Mangaluru : International saxophonist Machhendranath Jogi, who has been a saxophonist for nearly thirty-four years at the Mangaladevi temple, died on Sunday afternoon due to coronavirus infection. He was 66.

His wife Susheela Machhendranath succumbed of coronavirus infection four days before on May 19. The husband and wife had been diagnosed with coronavirus and admitted at KS Hegde Hospital in Derakatala since the first week of May. The wife died last Wednesday. Machendranath was in the intensive care unit with Corona infection and had diabetes and kidney problems. But he not responded to the treatment and died at noon on Sunday, May 23.

The deceased was born in 1955 at Kallare, in Puttur taluk. At the age of nineteen he was a saxophonist, performing music by his father Babu and brother Harishchandra.

Machhendranath received District Rajyotsava Award, Karnataka Kalaratna Award, Kalashree State Award, Kannada Ratna State Award, Karnataka Jyothi State Award, Basava Jyoti Award, Aryabhata Award, Samaja Ratna Award, Deva Dasimayya Rashtriya Ratna Award, Saurabha Award, Chaitanya Sree Award, Chaitya Sree Award and  Karnataka Padma Shri award.

His wife Sushila was a musician. Daughter Sindhu Bhairavi is an international saxophone artist. She lives in Australia with her husband. Son Lakshmi Charan is also a music artist.

The deceased leaves a son, daughter and a huge number of fans.

The Coastal Musicians Federation has condoled the demise of Machhendranath.