One Track Heart: The Story of Krishna Das

In 1970, Long Island-born young hippie musician Jeffrey Kagel turned down a chance to be the lead singer of a band that would become Blue Oyster Cult, instead following the trail of Timothy Leary and Ram Dass to India (yes, LSD acid trips sort of pointed the way), where he studied with a saintly holy man named Neem Karoli Baba (alias Maharaj-ji). Returning to the U.S. as Krishna Das, the onetime bluesman performed for spiritual seekers, but Maharaj-ji's death in 1973 left him devastated and he plunged into addiction. Krishna Das found his way again through the performance of "kirtan" Hindu chants on a tiny but growing yoga studio circuit, eventually cutting his popular 1996 debut album called One Track Heart. Now, KD (as his friends call him) is one of the best-known artists working in the genre, although he is as much a spiritual leader as a musician. Here, Krishna Das speaks modestly of himself and his journey, which included making a pilgrimage back to India to become centered (and be ordained as a Hindu priest) after music stardom grew to be overwhelming. Also featuring interviews with authors Ram Dass, Daniel Golemon, and Sharon Salzberg, as well as Grammy-winning producer Rick Rubin, extras include bonus interview and concert footage. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)