as part of the ICSE syllabus English textbooks. Kej is also a professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (at the Indian Institute of Science) and an Honorary Fellow at Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and The Environment (ATREE).
About Ricky Kej
Ricky Kej was born in North Carolina on 5 August 1981. Half Punjabi and Marwari by birth, Kej grew up in North Carolina and moved to Bangalore, India when he was six years old and has lived there since. He attended the Bishop Cotton Boys' School, Bangalore and studied dentistry at the Oxford Dental College in Bangalore. He did not pursue a career in the field and opted for a career in music instead. Kej holds two Doctorate Degrees (Doctor of Letters) from the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, Bubaneshwar and from Gitam University in Visakhapatnam, India. Kej's life and journey as a musician are now taught to 7th-grade children in India as part of the ICSE syllabus English textbooks.
2000–present
Notable facts
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Indian musicians Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and famed Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan
American singer-songwriter Gary Nicholson
Patti AustinRicky Kej with Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi after his Grammy Award win
Philip Lawrence from Bruno Mars
Regular collaborator Wouter Kellerman
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Discography
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Ricky Kej was born in North Carolina on 5 August 1981.
Ricky Kej has been active during 2000–present.