Three-time Grammy award winner Ricky Kej will not only be the key performer and attraction at the ‘Dharitri Youth Conclave 2023 – Climate Change: The Path Ahead’, to be held at the Rail Auditorium here, November 24, but will also be a star speaker on environment. Kej is an internationally acclaimed Indian music composer and environmentalist. He has performed at prestigious venues in over 30 countries and won over 100 music awards across 20 nations. He has also served as the Goodwill Ambassador of UNCCD, a High Profile Supporter for the UNHCR, UNESCO MGIEP Global Ambassador for Kindness, UNICEF Celebrity Supporter, and an Ambassador for Earth Day Network.
In 2018, Kej released ‘My Earth Songs’, a set of 27 songs and music for children on the environment and sustainability. Each of the songs is based on a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal aimed to create awareness and inspire the younger generation to make a tangible positive impact in their lives and the lives of people around them.
Notably, Kej has released these songs in the public domain for completely non-commercial purposes. Kej was also named a UNCCD Land Ambassador at the COP14 to raise public awareness about the challenges of land degradation, desertification, and drought. His vast repertoire of work includes 24 studio albums released internationally, over 3,500 commercials, and eight feature films, including the natural history documentary ‘Wild Karnataka’ narrated by Sir David Attenborough. Ricky’s gallery of awards includes the United Nations Global Humanitarian Artist award. He was also conferred with the title Youth Icon of India. Real Leaders, a signatory to the United Nations named Ricky Kej as one of the 100 Real Leaders who ‘Inspire the Future’. The House of Commons, Parliament of Canada awarded Ricky for his ‘Outstanding Musical and Humanitarian Achievement’. Ricky has been supporting UNHCR by mentoring and providing opportunities for refugees who are musicians, since 2019.
As a global artist and musician, Ricky uses his music to spread the message of kindness and tolerance. In 2022, Ricky won a Grammy at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards for his album ‘Divine Tides’ in collaboration with Rock and roll legend Stewart Copeland in the Best New Age Album category. ‘Divine Tides’ won a second Grammy at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in the Best Immersive Audio Album category, which took place in Los Angeles in February 2023. In 2015, he won a Grammy at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards for his album ‘Winds of Samsara’ in the Best New Age Album category.