Ricky Kej (born 5 August 1981) is an Indian composer, music producer and environmentalist based in Bengaluru. He has won three Grammy Awards: for Winds of Samsara (2015) and twice for Divine Tides (2022 and 2023), made with Stewart Copeland of the rock band The Police. Much of his music is about nature and climate change, and he works with the United Nations on environmental campaigns. He received the Padma Shri in 2025.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Ricky Kej |
| Born | 5 August 1981, North Carolina, United States |
| Age | 45 |
| Hometown | Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| Occupation | Composer, music producer, environmentalist |
| Education | Bishop Cotton Boys’ School; Oxford Dental College, Bengaluru |
| Genres | New age, world music |
| Spouse | Varsha Kej |
| Honours | Three Grammy Awards; Padma Shri (2025) |
Early Life
Kej was born in North Carolina to Indian parents; his father is Punjabi and his mother Marwari. The family moved to Bangalore when he was eight. He went to Bishop Cotton Boys’ School and, to keep a promise to his parents, completed a degree in dental surgery at Oxford Dental College. He never practised: he had played in a rock band at college and chose music as a career the day he graduated.
Career
Kej set up a studio in Bangalore in 2003 and composed more than 3,000 advertising jingles over the following years, along with music for Kannada films. He composed the anthem for the opening ceremony of the 2011 Cricket World Cup in Dhaka.
His album Winds of Samsara, made with the South African flautist Wouter Kellerman and inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, reached number one on the US Billboard New Age chart and won the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album in 2015. Divine Tides, with Stewart Copeland, won Best New Age Album in 2022 and Best Immersive Audio Album in 2023. He has received further Grammy nominations since.
After his first Grammy, Kej decided to devote his music to environmental and social causes. His album Shanti Samsara was launched at the 2015 UN climate conference in Paris by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the French president. He has performed at the United Nations headquarters in New York and Geneva and serves as a goodwill ambassador for UN agencies working on refugees, desertification and children. In 2023 he recorded a version of the Indian national anthem with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios in London.
Personal Life
Kej lives in Bengaluru with his wife, Varsha, who is also a musician. He has said he prefers to remain in India and work independently of the film industry.
Awards and Honours
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Ricky Kej born?
Ricky Kej was born on 5 August 1981 in North Carolina, United States and is 45 years old.
What is Ricky Kej’s occupation?
Occupation: Composer, music producer, environmentalist.
What honours has Ricky Kej received?
Three Grammy Awards; Padma Shri (2025).
Featured image: Ricky Kej with his three Grammy Awards. Photo by Ricky Kej, licensed under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
