Shankar, a violinist, singer and composer, teaches Indian Classical styles by incorporating them into Western musics. He has worked with many Western musicians, including Peter Gabriel, Yoko Ono, Bruce Springsteen, Phil Collins, Talking Heads, and Lou Reed. He first began vocal lessons at the age of two, violin lessons at five, and drumming lessons at seven. After receiving a doctorate in ethnomusicology, he co-formed (with British composer Caroline) a pop/rock group in 1982, the Epidemics. The band has released three albums: The Epidemics, Do What You Do and Eye Catcher. The two also work in an Indian quartet with Shankar's father, V. Lakshminarayana, and his sister, Gana Rao. The group's four albums are Panca Nadai Pallavi, Galaxy, Nobody Told Me and Soul Searcher. Shankar also co-founded Shakti with John McLaughlin; the two released Shakti, Handful of Beauty and Natural Elements. His two solo albums are Touch Me There (produced by Frank Zappa) and Who's to Know. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide