Ali Akbar Khan (born April 14, 1922) is one of today's most accomplished Indian classical musicians. He is admired by both Eastern and Western musicians for his brilliant compositions and his mastery of the sarod, a beautiful, 25-stringed Indian instrument.

Ustad Ali Akbar Khan's family traces its gharana (ancestral tradition) to Mian Tansen, a 16th century musical genius and court musician of Emperor Akbar. Ali Akbar Khan's father, the late Padma Vibhushan Acharya Dr. Allauddin Khan, was acknowledged as the greatest figure in North Indian music in this century.

Born on 14 April 1922 in East Bengal (Bangladesh), Ali Akbar Khan (Khansahib) began his studies in music at the age of three. He studied vocal music from his father and drums from his uncle, Fakir Aftabuddin. His father also trained him on several other instruments, but decided finally that he must concentrate on sarod and vocal. For over twenty years, he practised 18 hours a day. His father continued to teach him up until he was 105 years old, and he left behind such a wealth of material that Khansahib feels he is still learning new things from it.