This page is dedicated to the memory of Rahul Sakyaputra (1947-2002)

Rahul Sakyaputra was a master sitar player. He studied sitar in India with the same teacher Ravi Shankar studied with. Sakyaputra was quite a hit with hollywood celebrities. He played at private parties hosted by Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, Richard Gere, Tom Hanks, and Shirley McLain. He performed for the Dali Lama and the list goes on. He died of a massive heart attack in India while visiting his family. He is greatly missed.

I met Rahul when I was in college, working at an Indian restaurant. His music was the reason I took the job. Every Friday night I spent hours waiting tables, enjoying the music Rahul played. During this time I learned to play guitar and began writing my own music. I asked Rahul to join me in the studio to work on the title track to my CD The Hookah Tale. I went to his home and sat on his floor with my guitar while he cooked the best vegetarian Indian food I've ever had. Upon hearing The Hookah Tale Rahul looked at me and said, "Do you know that this song will one day make you a very rich lady?" We practiced for many hours. He wanted to play on every song I wrote it seemed. We discussed ordering a sitar from India so I could begin taking sitar lessons with Rahul. I am deeply saddened that I will never get that chance.

God bless you Rahul. I have been thinking of you often lately and I am so sad to hear of your death. I will miss you and hope that your spirit will stay near me, guiding me and my music through this short journey here on Earth.

-Kristy