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Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi (16 September 1916 – 11 December 2004) was an Carnatic singer from Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Exacting purists acknowledge M. S. Subbulakshmi as the leading exponent of classical and semi-classical songs in the Carnatic tradition of South India.

Originally recorded on a 78 rpm record in 1929.

"I was fascinated by records - gramophone plates, we called them. Inspired by the Gramophone Company's logo of the dog listening to his master's voice, I would pick up a sheet of paper, roll it into a long cone, and sing into it for hours." - M.S. Subbulakshmi, the "Voice of the Century".

Mogubai Kurdikar (1904 – 2001) was a renowned vocalist of theJaipur-Atrauli gharana. Her main guru was Alladiya Khan, the founder of the gharana, as well as his brother Haider Khan. She also was taught by Vilayat Hussain Khan of teh Agra gharana. Among her students were her daughter Kishori Amonkar and Padma Talwalkar.

Kishori Amonkar (1932 – 2017) was a HIndustani vocalist representing the Jaipur gharana, but was open to incorporating other styles. Her initial teacher was her mother Mogubai Kurdikar.

Kishori Amonkar had 2 sons (Bibhas and Nihar), but neither pursued musical careers. Granddaughter Tejashree Bibhas Amonkar, however, learnt music and often accompanied Kishori Amonkar on stage.

Lakshmi Shankar (née Sastri, 1926 – 2013) was a noted Hindustani classical vocalist, but you might not know she is South Indian. She started as a dancer and was with Uday Shankar's world touring dance troupe. (Uday Shankar was Ravi Shankar's elder brother.) But due to an illness, she gave up dancing to concentrate on singing - but chose Hindustani music, specializing in light classical and devotional music (thumri & bhajan). She became an outstanding Hindustani vocalist of the Patiala Gharana and married Rajendra Shankar, brother of Uday and Ravi Shankar.

Lakshmi and Rajendra Shankar had a daughter, Vijayashree (Viji). While with her mother participating with Ravi Shankar's "Music Festival From India", Viji met violinist Dr. L. Subramaniam, whom she married in 1976. Viji moved to Los Angeles and gave up the musical career to focus on being a wife and mother to their 4 children: violinists Ambi Subramaniam and Gingger Shankar, Bindu Subramaniam and Dr. Narayana Subramaniam. Sadly, Viji died young, from cancer, at age 42 in 1995.

Bade Ghulam Ali Khan was born in 1902 in Kasur, Punjab Province (part of Pakistan since 1947). An influential vocalist in Hindustani music, he combined elements of dhrupad with Jaipur and Gwalior gharanas, into what would be known as the Patiala-Kasur gharana. He lived mainly in India after 1957, and died in Hyderabad in 1968.

Raza Ali Khan was born in Bombay in 1962 to Hindustani classical vocalist Munawar Ali Khan, who was the son of the legendary Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. He received his early training from his grandfather and then from his father. He also accompanied his father on concerts.

Viswanatha Iyer (1896-1970) was born in Maharajapuram to Rama Iyer, a singer. He was trained initially by Umayalpuram Swaminatha Iyer. His prominent disciples include Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Mannargudi Sambasiva Bhagavatar, and his son Maharajapuram Santhanam.

Maharajapuram Santhanam (1928-1992) followed in his father's footsteps. Besides studying with his father, he was also a disciple of Melattur Sama Dikshitar. He and several other family members died in an automobile collision in Kooteripattu in 1992. His sons Maharajapuram S. Srinivasan, Maharajapuram S. Ramachandran, and his primary disciple Dr. R. Ganesh are now carrying on his musical tradition.

Grandson Maharajapuram S. Srinivasan and great-grandson Maharajapuram S. Ganesh Viswanathan continue the family tradition.

Shivaputra Siddharamayya Komkalimath (1924-1992) was born in the Belgaum District of Karnataka state. Kumar Gandharva was an Indian classical singer. (The name "Kumar Gandharva" was a title given to him while a child prodigy; a Gandharva is a musical spirit in Hindu mythology.) He was well known for his unique vocal style and for his refusal to be bound by the tradition of any gharana. He overcame tuberculosis in his 20's, but the damage to his lungs affected his style. Gandharva's first son, Mukul Shivputra, was born in 1956. His daughter Kalapini Komakalimath is also a vocalist.

Mukul Shivputra (formerly known as Mukul Komkalimath) was born in Bhopal in 1956 and was the foremost disciple of his father Kumar Gandharva. He continued his musical education in Dhrupad and Dhamar with K. G. Ginde and in Carnatic music with M. D. Ramanathan.

Grandson of Kumar Gandharva, son of Mukul Shivputra, Bhuvanesh Komkali was born in 1978. His musical journey began in infancy, with his earliest memories filled with the sounds of early morning practice, performances and recordings.

Damal Krishnaswamy Pattammal (1919-2009) popularly known as D. K. Pattammal or DKP, was a contemporary of M. S. Subbulakshmi and M. L. Vasanthakumari, who all initiated the entry of women into mainstream Carnatic Music.

She did not receive regular gurukula training; in accordance with those times, women, especially from conservative families, were constrained from attending gurukula training. She had many instructors, including Papanasam Sivan. Her students included her daughter-in-law Lalitha Sivakumar and grand-daughter Nithyashree Mahadevan.

Nithyasree Mahadevan (born 25 August 1973) in Thiruvaiyaru, Tamil Nadu, was born to Lalitha Sivakumar and Iswaran Sivakumar. Her paternal grandmother is D. K. Pattammal, and her grand-uncle is D. K. Jayaraman, (prominent Carnatic vocalists). Her maternal grandfather was the mridangam maestro, Palghat Mani Iyer.

Alla Rakha Khan Qureshi (1919-2000) was born in Ghagwal, a village in the Jammu Province of the princely kingdom of Jammu & Kashmir. He was discouraged by his father from pursuing music as a career, so at age 12 he ran away from home and stayed with his uncle. He trained with Mian Kader Baksh of the Punjab gharana. He was the leading tabla accompanist for major singers and instrumentalists.

His 3 sons (Zakir Hussain, Fazal Qureshi and Taufiq Qureshi) are all percussionists.

Zakir Hussain (born 9 March 1951) is a tabla player, composer, percussionist, music producer, educator and film actor. He is the eldest son of Alla Rakha, and is widely considered as one of the greatest tabla players of all time. (He jokes that his mother could feel him kicking rhythmically while in the womb.)