Korla Pandit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Korla Pandit
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Roland Redd |
| Also known as | Juan Rolando |
| Born | September 16, 1921 St. Louis, Missouri |
| Died | October 2, 1998 (aged 77) Petaluma, California |
| Genres | Exotica |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Piano and organ |
| Years active | 1940–1998 |
Korla Pandit (born John Roland Redd; September 16, 1921 – October 2, 1998) was an American musician and composer. He was a talented pianist and organist. After moving to California in the late 1940s, Redd became known as "Korla Pandit." He presented himself as a French-Indian musician from New Delhi, India.
However, John Roland Redd was actually an African-American man from Missouri. He had light skin and pretended to be Indian. This was called "passing" for a different race. He was a groundbreaking performer in early television. Redd is famous for Korla Pandit's Adventures In Music. This was the first TV show to feature only music. He also played live, on the radio, and appeared in movies. Many called him the "Godfather of Exotica" music. Redd kept his Korla Pandit identity a secret, even in private, for his entire life.
Contents
Early Life and Family
John Roland Redd was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1921. His father, Ernest Redd, was an African-American Baptist pastor. His mother, Doshia O'Nina Johnson, had both European and African roots. Both of his parents were descendants of enslaved African-Americans. John was one of seven children. He had light skin and straight hair.
In 1922, his family moved to Hannibal, Missouri. They lived there for nine years. In 1931, they moved to Columbia. His father became a pastor at a large Baptist church there. At that time, Jim Crow laws were in place. These laws forced Black and white people to be separate. Because of these laws, John and his siblings went to schools only for African-American children.
The Redd family said John was a musical genius from age three. He could hear a song once and play it from memory. His family taught him to play the piano when he was very young. A jazz pianist named Charles Thompson knew Redd from high school. Thompson later said that Redd was the better piano player when they were teenagers. John's whole family was musical. His two sisters sang, and one played piano. His older brother, Ernest Redd Jr., was also a jazz pianist and band leader. John and Ernest played music with their oldest brother, Harry.
In the early 1940s, Redd met Beryl June DeBeeson. She was a white friend of his sister Frances. Beryl was an artist for Disney and a former dancer. They fell in love and got married in 1944. They had to go to Tijuana, Mexico to get married. This was because marriages between different races were illegal in California at that time. Redd and Beryl had two sons.
Music Career and Entertainment
Creating Korla Pandit in Hollywood
By the 1940s, Redd had moved from Missouri to Los Angeles. He was looking for more opportunities in music. His older sisters, Ruth and Frances, had already moved there. Redd first used the name "Juan Rolando." He got a job playing the organ on a Los Angeles radio station called KMPC. By pretending to be Mexican, he could join the Musicians Union. This union was not open to African-Americans at the time. This helped him get more jobs in studios and clubs.
Redd and his wife, Beryl, then created a new identity for him. They thought he could become popular by pretending to be from India. Most Americans did not know much about people from India then. Beryl designed his makeup and clothes. Redd took the name "Korla Pandit." He made up a detailed life story for his new identity. He claimed he was born in New Delhi, India. He said his mother was a French opera singer and his father was an Indian government official. He also claimed he studied music in England as a child. He said he came to the United States at age 12 and studied at the University of Chicago. Redd used this Korla Pandit identity in public and private for the rest of his life.
In 1948, Redd created background music as Korla Pandit for a radio show. It was an adventure series called Chandu the Magician. He used electronic organs to create special sounds. In 1949, he became a regular organist on Hollywood Holiday. This show was broadcast from a restaurant in Los Angeles.
Television Success
In 1948, Redd met Klaus Landsberg, a TV pioneer. This happened while Redd was performing as Korla Pandit at a fashion show. Landsberg offered Redd his own television show. But Redd also had to play music for Time for Beany, a popular puppet show. Korla Pandit's Adventures In Music first aired in Los Angeles in February 1949. It was the first TV show to feature only music.
