He had his training from his mother, Komalamma in vocal music and later learnt Vina from Kalahasti Venkataswami Raju. A highly versatile personality, he was a vocalist, vainika, violinist and Harikatha performer par excellence, he was also a composer of class. His compositions are shining examples of beauty in simplicity and bring out the essence of the raga in a few choice phrases. They were popularised to quite an extent by his nephew and disciple, Narasimhalu Naidu.