I am the Senior most Top grade TABLA Maestro Prof. Pandit J. Massey.

I was born on 11th January 1939,in Kanpur in a reputed Christian family with no backing no support or any heredity, settled down in the holy city Banaras, in 1958, to learn the TABLA.

I became disciple of Padma Bhushan Pandit Samta Prasad alias Godai Maharaj Ji and lived ALONE FOR 14 YEAR TO ACHIVE MY GOAL.

I also learned TABLA from Pandit Kamta Prasad Younger brother of Pandit Samta Prasad in the beginning. I was attracted to the TABLA from my childhood and started TABLA playing since 1953, in local music programme of my city Kanpur . It was Gods gift to me.

I became one of the talented finished TABLA player of the country. I am equally good in accompanying vocal and instrumental music. I am famous for TABLA SOLO and recital in the year 1982, 1992 and 2004 in the National Programme of Music All India Radio were highly appreciated by the Artists and Listeners

I have exceptional qualities of freshness and ease happiness and joy which I radiates thats made me unique in contemporary TABLA PLAYERS.

I was honoured as JUNIOR GODAI MAHARAJ in the field of Indian classical music since 1973. This Title was conferred to me by the News papers and music lovers of Allahabad, because of the melodious tonal quality resembling of my respectable Guru ji Samta Prashad alias Godai Maharaj ji that bestowed the title upon me as JUNIOR GODAI MAHARAJ.

In classical Music field percussion. I am the only top grade artist in India in my community.

I have spent 61 years of my life in Banaras just for one subject TABLA.

I started my Musical journey from -

1. 1957, YOUTH FESTIVAL , New Delhi.

2. 1958, SPRING FESTIVAL. Kashmir received GOLD MEDAL .

3. 1963, I passed B.MUS did Top from prayag sangeet samiti, Allahabad.

4. 1964, ALL INDIA COMPETITION organized by PRAYAG SANGEET SAMITI, ALLAHABAD IN SPECIAL GROUP stood at top.

5. 1967, I stood at first place in M.MUS Praveen Exam by Prayag sangeet samiti, Allahabad.

6. 1962 to 1968 I served as TABLA Teasher at AGRASEN KANYA INTER COLLEGE, VARANASI.

7. 1967 and 1968, Invited to teach for two months May and June in All India SUMMER School of Hindustani Music, in pachmadhi,MP.

8. 1976, I was honored as very first staff Artist appointed in A.I.R, Varanasi. And During my 22 years of service I accompanied with thousands of artists.

IMPORTANT MUSIC CONFERENCES AND PROGRAMMES

1. 1966, KAL KE KALAKAR TALMANI. SURSINGAR SANSAD, BOMBAY.

2. 1966, SAWAI GANDHARAVA PUNYATITHI poona organized by Pt. Bhim Sen Joshi.

3. 1966, SARVA BHARTIYA SANGEET SAMMELAN, Kolkata.

4. 1967 to 1982 Prayag Sangeet, Allahabad.

5. 1972, Railway Institute Music conference, Allahabad.

6. 1982 to 1990 DURGYANA MUSIC CONFERENCE, AMRITSAR.

7. 1974, ALANKAR MUSIC CONFERENCE, Kolkata.

8. 1989, MASTER DINA NATH MANGESHKAR MUSIC CONFERENCE, GOA.

9. OLDEST reputed SANGEET PARISHAD, VARANASI established in 1935. I accompanied many times with many reputed artists. My disciple performed Tabla Solo.

10. 1979, RIMPA MUSIC CONFERENCE established by Pt. Ravi Shankar, Varanasi.

11. 1995, GUNIJAN SANGEET SABHA, Indore

12. Several times accompanied at SANKAT MOCHAN SANGEET SAMMELAN, in Varanasi . I am one of the founder Artist of this programme.

13. I performed in all the Major Cities of INDIA and in NEPAL Radio Kathmandu too.

FOR ALL INDIA RADIO (Aakash Vani)

1. 1976, I was honored as a very first Staff Artist appointed in A.I.R, Varanasi. And during my 22 years of service I accompanied With thousands of artists of various categories of music.

2. since 1989, SELECTION GRADE I Artist by A.I.R, New Delhi.

3. 1997, I have been retired.

4. I am the jury member of Audition Board PRASAR BHARTI A.I.R, New Delhi.

SIGNIFICANNT CONTRIBUTION

NATIONAL PROGRAMMES OF ALL INDIA RADIO

1. 1973, TABLA SOLO for one hour for URDU SERVICE recorded at A.I.R. NEW DELHI.

2. 1982,1992,2004,2009 I Performed Tabla solo in the national program of music in sequence in the year 1982 , 1992, 2004 , 2009 all the program were highly appreciated by the Artists and Listeners as well as all Connoisseurs of music.

ACCOMPANIMENT

RADIO SANGEET SAMMELAN PROGRAMME

1. I accompanied with Padam Shri Ustad Hafeez Ahmed Khan ( Vocal ) Deputy Chief Producer of All India Radio, ,New Delhi in RADIO SANGEET SAMMELAN PROGRAMME at Udaipur , Rajashtan (1993).

2. Again in 1995 I accompanied with Ustad Hafeez Ahmed Khan in the Radio Sangeet Sammelan at MADRAS (CHENNAI).

NATIONAL PROGRAMME

SATURDAY NIGHT CONCERT Accompaniments

1. 1994, I accompanied with ustad Hafeez Ahmed khan recorded at A.I.R, NEW DELHI Studios.

