Background
Desmond founded the folk/rock duo Gothic Horizon with musical partner Richard Garrett in the late 1960s. The band released two albums on UK Argo: The Jason Lodge Poetry Book (1971) and Tomorrow's Another Day (1972). [1]
In 1973, Desmond began performing solo and became part of a stable of folk musicians which included Tom Robinson, Claire Hamill, and Café Society, who Ray Davies signed to his record label, Konk Records. Desmond subsequently released Living On A Shoestring on Konk, featuring members of The Kinks and produced by Dave Davies and a fellow Kink member, keyboardist John Gosling. [2]
Desmond was subsequently signed to Ariola Records in London. In 1976, Ariola released Andy Desmond - an album containing 10 self-composed songs, produced by Los Angeles producer Bones Howe. [3]
At the time of its release, Desmond began opening for Fleetwood Mac, [4] Randy Newman, Hall & Oates, The Cate Brothers, The Kinks and many others. He was invited by Fleetwood Mac to be their special guest on their UK Rumours Tour and opened for Ry Cooder on his 1978 European tour.
Desmond then behind to explore meditation and Eastern philosophy. He was initiated into 'sannyas' in 1980 by Indian mystic Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and given the Sanskrit name Prabhu Miten meaning 'Friend of God'. He spent many years in India at Osho's ashram in Pune, recording and producing the album 'In Wonder' - a tribute to his guru and spiritual guide. It was during this time Desmond met record producer John Leckie who, in the ashram, was known as 'Nagara'. The two became friends, resulting in many collaborations, an example is the album 'Blown Away' for Prabhu Music. [5] From 1992, German New Age Label, Tao Music (later New Earth Records) released three albums with Desmond titled Heartbeat, Shadow of Light, and Tidal Wave.
Desmond now tours the world with his musical and life partner, Deva Premal, whom he met in India at Osho's ashram in 1990. The couple, known as Deva Premal & Miten, are known for their chanting of Indian Sanskrit mantras and for Desmond's spiritually inspired songs. Yoga International featured the duo in a 2009 article on Yoga Rock Stars: "They are the Johnny and June Carter Cash of sacred music, with more than a dozen albums and a fan base that includes both Cher and the Dalai Lama." [6] They have collaborated with motivational speaker Anthony Robbins, [7] best selling author Eckhart Tolle, and pop icon Cher, who covered their version of the ancient prayer The Gayatri Mantra on her Farewell Tour in 2002. [8]
Deva & Miten's record company, Prabhu Music, reports CD sales in excess of one million, and the couple travels the world continually with Nepalese bansuri maestro Manose, playing in up to 25 countries a year.
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