Johnny Ram is the professional name of Derby-born musician Ivan Anmol Kamal Chaudhari, a guitarist and sitar player whose musical journey spans more than five decades.

Born on 6 July 1954 to Indian parents, Johnny began learning the sitar at the age of 14 in 1968. His passion for the instrument led him to spend around ten years developing his skills with various teachers in India. During this time, he studied at the Ravi Shankar School in Bombay, now Mumbai, under Shamim Ahmed Khan, gaining a deeper understanding of the sitar and Indian musical traditions.

In 1983, he adopted the professional name Johnny Ram and continued to develop his career as both a guitarist and sitar player. His musical journey has included over 5000 performances, in the UK and internationally, having lived in Europe for 20 years and also America where he went for 10 days and stayed for 10 months!

He has played with various bands including Slim Jim and the Wildcards and Soul Intentions, and performed at gigs and festivals including Bognor ROX and Bognorphenia. 

Johnny has released his own recorded music, including Instrumentality in 2014 and Instrumentality II in 2017. His music reflects his extensive experience and passion for combining different musical influences.

Johnny’s incredible passion continues to inspire, and his track on Small Geezers brings a beautiful story to the album. Listed as Untitled at the time of pressing, its official name is Ramsady In Blue — a play on Rhapsody In Blue. The piece was inspired by a blue sitar given to him by his mother before she passed away, and by the bluebell woods in Washington, West Sussex, where he loved to practise. We are honoured to have Johnny’s distinctive sound as part of this local celebration of music and community!

Johnny Ram Gallery