`Music, when it flows from Balamuralikrishna you can realise what the crazy gopies felt in their ecstasy of divine Love. To be born with music in his heart, to hold a recital at his tender age of only eight Deepavalies, to be at once a master in many instruments apart from his unfailing purity of voice, tal and rag: these are indeed preciously rare in one single person unless he is a genius`. - Swami Chinmayananda. Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna was born on 6th July in the year 1930. This Carnatic Music vocalist became legendary personality who has composed a number of songs. At the time of his birth, he was named as Murali Krishna. An identified Harikatha performer Musunuri Suryanarayana Murty Bhagavatar as blessings gave an prefix `Bala` to the young Muralikrishna. Since then he has been known as Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna.

Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna since his childhood started exhibiting his talent in the field of music. As a child prodigy he has strated executing at the vocal concerts. He was born to a father Mangalampalli Pattabhiramayya, who was a master in playing flute, violin and the veena and mother Suryakanthamma was an excellent veena player. At the tender age of five years, he has started receiving training in music. At a very short span of time, Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna became master in playing the violin, viola, khanjira, veena, mridangam and other instruments too. Therefore he has bagged the honor of being the "Top Graded" artist of All India Radio. He was selected for seven different performance areas. He has also bagged the honor of being the only National Award winner musician who has won this award for his execution in classical music, music direction and film playback singing.

Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna was only 15 days old when his mother passed away. His maternal aunt Subbamma brought him up. But at the age of two, his father relocated to Vijayawada. He was very little at that time, when he started imbibing the intricacies of music. His father was very much encouraged by this work of his and handed over his music training to `Gayaka Sarvabhauma` Parupalli Ramakrishnayya Pantulu. Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna at his eight years of age gave his first vocal performance. It was during a temple festival held at Vijayawada in the year 1938. acknowledging his interest in the filed of music, his father with the advice of his fellow friends have decided to stop Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna`s schooling education. He was at that time was at sixth grade.

Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna at a short span of time proved himself to be a versatile artist who can play the Kanjira, Mridangam, Viola and Violin equally excellent. At the tender age of 14 years he has done a dauntless work that he has composed Raganga-Ravali, which is a detailed work on the 72 Melakarta scheme to his credit. By the age of 16 years, he exhibited his mastery over all these 72 melakarta ragas and to his credit, he has composed `kritis` in all of them. He has composed near about 400 carnatic musical composition. He has attempted to incorporate new ragas (Ganapathi, Mahati, Sumukham, Trisakthi, Sarvashri, Omkari, Janasamodini, Manorama, Rohini, Vallabhi, Lavangi, Pratimadhyamavathi, Sushama etc...) with only three or four notes, and a new tala (rhythm) system and these have been reckoned as his innovation. For his creations he has received critical acclamation throughout. Some famous compositions done by him are Sri Sakala Ganadhipa Palayamam, Mahadevasutham, Gam Gam Ganapathim.

Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna has performed in all most all the countries of the world including USA, Canada, UK, Italy, France, Russia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Middle East etc. Throughout the world, he has given more than 26000 performances. He has executed "jugalbandhis" (duets) with maestros like Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and Kishori Amonkar, among others. The "Gitanjali Suite" with words from Rabindranath Tagore`s Nobel Prize-winning poetry was an award-winning British choir, where Dr. Joel, the noted UK-based Goan composer gave music. At the "Gitanjali Suite", Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna has performed as `featured soloist`.

In the recent years he has become interested in Music Therapy. He has stopped giving performances regularly and prefers to give it occasionally. In switzerland, Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna has founded "Academy of Performing Arts and Research" and simultaniously working on music therapy. The `MBK Trust` has been established by him. The aim of this trust is to `develop art and culture and for carrying out extensive research into Music Therapy`. `Vipanchee` is a dance and music school, which is a part of this trust and managed by trustee Kalaimamani Saraswati.

As recognition to expertise of Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna, Governme,nt of India has conferred the highest civilian award the "Padma Vibhushan". Other accolades to name are: the "Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres" by the French government, the pro-chancellorship of Telugu University and numerous top musical honours including Sangeetha Kalanidhi (1978) of the Madras Music Academy. In the year 1980, he has been conferred the the Raja-Lakshmi Award by Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation, Chennai. Manava Seva Kendra has conferred him the "Sangeetha Saraswathi" award. Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna has also bagged the honor of being the Honorary `First citizen` of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh.

A road in the city has also been consecrated on his name. Some other accolades includes the `Gana Sudhakara`, `Gayaka Sikhamani`, `Sur Singar`, `Geeta Kala Bharati`, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and Padmashri. In the year 1992, he was chosen as the `Wisdom Man of the Year in 1992`. By the year 2006, he was conferred seven doctorates (honorary Ph.D, D.Sc and D.Litt) by various universities such as Andhra University, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Sri Venkateswara University and the University of Hyderabad. In the year 1997, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh honoured him with the `Atma Gauravam` award. For the cause of National Integration, the Governor of Maharashtra honoured him for services rendered. He has also proved his mastery over the languages Kannada, Sanskrit, Tamil other than Telugu (mother tongue).