Dressed in traditional Kanjivaram saree, elegant jewelery and an enigmatic voice; no one can impersonate these distinct qualities that are so characteristic to Usha Uthup. Often known as the face of pop and jazz music in India, this charismatic singer is the solo artist to have a collaboration of six English albums with HMV/ EMI. She has also been applauded with the peace prize, Mahila Shiromoni Purashkar, and the Rajiv Gandhi Purashkar for fostering national integration through music. But this wasn't so easy to achieve for the revered 'didi' (elder sister) who started her career as a singer in nightclubs in 1969; an era when club singers were frowned upon and ridiculed by society. But it was her passion for music that despite any formal training, she captured a global audience and even national dignitaries with her stage presence. Today, she defies age while performing with young artists!
