My First Musical Performance

In June 1965, the Asia Society wanted someone to set tune to and sing three songs.  They were poems by ancient Bengali poets. The Consulate gave me the job, and they told me a week before the performance. Whether I was happy or unhappy, God knows.

That week I practised those three songs on Sher Singh's harmonium at least forty times. Before the actual performance, during my lunch hour, I had to go to the Asia Society and sing before the Society's leaders. They were very satisfied. They gave me $30 and a beautiful letter of appreciation.

[Source: "My First Musical Performance" in Sri Chinmoy, My Consulate Years, Agni Press, Jamaica, NY, 1996, p.  35.]  Copyright © 1996 Sri Chinmoy