Siobhan
May 26, 2003, 01:07 PM
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=12999635&method=full&siteid=50143&headline=I%27D%20GIVEN%20UP%20HOPE%20OF%20EVER%20M EETING%20NORAH
I'D GIVEN UP HOPE OF EVER MEETING NORAH May 26 2003
By Barbara Davies
THEY share sensuous smiles, glossy dark hair, mischievous laughter, even the same mannerisms.
Norah Jones and Anoushka Shankar, the daughters of legendary sitar player Ravi Shankar, are so alike they are often mistaken for each other.
The closeness between the pair is evident to anyone who meets them but until five years ago the half-sisters had never even met.
They grew up thousands of miles apart, separated by the extraordinary love life of their father, but still each carved out successful careers as musicians in their own right.
Their achievements and their similarities stun their 82-year-old father, the man George Harrison described as "the godfather of world music".
"I am very blessed to have them both," he says. "They are so alike, it's incredible, their looks, their behaviour, their quick wit. They even have matching tattoos of lotus flowers on their backs."
Norah was born in 1979, the result of Ravi's affair with New York concert producer Sue Jones and, until she was 10, enjoyed a close relationship with her father.
Anoushka arrived in 1981 after his affair with his tanpura player, Sukanya Rajan.
He married Sukanya in 1989, at which point he lost touch with Norah but started his relationship with the eight-year-old Anoushka.
Ravi's love life is nothing if not colourful. He has sired three children by three mothers and all of his relationships with women have overlapped - sometimes by years.
His son, Shubho, was raised by his first wife, Annapurna, the daughter of his sitar guru. Ravi married Annapurna when he was 21. They broke up after a few years although they didn't divorce for decades.
From the late 1940s he had an affair with an Indian dancer, Kamala Sastri, and they lived together from 1967 to 1981 while Ravi was enjoying affairs with the mothers of Norah and Anoushka.
WHEN his elder daughter scooped nine Grammy awards in February, Ravi found his unconventional love life thrown into the spotlight.
Speculation centred on the fact that his now world-famous daughter failed to mention him when she gave her acceptance speech.
Today, in London with Anoushka at the start of their summer tour, Ravi shakes his head at stories of their estrangement.
"It was the other way around," he says. "I had more of Norah than Anoushka until she was almost 10.
"But Norah's mother took her off and I didn't know where. I didn't know Norah until she was 18.
"For the last six years we have all been so close. It's come full circle. Everyone's together. I am blessed."
Anoushka, a talented sitar player, confirms that the wounds of the past have finally been healed. "Norah and I get mistaken for each other all the time," she says laughing. "People go up to her and say: 'Anoushka, nice show' and they do the same to me. It's crazy.
"I guess it's our father's genes, not just the physical similarities but the music thing. It must be a combination of natural talent and studying."
The sisters enjoyed very different childhoods. Norah grew up in a modest home in Dallas with her mother, waitressing and playing the piano in bars as she tried to forge a career as a singer.
Anoushka followed in her father's footsteps, travelling the world at his side and meeting celebrities such as George Harrison.
But five years ago, Norah got in touch. Anoushka remembers the phone ringing in the middle of a lesson with her father.
She says: "A soft-spoken girl asked to speak to Mr Ravi Shankar. When she said who she was I was stunned. I had totally given up on the idea we would ever have any contact."
It wasn't easy at first but their closeness now is evident. "I finally have the sister I always wanted," Anoushka says, adding with a grin: "It's great because I'm 5ft 4in and she's only 5ft 1in, so I don't feel short any more.
"We share tops and stuff and just talk and talk when we meet up."
Ravi and Norah were together a couple of weeks ago for three days at the family's San Diego home.
And Anoushka attended Norah's concert in New York and spent time at her sister's Brooklyn apartment with Norah's boyfriend, bassist Lee Alexander.
But work commitments mean that they probably won't meet again until the autumn. "We're touring now and then Norah is touring the States this summer," says Anoushka.
Anoushka will probably always remain the closer to their father. She was with him in November 2001 at George Harrison's bedside on the day before he died.
I GREW up with George," she says. "He was always very close to my family. We'll miss him very much."
Ravi speaks emotionally of those last moments. "He was a wonderful friend and I loved him. The day before he died I spent several hours with him. We were all in tears. It was very touching. I'll never forget it."
Father and daughter have been touring the world together for the last four years and Ravi is also her musical guru. "The two roles blend into each other," says Anoushka.
"When I'm learning with him I might not be as argumentative as I am when we're sitting having dinner. If I'm learning, I'm more respectful. In the same way, he's more strict when he's teaching. As a father he's not really like that - he's fun."
Anoushka's classical Indian music album was nominated for a Grammy for Best World Music album this year. But Ravi sees Norah as the true miracle, because she did it alone.
She studied at the Booker T Washington School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas and got her first break singing at a restaurant in Dallas for £50 a night plus tips.
She worked New York as a waitress while singing in bars and clubs. She was signed by jazz label Blue Note after its head, Bruce Lundvall, heard just three demo tracks.
Ravi says: "I don't take any credit for it. She did it all herself. It is amazing that they have both proved to be such great musicians. I like Norah's music very much."
But he is not expecting the pair to record together. "If it happens, it will be a happy thing," he says, "but I'm not planning it."
