Gary Lawyer

More on the man with a soulful voice
The only professional western singer of India sits comfortably on his sofa, right knee crossed over left leg, in his ancient and beautiful Art Deco style home on Carmichael Road, South Bombay. He apologises for not being entirely himself - “My work is primarily nocturnal, I feel better in the evenings,” says Gary Lawyer.

Lawyer knew he couldn’t not be a musician; his involvement with his passion was so complete. When he began his career, singing at showcase theatres and nightclubs in New York in 1977, familial circumstances forced him to reconsider. Home bound, Gary gave up his green card to return to Bombay in 1983. An impromptu gig later, Lawyer was flooded with offers from advertising and music agencies. Read more...

Barry John

Theatre Musings and more by the teacher, theatre artiste and actor.

Four decades ago, a twenty two year old man, newly graduated from Leeds University, responded to a ‘volunteer service ad’ in the paper. For not so much money, the job offered the position of an English teacher in Coimbatore, India, and a bicycle. He moved from a first world country to the third world. This was 1968.

India has been home for Barry John ever since. 

“It was the Sixties, the hippie era of The Beatles, Ravi Shankar and Flower Power. I had been teaching drama in a school for the past year, and since ‘Drama’ wasn’t really thought of as a subject at the time, I was pissed off with the institution. I was aching to be associated with acting, and to get out, really. And I had read the Upanishads and Vedas. Shakuntala had been my final project in college. Read more...

Louiz Banks

An introduction to the dexterous man and facile musician…
Who is Louiz Banks, you ask, ignoramus?
Think of jazz music in India and chances are the first name that comes to mind is Louiz Banks. He is India’s jazz icon. Primarily known for his jazz playing- a jazz pianist par excellence, Banks is a versatile artist. He has provided music for Bollywood movies, composed and performed numerous jingles, corporate shows and more than dabbled in fusion music.

Boy Banks and his inspiration: 

Banks grew up playing jazz trumpet. That was till he heard the great jazz pianist,Oscar Peterson. “I wanted to play just like Oscar” Read more...