Govi

Govi (Santoo Govi) (born February 27, 1949) is a new age/ambient Hawaiian-German musician. Each of Govi's albums has reached the Top 10 on Billboard's New Age chart.

For the Italian actor, see Gilberto Govi.
Govi
Birth nameSantoo Govi
Born (1949-02-27) February 27, 1949
Germany
Origin U.S.
GenresNew age, new flamenco, instrumental, World, ethnic fusion
Occupation(s)Musician, guitarist, composer
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active1988–present
LabelsReal Music, Higher Octave Music, Govi Music
Websitewww.govimusic.com

Biography

Born on February 27, 1949, his birth name was Werner Monka. During his teens, he lived in Minden/Westfalen (Germany), near Bielefeld. There he performed as the lead guitarist in bands like Blackbird (1962), Virus (1971) and Weed (1971, with Ken Hensley ex-Uriah Heep) that played everything from rock to blues. These experiences led to his first professional gig as a member of a group that played original material and won a national band competition and a recording contract which allowed them to tour throughout Germany.

Although a native of Germany, Werner Monka decided to make a radical change and leave Europe. He sold his electric guitar, a Gibson Les Paul, to pay for the flight to India. There he changed his name first to Govinda, then to Govi. He spent eight years living in India.[1] He started playing the mandolin, mandocello, sitar, bouzouki, charango and the 8-string ukulele. While in India, he established a friendship with the German new age artists Deuter and Karunesh. Their mutual admiration and respect led to Deuter co-producing Govi's first album Sky High, throughout which Deuter can be heard playing flutes and keyboards.

His fifth album, Guitar Odyssey, became one of the most successful albums in its genre. In 1997, it reached the top ten of the Billboard new age albums, eventually climbing to number three.[2]

After some years in Mill Valley, California, Govi lives in Kula, Hawaii.[3] He often collaborates with a fellow German musician, Karunesh, who also lives in Hawaii.

Discography

Studio albums
  • 1988 - Sky High
  • 1989 - Heart of a Gypsy
  • 1993 - Cuchama
  • 1995 - Passion & Grace
  • 1997 - Guitar Odyssey
  • 1999 - No Strings Attached: Govi at his Exuberant Best
  • 1999 - Andalusian Nights
  • 2000 - Seventh Heaven
  • 2001 - Your Lingering Touch: Govi at his Romantic Best
  • 2002 - Mosaico
  • 2004 - Saffron & Silk
  • 2005 - Havana Sunset: The Best of Govi
  • 2007 - Jewel Box
  • 2008 - Touch of Light
  • 2011 - Guitarra Mistica
  • 2013 - Pure at Heart
  • 2015 - The High Road
  • 2018 - Luminosity

Other compilations
  • 2012 - Reverie

Other compilation appearances

See also

References
  1. http://www.govimusic.com/bio.html
  2. https://www.billboard.com/music/govi/chart-history/
  3. https://www.realmusic.com/artists/govi
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