Anoushka adds: "Our music is very different and for the next few years we both already have plans."
Ravi smiles: "For now I'm just happy we are together as a family."
I'D GIVEN UP HOPE OF EVER MEETING NORAH May 26 2003
By Barbara Davies
THEY share sensuous smiles, glossy dark hair, mischievous laughter, even the same mannerisms.
Norah Jones and Anoushka Shankar, the daughters of legendary sitar player Ravi Shankar, are so alike they are often mistaken for each other.
The closeness between the pair is evident to anyone who meets them but until five years ago the half-sisters had never even met.
They grew up thousands of miles apart, separated by the extraordinary love life of their father, but still each carved out successful careers as musicians in their own right.
Their achievements and their similarities stun their 82-year-old father, the man George Harrison described as "the godfather of world music".
"I am very blessed to have them both," he says. "They are so alike, it's incredible, their looks, their behaviour, their quick wit. They even have matching tattoos of lotus flowers on their backs."
Norah was born in 1979, the result of Ravi's affair with New York concert producer Sue Jones and, until she was 10, enjoyed a close relationship with her father.
Anoushka arrived in 1981 after his affair with his tanpura player, Sukanya Rajan.
He married Sukanya in 1989, at which point he lost touch with Norah but started his relationship with the eight-year-old Anoushka.
Ravi's love life is nothing if not colourful. He has sired three children by three mothers and all of his relationships with women have overlapped - sometimes by years.
His son, Shubho, was raised by his first wife, Annapurna, the daughter of his sitar guru. Ravi married Annapurna when he was 21. They broke up after a few years although they didn't divorce for decades.
From the late 1940s he had an affair with an Indian dancer, Kamala Sastri, and they lived together from 1967 to 1981 while Ravi was enjoying affairs with the mothers of Norah and Anoushka.
WHEN his elder daughter scooped nine Grammy awards in February, Ravi found his unconventional love life thrown into the spotlight.
Speculation centred on the fact that his now world-famous daughter failed to mention him when she gave her acceptance speech.
Today, in London with Anoushka at the start of their summer tour, Ravi shakes his head at stories of their estrangement.
"It was the other way around," he says. "I had more of Norah than Anoushka until she was almost 10.
"But Norah's mother took her off and I didn't know where. I didn't know Norah until she was 18.
"For the last six years we have all been so close. It's come full circle. Everyone's together. I am blessed."
Anoushka, a talented sitar player, confirms that the wounds of the past have finally been healed. "Norah and I get mistaken for each other all the time," she says laughing. "People go up to her and say: 'Anoushka, nice show' and they do the same to me. It's crazy.
"I guess it's our father's genes, not just the physical similarities but the music thing. It must be a combination of natural talent and studying."
The sisters enjoyed very different childhoods. Norah grew up in a modest home in Dallas with her mother, waitressing and playing the piano in bars as she tried to forge a career as a singer.
Anoushka followed in her father's footsteps, travelling the world at his side and meeting celebrities such as George Harrison.
But five years ago, Norah got in touch. Anoushka remembers the phone ringing in the middle of a lesson with her father.
She says: "A soft-spoken girl asked to speak to Mr Ravi Shankar. When she said who she was I was stunned. I had totally given up on the idea we would ever have any contact."
It wasn't easy at first but their closeness now is evident. "I finally have the sister I always wanted," Anoushka says, adding with a grin: "It's great because I'm 5ft 4in and she's only 5ft 1in, so I don't feel short any more.
"We share tops and stuff and just talk and talk when we meet up."
Ravi and Norah were together a couple of weeks ago for three days at the family's San Diego home.
And Anoushka attended Norah's concert in New York and spent time at her sister's Brooklyn apartment with Norah's boyfriend, bassist Lee Alexander.
But work commitments mean that they probably won't meet again until the autumn. "We're touring now and then Norah is touring the States this summer," says Anoushka.
Anoushka will probably always remain the closer to their father. She was with him in November 2001 at George Harrison's bedside on the day before he died.
I GREW up with George," she says. "He was always very close to my family. We'll miss him very much."
Ravi speaks emotionally of those last moments. "He was a wonderful friend and I loved him. The day before he died I spent several hours with him. We were all in tears. It was very touching. I'll never forget it."
Father and daughter have been touring the world together for the last four years and Ravi is also her musical guru. "The two roles blend into each other," says Anoushka.
"When I'm learning with him I might not be as argumentative as I am when we're sitting having dinner. If I'm learning, I'm more respectful. In the same way, he's more strict when he's teaching. As a father he's not really like that - he's fun."
Anoushka's classical Indian music album was nominated for a Grammy for Best World Music album this year. But Ravi sees Norah as the true miracle, because she did it alone.
She studied at the Booker T Washington School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas and got her first break singing at a restaurant in Dallas for £50 a night plus tips.
She worked New York as a waitress while singing in bars and clubs. She was signed by jazz label Blue Note after its head, Bruce Lundvall, heard just three demo tracks.
Ravi says: "I don't take any credit for it. She did it all herself. It is amazing that they have both proved to be such great musicians. I like Norah's music very much."
But he is not expecting the pair to record together. "If it happens, it will be a happy thing," he says, "but I'm not planning it."
Anoushka adds: "Our music is very different and for the next few years we both already have plans."
Ravi smiles: "For now I'm just happy we are together as a family."