[ninjatalli]

Damn you, 2020.

What a irreplaceable loss. Not only was he a great singer, but also a very good comedy artist. Not known for this capability due to very few movies played in a comic role, but he was exceptionally good in those (Tamil) movies.

[GTB]

2020!!

Rest in Peace Sir :(

[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by Samurai

This is great loss to Indian music. I became his big fan listening to the cassette tape of the movie Sankarabharanam 40 years ago, it was the only tape we owned for over a year.

It was a marvel that a regular playback singer could sing for a movie based on Carnatic classical music. The great singer Bala Murali Krishna said it couldn't be done by playback singers. But SPB showed it could be done.

He had the unique talent of matching his voice to the person acting in the movie.

Sankarabharanam is probably the best among the best of his works. No wonder he won a National award for that. It was his First National award I'm told.

Talking about proving a point...The 80s was a time when Bollywood music directors were not confident of giving songs to South Indian singers. But K Balachander insisted that if not SPB, he will not make Ek Duje Ke Liye and SPB got to record his first Hindi song. And the rest is all history.

Apart for the 40,000 songs record, he also has records for recording most songs by a singer in a single day. in 1981, he recorded 21 songs of Kannada language in a single day from 9AM to 9PM! In other languages too he has recorded more than 15 songs a day many times!

[KrisTvpm]

Sadgati Balasubrahmanyam avarè!
Without his "Shiva Stuti" our Monday mornings were never complete...you will be missed sorely, but how lucky are you to live forever in our minds through your melodious voice & nice personality, Pranam! _/\_

[RSR]

This is extremely tragic!!!

I'm a guy with zero musical talent. Yet, while growing up, I knew his voice was something unmatched and simply out of this world.

I recollect SPB saying that when he began his singing career, he struggled with getting the pronounciation right for Tamil songs. But he mastered it quickly and could sing some tongue-twisting Tamil lyrics perfectly, better than any native speaker.

But his voice, oh his voice! That was special, golden, unmatched...

Rest in peace, SPB! You may have left us, but you have immortalised yourself to generations with your golden voice.

Edit: An unexpected thunderstorm in Chennai now - Mother Nature giving a tearful farewell to a legend!

[joe1980]

Deeply saddened! Rest in peace sir!

It is very very unfortunate what COVID-19 is doing to us. He and possibly many many more would have been here if not for COVID-19.

[Samurai]

Back in March, SPB sung a very emotional song in Kannada about COVID-19, and how it is hurting everyone. It is posted on his FB page.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=221486095882194

[mankuthimma]

SPB and kannada movie songs were inseparable during 80's and 90's. Every other song on radio used to be by SPB. He was the voice of all the greatest stars Kannada movie industry has seen - Vishnu, Srinath, Ambarish, Anantnag, Shankarnag, Ravichandran to name a few.

I am particularly fond of his 80's hits - together with Rajan-Nagendra, G'K.Venkatesh, Hamsalekha.. it was golden period of kannada songs quite similar to what RDB-Kishore did for hindi movie industry. Every song remains evergreen.. really very difficult to pick few as favourites!!

Not to mention his association with the other legend Kannada has seen - Dr. Rajkumar! Both had deep respect for each other and they even lent voices for each other in one of their song!

A golden era comes to end !! May his soul rest in peace!

[creative420]

Damn. I remember playing Maine Pyaar Kiya, Gardish, Sagar and Saajan songs on the loop. Hope he sings to all of us from the skies!

[krinpit]

RIP SPB. Perfect tribute by Satish Acharya

[TorqueTwist]

A legendary singer, very versatile and spellbound voice muted!!! Rest In Peace...Sir. You are irreplaceable.

[RedTerrano]

For me, perhaps the best song, with which I will forever remember him is this.

https://youtu.be/iSAN25_pOXw

Gorgeous Dimple Kapadia
The acting prowess (don't miss the almost tearful eyes) of Kamal Hasan
And the deep rich voice of Dr. S. P. Balasubrahmanyam

Thank you Dr. Sir for your lovely music. You brought much joy to our lives.
ॐ शांति _/\_

[redCherry]

RIP SPB Sir.
The is is one of many beautiful songs sung by him (The original 'Neele Neele Ambar').

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sJ2...&index=11&t=0s

[Chetan_Rao]

A firm favorite of three generations in my family, my sister and I inherited his music from our grandmother and parents.

Condolences to everyone who ever heard him sing. We've all lost a little bit of ourselves with his passing.

[Vin76]

Very sad news. Undoubtedly one of the finest singers of India. So many of his songs have kept me company on my long drives and will continue to do so. RIP, SPB.