2. 1996, with Vdushi Meenakshi Biswas (Vocal ) recorded at A.I.R , RAJKOT (GUJRAT).

3. In 2002 , I accompanied in 1 hour recording with Pt. Amar Nath Mishra (Sitar) for DOORDANSHAN , lucknow .


4. 2004, I performed one hour TABLA SOLO for Doordarshan, Varanasi That was highly appreciated by the listener .

INTERVIEWS

1. 1986, I was invited by Doordarshan New Delhi to take interview of Padmabhushan Pt. SAMTA PRASAD Ji prestigious programme titled as GREAT MASTER This interview is viral the world widely.

2. I was invited by MR. K.K. NAYYER EX. D.D.G.OF A.I.R NEW DELHI he requested me to assist him for the T.V serial UTKARSH FOR DOORDARSHAN, LUCKNOW. I assisted him in 5 episodes.

3. 2002, May I accompanied in one hour recording with Pt. Amar Nath Mishar[sitar] for DOORDARSHAN, LUCKNOW.

‘AWARD/RECOGNITION

1. For the year 2001, I was selected by the U.P Government to bestow upon me , SANGEET NATAK AKADAMI Award . And I was the only artist in whole Purvanchal Region to be honoured by the HONBLE GOVERNOR of U.P. Acharya Vishnukant Shastri ji.

2. 1966, TAALMANI , BY SURSINGER SANSAD Bombay, (Mumbai).

3. 1966, SANGEET SHREE , award by RAAG RANG, (ALLAHABAD).

4.1996, MAHAMANA TRIVENI AWARD , was awarded to Ustad Bismillah Khan and Prof. J. Massey by the ALL INDIA MAHAMNA MALVIYA SOCIETY, (Allahabad).

5.In March 2003, I was honoured by "SMRITI MUSICAL ORGANIZATION" (KANPUR) , awarded me "MUNNU GURU SANGEET AWARD" and I was honoured by the State Home Minister , New Delhi Mr. Shriprakash Jaiswal.

6. March 2008, PRINTANIA AWARD , by NAV SADHNA KALA KENDRA, Institute for dance and music , Varanasi .

7. January 2008, I was honoured by the "MUSIC FACULTY OF PERFORMING ARTS", BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY in "National Seminar" of the Performing Arts Inter Alia.

8. 1972, I was honoured as Profeessor of TABLA by the "SARVA BHARTIYA SANGEET SAMMELLAN", Calcutta (KOLKATA).

9. Many times , I was awarded by the JC's and Lions Club and other organizations time to time.

10. The tradition of "Banaras Gharana of TABLA" is incomplete Without my Name. I feel proud that in every Book based on Tabla subject my bio data is mentioned with honour.

In my guidance 8 students have received Doctorate.

1. Smt. Lalita Sharma 1992

2. Monika Gupta Lucknow

3. Smt. Rachna Khare Lucknow

4. Sandeep patel BHU

5. Smt. Rachna Gupta AGRA 2002

6. Ganesh Prasad Gupta Kanpur

7. Smt. Sunita Gupta

8. Gyan Singh BHU

INTERNATIONAL AWARD/ RECOGNITION

1. In 2001 , my " C.D." was released with Pt. Amar Nath Mishra (SITAR) by "INDIAN MUSIC ARCHIVE's New York, AMERICA"

2.In 1983, my interview was telecaset by the T.V. in WELLINGTON , NEWZEALAND .

3. I am the Patron and life member of "World Piece Society".

4. I was honoured with TESTIMONIALS by DIGNITARIES of various countries and organisations time to time including PRIME MINISTER OF NEWZEALAND, OUR HIGH COMMISSIONER, PAKISTAN AMBASSADOR IN FIJI (ISLANDS),AMERICAN AMBASSADOR AND FROM MANY OTHER ORGANISATIONS of different countries.

IMPACT OF THE WORK DONE AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIELD

1. 1994, I was Invited to play TABLA SOLO for the "NATIONAL ARCHIVES" of "Sangeet Natak Akadami", NEW DELHI and performed one hour VIDEO recording and 45 minites AUDIO recording for the Archive.

2. Again in 1996, I was specially invited by the "SANGEET NATAK AKADAMI", NEW DELHI to take interview of "BHARAT RATNA USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN" for their "NATIONAL ARCHIVES" . It was very interesting 1 hour and 45 minutes long interview which was highly appreciated by the "SANGEET NATAK AKADAMI".

3. 1996, I was requested by Mrs. Rita Ganguly (Vocalist), NEW DELHI to help her in writing book on the life of "Ustad Bismillah Khan". The title of the book was "Ustad Bismillah khan and MUSIC OF BANARAS". This book was inaugurated in New Delhi by the VICE PRESIDENT of India "Mr. K.R. NARAYANAN". This book was published by "KASTRO PUBLICATION DARYAGANJ", NEW DELHI.

4. 1992, I was told by the "Padma Vibhushan Pt. Kishan Maharaj" to assist him for the theory explanation in English in various major cities of south for 24 days in different Music Workshops and programmes . This program was arranged by "MAX MULLER BHAWAN", GERMANY.

5. 4TH August 2006, I was invited by the "Sangeet Natak Akadami" Lucknow, to record 1 hour 30 mts . title of the program was "Mystery of BANBARAS BAAJ AND GHARANA".

Many Phd. Scholars appreciated validity of the program.