The Arhoolie Foundation has teamed up with Little Village Foundation to produce “Working From Home,” a video series of mini house concerts recorded live by traditional musicians trying to make it through the current public health crisis doing what they do best. Please join us in supporting these working musicians by donating directly to them through the links provided. We will match the first $500 in donations to each.
This week’s episode features Indian-born, San Jose-based Bombay Bluesman Aki Kumar on vocals and harmonica, accompanied by Rome Yamilov on guitar. Aki has two records on the Little Village Foundation label. His third Sony Music single “Aana Mere Pyar Ko” is out now.
Donate directly to Aki Kumar:
(Together, AF & LVF will match the first $500 donated)
Sony Music recording artist Aki Kumar left his native home in Mumbai, India for the United States with the intention of working as a software engineer. Then he discovered the sounds of the blues, and his life changed dramatically.
One of the hardest working artists on the live music scene today, this San Jose-based blues musician has successfully blended elements of Indian music into his musical and visual presentation, making for a multi-cultural mash-up that sounds like no one else, yet never loses touch with its blues foundation. He has made multiple appearances at The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival, has been featured on PRI “The World,” and has toured in Russia, Scandinavia and South America.
Kumar’s Little Village Foundation releases Aki Goes To Bollywood (2016) and Hindi Man Blues (2018) are considered ground-breaking albums that have garnered international critical acclaim. In August 2019, Kumar made major news with the announcement of a new record deal with Sony Music India and the world-wide launch of his debut single Dilruba.
