Asha puthli biography

Asha Puthli was nearly India’s first disco star. She’s now 79, and her tour’s selling out

For months, Indian vocalist Asha Puthli has hauled a suitcase-size portable karaoke machine out of her condo in West Palm Beach, Fla. The septuagenarian lifts it onto a minibus that takes her to the recreation room at her retirement complex, where she sets up the machine — a gift from her new record label — to rehearse from her catalog to an empty hall.

“It was pretty tough to find a big-enough machine that I could still take to the clubhouse,” she laughed. “I went to one karaoke club in Palm Beach. They had all the standards on there, but, of course, they didn’t have any of my songs.”

Puthli’s career has taken her through smoky Mumbai jazz clubs and a hippie camp at Woodstock; dishing with Andy Warhol and being dressed by Halston and Manolo Blahnik as she sashayed through Studio 54 in New York City. She’s sung with sax giant Ornette Coleman and battled Sean “Diddy” Combs over unlicensed sampling.

She’s also struggled financially at times and hasn’t toured in 40 years. Although she lived

Asha Puthli Vinyl Records & Discography

Who is Asha Puthli? A Brief Career Overview

Music lovers, get ready to dive into the captivating world of Asha Puthli! This extraordinary vocalist and songwriter, originally from Mumbai, India, has made a lasting impact on the global music scene with her enchanting voice and innovative sound. As a pioneer in blending Indian and Western musical influences, Asha has effortlessly traversed genres--including jazz, pop, funk, and disco--creating a sonic landscape that resonates with fans worldwide.

Emigrating to New York in the late 1960s, Asha burst onto the jazz scene after lending her voice to Ornette Coleman's groundbreaking album Science Fiction in 1971. With four celebrated albums for CBS Europe, especially the iconic The Devil Is Loose, she captured hearts and dance floors alike. Asha's music not only captivates listeners but also bridges cultural divides, making her a beloved figure in vinyl culture. Her timeless records continue to inspire new generations of musicians and collectors, solidifying her place in music history.

As

Asha Puthli

American singer-songwriter

Musical artist

Asha Puthli (born February 4, 1945) is an Indian-American singer-songwriter, producer, and actress, born and raised in Mumbai. She has recorded solo albums for EMI, CBS/Sony, and RCA.[1] Her recordings cover blues, pop, rock, soul, funk, disco, and techno and have been produced by Del Newman and Teo Macero.[2]

Early life

Puthli was born into a Hindu family. She is a niece of Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay.[3] Her father was a businessman, and her mother was a homemaker.[4] Like many upper-middle-class Hindu children at the time, she attended English-speakingCatholic schools.[5]

Puthli began training at an early age in Indian classical music and opera. She listened to jazz and pop music on the radio, which led to her interest in fusion.[6] At thirteen, she won a contest in which she sang "Malagueña". The victory encouraged her to begin improvising with a jazz band at local tea dances. Ved Mehta described her singing in his book Portrait of India.[7

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