About the legend KK; Early life, Career, and many more

Singer KK died hours after a concert in Kolkata today. His official Instagram page has visuals of a concert in a Kolkata auditorium held some 10 hours ago.

The 53-year-old singer collapsed at the hotel where he was staying after the concert in Kolkata’s Nazrul Mancha auditorium. Doctor at CMRI hospital said the singer was brought dead.

Also Read: LIVE: KK’s last live concert; Another Gem gone too soon !

Early life

Born in Delhi to Malayali parents C. S. Menon and Kunnath Kanakavalli, Krishnakumar Kunnath was brought up in New Delhi. KK sang 3,500 jingles before breaking into Bollywood. He was an alumnus of Delhi’s Mount St Mary’s School and graduated from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University. He sang in the “Josh of India” song for the support of Indian Cricket Team during Cricket World Cup of 1999. This song featured members of the Indian Cricket Team.

KK married Jyothy in 1991. His son Nakul Krishna Kunnath sang a song “Masti” from his album Humsafar with him. KK also has a daughter named Tamara Kunnath.

Also Read: KK’s Assamese songs; have you listened?

Vocals and musical style

KK has been greatly influenced by the singer Kishore Kumar and music director R.D. Burman. Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Bryan Adams, Led Zeppelin are also favourite international singers and bands of KK. KK has stated that it is not important for a singer’s face to be prominently seen – saying he believes the important thing is that “a singer must be heard.” KK has never undergone any formal training in music.

Career
After graduating from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University in commerce, KK had a brief stint of six months as a marketing executive. After few years, in 1994, he moved to Mumbai.

Playback singing

In 1994, he gave his demo tape to Louis Banks, Ranjit Barot and Lesle Lewis to get a break in the music arena. He was called by UTV and he sang a jingle for Santogen Suiting ad. In a span of four years, he sang more than 3,500 jingles across 11 languages. He got his first break in Mumbai with UTV to sing jingles. He considers Lesle Lewis as his mentor for giving him his first jingle to sing in Mumbai. KK was introduced as a playback singer with A. R. Rahman’s hit song “Kalluri Saaley” and “Hello Dr.” from Kadir’s Kadhal Desam and then “Strawberry Kannae” from AVM Productions’s musical film Minsara Kanavu (1997). He got his Bollywood break “Tadap Tadap” from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999). However, prior to this song he had sung a small portion of the song “Chhod Aaye Hum” from Gulzar’s Maachis (1996).

Albums and television

In 1999, Sony Music had just been launched in India and they were looking to launch a new artiste. KK was selected as the new artiste and he came out with a solo album titled Pal with Lesle Lewis composing the music. The album was arranged, composed and produced by Lesle Lewis of Colonial Cousins. The lyrics have been penned by Mehboob. The songs “Aap Ki Dua”, “Yaaron” and the title track “Pal” in no time ruled the lips of youngsters & also the music chart. The songs “Pal” and “Yaaron” became songs commonly used in school farewells. ‘Pal was the first album released by KK under Sony Music for which he got the Screen award as best singer.

Also Read: Singer KK Dies After Concert In Kolkata

On 22 January 2008, KK released his second album Humsafar after a gap of eight years. The songs “Aasman Ke”, “Dekho Na”, “Yeh Kahan Mil Gaye Hum” and “Rain Bhai Kaari (Maajhi)” are famous songs from this album. Besides, KK had also sung an English Rock Ballad “Cineraria”. The title track, “Humsafar” is a mix of English and Hindi lyrics. The album Humsafar has 10 songs, out of which eight have been composed by KK. The other two songs were taken from his previous album Pal.

KK has also sung many television serial songs like Just Mohabbat, Shaka Laka Boom Boom, Kuch Jhuki Si Palkein, Hip Hip Hurray, Kkavyanjali, Just Dance. He has also sung the theme song for Star Parivaar Awards 2010 with Shreya Ghoshal. KK appeared on television too. He was invited as jury member for a talent hunt show Fame Gurukul.

KK also has sung a song named “Tanha Chala” for the Pakistani TV show The Ghost which was aired on Hum TV in 2008. The song was composed by Farrukh Abid and Shoiab Farrukh, and Momina Duraid penned the lyrics.

KK participated in the latest musical venture of MTV India Coke Studio. There he sang one qawwali “Chadta Suraj” along with Sabri Brothers and a recomposed version of his exquisite track “Tu Aashiqui Hai” from movie Jhankaar Beats. He also came in ‘Surili Baat’ in Aaj Tak Chanel. He has also performed in Sony Mix TV Show and MTV Unplugged Season 3, aired on MTV 11 January 2014. KK was in Dubai for his concert ‘Salaam Dubai 2014’ in April. He also did concerts in Goa, Dubai & Chennai, and Hong Kong.

Also Read: Things You Must Know About KK, The Voice Of Our Hearts!

On 29 August 2015, KK appeared in the television singing reality show Indian Idol Junior Season 2 to cheer up the emerging singers of India where he performed “Khuda Jaane”, “Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar”, “Make Some Noise for the Desi Boyz”, “Ajab Si”, “Sach Kehraha Hai Deewana” and many more songs with the junior idols and “Tu Aashiqui Hai” with Vishal Dadlani, “Aashaayen” with Salim Merchant and “Tadap Tadap” with Sonakshi Sinha. After 10 years, He appeared in a singing reality show as a judge and guest jury member.

On 13 September 2015, KK came in “Baaton Baaton Mein” on Sony Mix.

Awards and honors

South

Hindi