THE DHOL FOUNDATION
Biography & Discography
In Short
Established in 1990 The Dhol Foundation began as a weekly workshop teaching the art of playing the North Indian Dhol Drum to students in the UK later opening classes worldwide.
In 1996, Johnny Kalsi introduced Dhol to the GCSE curriculum and composed structured exams and answers for schools.
Along their career, they have produced for many Bhangra artists but it was when Kalsi broke out to the World Music Scene when The Dhol Foundation began to appear at major festivals and on more movie soundtracks.
In 2001 Johnny Kalsi produced and released their debut album “Big Drum Small World”. A track from the album titled “Drummers Reel” made the Hollywood Award Winning Scorsese film “Gangs of New York”.
In 2003, Johnny Kalsi composed a piece of music for the Hollywood film The Incredible Hulk and Sea Monsters.
The second album “Drum-Believable” was released in 2004, with The Dhol Foundation reaching new heights.
In 2005, The Dhol Foundation Collaborated with Natasha And Daniel Bedingfield at the Brit Awards 25th Anniversary.
“Drums & Roses” was released in 2007 and “Drum-Struck” in 2010 has proven to be huge crowd pleasers at Festivals.
End of 2011 TDF Opened the Royal Variety Performance alongside Stomp & the Japanese Drumming outfit Kodo & also performed for Live Earth at Wembley Stadium.
In 2012 David Arnold asked Johnny Kalsi & The Dhol Foundation to perform for the Olympic Closing Ceremony in a stand alone performance. Shortly after Johnny Kalsi took his band to Singapore where they took part in performances at the Singapore Grand Prix along with Sir Tom Jones, Rhianna and Justin Bieber.
Mid Year 2012 they were on Channel 4 for Stand up to Cancer with Alan Carr & Davina McCall & helped raise over £8 Million.
In July 2013 Johnny Kalsi & The Dhol Foundation performed over 3 nights at HRH Queen’s Coronation Gala Celebration at Buckingham Palace.
Their latest album ‘Basant’ was released in 2018. “Basant” meaning Spring is the best production to date. Full of more exciting collaborations and many featured artists from around the Globe.
Releases
Movies & TV Music:
Gangs of New York
The Incredible Hulk
Tomorrow Never Dies
Rabbit Proof Fence
Last Temptation of Christ
Stigmata
CSI Series 3
iMax Movie Sea Monsters
Discovery - Jesus in the Himalayas
N.Geographic - Extreme Water Sports
Collaborations:
Afro Celt Sound System
The Imagined Village
Trans-Global underground
Peter Gabriel
Avril Lavigne
Nelly Fertardo
Tom Jones
David Arnold
Sinead O’Conner
Mairead Nesbitt (Lord of the Dance)
Ravi Shanker
Kaiser Chiefs
Kula Shaker
Natasha/Daniel Beddingfield
Martin Carthy
Eliza Carthy
Chris Wood
Billy Bragg
Saini Surinder
Adnan Sami
A.R Ramhan
Dalvinder Singh
Sunil Kalyan
Salim & Sulaiman Merchant
Abhishek /Amitabh Bachchan
Angelique Kidjo
KS Bhamrah
Robert Plant
Steve Knightly
BBC Symphony Orchestra