Viewers quickly recognized the show's opening music, "The Magnetic Theme." Landsberg told Redd not to speak on camera. Instead, he should just gaze into the camera while playing the Hammond organ and Steinway grand piano. He often played both at the same time. He never spoke once in 900 shows. He communicated with viewers only through his "hypnotic gaze."
Redd, known as Korla Pandit, became a star very quickly. He was one of the first musical artists to become famous on TV. He showed how versatile the organ could be and made it more popular. He kept his Indian identity. He became friends with famous people like actor Errol Flynn and comedian Bob Hope. He also knew Sabu Dastagir, an actor famous for Elephant Boy.
In 1956, Redd moved to San Francisco. He performed as Korla Pandit on KGO-TV. On this show, he started speaking. He shared spiritual ideas that many fans found fascinating. He became friends with Paramahansa Yogananda, an Indian spiritual leader. Their friendship was so close that Yogananda wrote an introduction for one of Redd's music records. Redd also played at Yogananda's funeral.
The late 1950s was the time of the Beat Generation. Many Americans were interested in spirituality and Eastern religions. They questioned traditional values. Redd read widely and talked about topics like mysticism and Zen philosophy. In 1967, Redd and his family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They did this to prevent his sons from being drafted during the Vietnam War.
Later Career
After moving to Canada, Redd often returned to San Francisco and Los Angeles for work. In the 1970s, his TV popularity decreased. He earned money by making more personal appearances and performances. He continued to use the Korla Pandit identity. Redd performed at supper clubs, store openings, car dealerships, and music stores. He also gave lectures, music lessons, and played at pizza restaurants.
He made a small appearance as Korla Pandit in Tim Burton's movie Ed Wood (1994). This movie brought new attention to him as a performer. He also played music in the film.
Redd's career became popular again in the 1990s. He gained new fans. The "Tiki-lounge music revival" helped Korla become famous again. He recorded music with the band The Muffs. Redd also performed a sold-out show at the famous Bimbo's 365 Club in San Francisco.
Death and Discoveries
Redd died in Petaluma, California, on October 2, 1998. His wife, Beryl, and their sons, Shari and Koram, survived him. Koram later changed his name to John Pandit.
Two years after Redd's death, a magazine editor named R.J. Smith published an article. It revealed Redd's true background.
During his life, Redd stayed in touch with his birth family. But he always wore his turban and did not bring his sons when he visited them. His nephew, Ernest Redd, said the family knew what he was doing. They did not talk much about it. Sometimes he would visit at night and be gone before they woke up. He had to keep his two lives separate. His family would go to his shows but would not speak to him there. They would greet him later.
Allyson Hobbs, a history professor, wrote a book about racial passing. She met members of Redd's family. She said they felt he was "very authentic" and were "very close to him." Redd's sons heard rumors about their father's background. But they only learned about his (and their own) African-American heritage after he died. Shari Pandit died before the article was published. John Pandit did not accept the article's findings.
Two retired TV producers, John Turner and Eric Christensen, were interested in the article. They had known Redd in his later years. They made a documentary called Korla (2014). They interviewed friends, musicians, and family. The film discussed Redd's life and achievements. It also explored the complex topic of racial identity. After Korla was released, many news outlets commented on Redd's story. They called it a classic American story of creating your own identity.
Filmography
On Screen
Acting Roles
- Something to Live For (1952) – Hindu Man (uncredited)
- Which Way Is Up? (1977) – The Hindu
- Ed Wood (1994) – Indian musician
As Himself
- Adventures in Music (television series) (1948)
- All Star Revue (television series) (1952)
- KTLA at 40: A Celebration of Los Angeles Television (television movie) (1986)
- Korla (documentary) (2015)
As Musical Performer
- Ed Wood (1994) (performer, writer and arranger of "Nautch Dance")
As Composer
- Adventures in Music (television series) (1948)
- Time for Beany (television series) (1951) (episode #1.421)
