KK death: A look at Bollywood's most versatile playback singer's life

Born in New Delhi to C S Menon and Kunnath Kanakavalli on August 23, 1968, he was an alumnus of Delhi's Mount St Mary's School. Following his college, KK reportedly had a short stint as a marketing associate in the hotel industry after which he shifted to Mumbai to pursue a career in music.

KK had married his childhood sweetheart Jyothy Krishna in 1991 and they had two children, Nakul and Taamara. 

He was greatly influenced by the singer Kishore Kumar and music director R.D. Burman. Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Bryan Adams and Led Zeppelin were also some of his favourite international singers and bands.

In 1994, he took a chance and gave a demo tape to Louis Banks, Ranjit Barot and Leslie Lewis. After working on several jingles over the next few years, he was introduced as a playback singer with A R Rahman's hit song Kalluri Saaley and Hello Dr. from Kadir's Kadhal Desam and then Strawberry Kannae from the musical film Minsara Kanavu.

Finally, in 1999, he made his debut as a Bollywood playback singer with Tadap Tadap from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Though, prior to this, he had sung a small portion of the song Chhod Aaye Hum from Gulzar's Maachis.

In the same year, he came out with his debut solo album titled Pal with Leslie Lewis composing the music. Every 90s kid will always remember KK for the album's title track Pal and also Yaaron which gave most school kids friendship goals. 

KK's voice struck a connection with listeners that left them wanting for more. His songs are played in school and office farewells. KK also appeared in the Josh of India song for the support of the Indian Cricket Team during the 1999 Cricket World Cup.

He next sang Jab Bhi Koi Haseena for the movie Hera Pheri and by 2001, KK had sung songs like Jhanak Jhanak Baaje for the movie Farz, Mil Jaye Khazana for Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar and Aaja Gufaon Mein for Aks. The following year he sang Dola Re Dola and Maar Daala for the movie Devdas and Bardaasht for Abbas Mastan's Humraaz.

Over the next few years, he kept giving hit Bollywood numbers in several films and finally in the year 2008, KK released his second album Humsafar wherein the song Raina Bhai Kaari was a mix of Bengali Baul with rock and had a tinge of S D Burman. Besides, KK had also sung an English Rock Ballad Cineraria.

The year 2010 saw him sing songs like Zindagi Do Pal Ki and Dil Kyun Yeh Mera for the movie Kites. 

In 2013, KK sang for an international album, Rise Up - Colors of Peace, which consisted of songs written by Turkish poet Fetullah Gulen and sung by artists from 12 countries. He recorded a song named Rose of My Heart for the album.

Over the span of his almost 3-decade-long career KK sang more than 500 songs in Hindi and more than 200 songs in Telugu, Bengali, Kannada and Malayalam languages. He had also received various honours including two Screen Awards for Best Playback Singer- Male (Non-Film Music) and many more.

KK was a musician who wasn't labeled by any particular genre or style, his voice merely went hand-in-hand with wonderful music of all kinds.

KK sang upbeat dance songs as well as cheesy romantic hits, and this is what made him a singer of all ages who will forever be cherished in the hearts of his millions of fans across the globe. He was a singer who sang and performed till his last breath.