M. S. Subbulakshmi

Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi , also known as M.S., was a Carnatic vocalist. She was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, Indias highest civilian honour. She is the first Indian musician to receive the Ramon Magsaysay award, often considered Asias Nobel Prize, in 1974 with the citation reading Exacting purists acknowledge Srimati M. S. Subbulakshmi as the leading exponent of classical and semiclassical songs in the carnatic tradition of South India.

Subbulakshmi was born in Madurai, Madras Presidency, India to veena player Shanmukavadiver Ammal and Subramania Iyer. Her grandmother Akkammal was a violinist.

Source: Wikipedia