Pt Krishnarao Shankar Pandit was one of the most important Hindustani vocalists of the 20th century. Krishnarao was born into a musical family in 1893. His father Shankar Pandit was a disciple of the legendary Ustad Haddu Khan and Ustad Nathu Khan of Gwalior Gharana and then Nathu Khan's son Ustad Nissar Husain Khan. Since the last direct discendent of Khan family died young, heritage of Gwalior gharana passed on to the Pandit family. Krishnarao Shankar received his music training from his father and dadaguru Nissar Husain Khan, who had come to live in the house of Shankar Pandit after the royal patronage had ended. Krishnarao's extraordinary regimen included pre dawn practice in the woods to perfect swara, laya and breath control. He was taught wrestling, gymnastics, yoga and swimming to develop stamina, and a range of three octaves.

Krishnarao Shankar Pandit became a well known singer at an early age. In 1921 he was awarded the title Gayak Shiromani at the All India Congress. For a while, Krishnarao Shankar Pandit served as the court musian to the Gwalior kings. The Pandit family also opened a music school in Gwalior, Shankar Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, in 1914. Pt Krishnarao's ideas about the ideal method of teaching music pit him against Pt Bhatkhande, who opened his music school in Gwalior in 1918, with royal support.


Pt Krishnarao Shankar Pandit came to be known as one of the most important Hindustani vocalists of his time and came to represent an important line of Gwalior Gharana. After a long life he breathed his last in 1989. He was honoured with several awards including the Padma Bhushan in 1973 and the Tansen award in 1980. His family tradition is continued by his son Laxman Krishnarao Pandit and grand daughter Meeta Pandit. There are several biographies of Pt Krishnarao, including one by his son (Lotus Colllection, Roli Books, New delhi, 1995).