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Ustad Qamruddin "Bismillah" Khan (1916 – 2006), from Bhirung Raut Ki Gali, Dumraon, now the eastern Indian state of Bihar, was a musician credited with popularizing the shehnai by bringing it to the concert stage. Khan studied under his maternal uncle, Ali Baksh 'Vilayatu' Khan, a shehnai player, beginning at the age of six. He has played the shehnai to audiences across the world.

Ustad Vilayat Khan (1928– 2004), was an Indian classical sitar player from Gouripur, Mymensingh in then East Bengal, British India and current Bangladesh. He is a key figure in the creation and development of gayaki ang on the sitar. He was taught in the family style, known as the Imdadkhani gharana or Etawah Gharana. Khan was primarily a traditional interpreter of grand, basic ragas such as Yaman, Shree, Todi, Darbari and Bhairavi, however he was also known to re-interpret and reinvent some ragas. Khan recorded for over 65 years, broadcasted music on All India Radio for almost as long, and toured internationally for over 50 years.

Pandit Samta Prasad (1921 – 1994) from Varanasi, India, was an Indian classical musician and tabla player from the Benares gharana. Prasad studied the tabla first under his father, Pandit Hari Sunder, and later under Pt. Bikku Maharaj. Throughout his musical career, Prasad performed both as a soloist and as an accompanist in various parts of India, such as Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Lucknow. He also played tabla in many Hindi films.