Andy Desmond aka Miten
Encyclopedia
Andy Desmond aka Miten is a British musician born in Woking, Surrey, August 1947.
He founded the folk/rock duo Gothic Horizon with musical partner Richard Garrett in the 60s. The band released two albums on Decca: The Jason Lodge Poetry Book [1964] and Tomorrow Never Knows [1965].
In 1970 Desmond began performing solo and became part of a stable of folk musicians which included Tom Robinson
, Claire Hamil and Café Society, who were signed by Ray Davies
to his record label Konk Records. Desmond subsequently released Living On A Shoestring on Konk, featuring members of The Kinks
and produced by Dave Davies
and fellow Kink member, keyboardist John Gosling
.
During this time Desmond became established in the UK as a singer/songwriter of note and was subsequently signed to Ariola Records in London. Ariola released Andy Desmond in 1976 - an album containing 10 self composed songs, produced by legendary Los Angeles producer, Bones Howe
.
At the time of its release Desmond had become a stalwart on the British rock scene, opening for Fleetwood Mac, Randy Newman, Hall and Oates, The Cate Brothers, The Kinks and many others. He was invited by Fleetwood Mac to be their special guest on their UK Rumours Tour, and opened for Ry Cooder on his 1978 European tour.
Disillusioned with the rock world and the life style, Desmond went on to explore meditation and Eastern philosophy. He was initiated into ‘sannyas’ in 1980 by controversial Indian mystic, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and given the Sanskrit name Prabhu Miten meaning friend of God. He has lived among the Osho community ever since, spending many years in India at the Osho ashram.
Desmond now tours the world with his musical and life partner, Deva Premal
, who he met at the Osho Ashram in 1990. The couple, known as Deva Premal & Miten, are well known in the world of alternative spirituality and yoga for their chanting of Indian Sanskrit mantras and for Desmond’s spiritually inspired songs. Yoga International featured the duo in a 2009 article on Yoga Rock Stars: "They are the Johnny and June Carter Cash of sacred music, with more than a dozen albums and a fan base that includes both Cher and the Dalai Lama." They have collaborated with motivational speaker, Anthony Robbins, best selling author, Eckhart Tolle, and rock icon Cher, who covered their version of the ancient prayer, The Gayatri Mantra on her Farewell Tour in 2002.
Deva & Miten's record company, Prabhu Music, reports CD sales of over 900,000,and the couple travel the world continually, playing up to 25 countries in the space of a year.
He founded the folk/rock duo Gothic Horizon with musical partner Richard Garrett in the 60s. The band released two albums on Decca: The Jason Lodge Poetry Book [1964] and Tomorrow Never Knows [1965].
In 1970 Desmond began performing solo and became part of a stable of folk musicians which included Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson is an English singer-songwriter, bassist and radio presenter, better known for the hits "Glad to Be Gay", "2-4-6-8 Motorway", and "Don't Take No for an Answer", with his Tom Robinson Band...
, Claire Hamil and Café Society, who were signed by Ray Davies
Ray Davies
Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
to his record label Konk Records. Desmond subsequently released Living On A Shoestring on Konk, featuring members of The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
and produced by Dave Davies
Dave Davies
David Russell Gordon "Dave" Davies is an English rock musician best known for his role as lead guitarist and vocalist for the English rock band The Kinks....
and fellow Kink member, keyboardist John Gosling
John Gosling
not to be confused with John Gostling John Gosling , is an English classically trained organist and pianist....
.
During this time Desmond became established in the UK as a singer/songwriter of note and was subsequently signed to Ariola Records in London. Ariola released Andy Desmond in 1976 - an album containing 10 self composed songs, produced by legendary Los Angeles producer, Bones Howe
Bones Howe
Dayton Burr "Bones" Howe is a Grammy-award-winning record producer and recording engineer associated with 1960s and 1970s hits, mostly of the sunshine pop genre, including most of the hits of The 5th Dimension and The Association, as well as music supervision of several films...
.
At the time of its release Desmond had become a stalwart on the British rock scene, opening for Fleetwood Mac, Randy Newman, Hall and Oates, The Cate Brothers, The Kinks and many others. He was invited by Fleetwood Mac to be their special guest on their UK Rumours Tour, and opened for Ry Cooder on his 1978 European tour.
Disillusioned with the rock world and the life style, Desmond went on to explore meditation and Eastern philosophy. He was initiated into ‘sannyas’ in 1980 by controversial Indian mystic, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and given the Sanskrit name Prabhu Miten meaning friend of God. He has lived among the Osho community ever since, spending many years in India at the Osho ashram.
Desmond now tours the world with his musical and life partner, Deva Premal
Deva Premal
Deva Premal , is a musician known for her meditative spiritual New Age music, which puts ancient Sanskrit mantras into atmospheric, contemporary settings....
, who he met at the Osho Ashram in 1990. The couple, known as Deva Premal & Miten, are well known in the world of alternative spirituality and yoga for their chanting of Indian Sanskrit mantras and for Desmond’s spiritually inspired songs. Yoga International featured the duo in a 2009 article on Yoga Rock Stars: "They are the Johnny and June Carter Cash of sacred music, with more than a dozen albums and a fan base that includes both Cher and the Dalai Lama." They have collaborated with motivational speaker, Anthony Robbins, best selling author, Eckhart Tolle, and rock icon Cher, who covered their version of the ancient prayer, The Gayatri Mantra on her Farewell Tour in 2002.
Deva & Miten's record company, Prabhu Music, reports CD sales of over 900,000,and the couple travel the world continually, playing up to 25 countries in the space of a year.
Discography
- Jason Lodge Poetry Book (Gothic Horizons), Decca 1964
- Tomorrow Never Knows (Gothic Horizons), Decca 1965
- Living On A Shoestring, Konk 1975
- Andy Desmond, Ariola Records, 1976
- Global Heart, Native Soul (1996)
- Strength of A Rose (with Deva Premal) (1996)
- Trusting the Silence (with Deva Premal) (1997)
- Blown Away (1999)
- Dance of Life (1999)
- Satsang (Deva Premal & Miten) (2002)
- Songs for the Inner Lover (with Deva Premal) (2003)
- More Than Music (Deva Premal & Miten) (2004)
- Soul In Wonder (with Deva Premal) (2007)
- Download Singles (with Deva Premal) (2009)
- Deva Premal & Miten In Concert (Deva Premal & Miten with Manose) (2009)
Producer
- Deva Premal - The Essence (exec producer) (1998)
- Deva Premal - Love is Space (co-producer with Kit Walker) (2000)
- Deva Premal - Embrace (co-producer with Kit Walker) (2002)
- Deva Premal - Dakshina (co-producer with Martyn Phillips and Praful) (2005)
- Deva Premal - Deva Premal Sings the Moola Mantra (co-producer with Ben Leinbach) (2007)
- Deva Premal - Password (co-producer with Rishi) (Oct 2011)