Background
Jitendraji was born in Mangeshi, Goa. His father, Balawantrao aka Bikambhat, was a half-brother and a disciple of Master Deenanath Mangeshkar, and the temple priest and a Kirtankar (performer of Kirtana, a devotional music style).
Jitendraji was born in Mangeshi, Goa. His father, Balawantrao aka Bikambhat, was a half-brother and a disciple of Master Deenanath Mangeshkar, and the temple priest and a Kirtankar (performer of Kirtana, a devotional music style).
While he distinguished himself in Hindustani music, he is also credited for revival of the Marathi musical theatre in the 1960s. Balawantrao taught Jitendra the basic principles of Hindustani classical music Jitendra received further training in vocal music from Jagannathbua Purohit and Azmat Hussain Khan of Agra Gharana, and Gullubhai Jasdanwala of Atrauli Gharana which is more widely known as Jaipur Gharana.
He developed a distinct style of rendering khayál, which is known today as the Abhisheki Gharana.
Panditji was also well known for his renditions of his Marathi Natya Sangeet compositions like "Guntatá Hrdáya Hai" or "He Suránno Chandra Vhá" and devotional songs, such as "Májhe Jívana Gáne","Kaivalyáchya", Sarvátmaka sarveshvara", "Kátá rute kunálá" et cetera After receiving a degree in Sanskrit literature, Abhishekibuwa joined All India Radio (Associated Independent Recording) at Mumbai for a brief period, when he came in contact with several musicians and also got an opportunity to display his musical talents by composing several pieces for radio programs.
Around this time, he received a scholarship from the Indian Government for advanced training in Hindustani classical music under Azmat Hussain Khan. He composed vocal as well as background scores for 25 Marathi plays.
After receiving a Homi Bhabha fellowship in the late sixties, he taught at a music school run in the United States of America by sitarist Ravi Shankar.
He maintained his ties to his homeland of Goa through his association with the Kala Academy, counseling and guiding students from that state. Besides son Shounak Abhisheki, Abhisheki"s well-known musical disciples include Asha Khadilkar, Devaki Pandit, Shubha Mudgal, Ajit Kadkade, Raja Kale, Prabhakar Karekar, Hemant Pendse, Doctor Mohankumar Darekar, Vijay Koparkar and Mahesh Kale.
Homi Bhabha Fellowship (1969) Natyadarpan Award (1978) Padma Shri (1988) Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1989) Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar (1990) Gomantak Marathi Academy Award (1992) Balgandharva Puraskar (1995) Surashree Kesarbai Kerkar Award (1996) Master Deenanath Smriti Puraskar (1996) Lata Mangeshkar Puraskar (1996) Balgandharva Puraskar (Natyaparishad, 1997) Puraskar(Kailas Mathematics Nasik, 1997).
