KIRTAN

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Wynne Paris was a beloved kirtan artist whose presence, music, and devotion brought profound love and heart-opening connection to our Yoga Sangha. Through Wynne, many in our community experienced kirtan live for the first time, as he introduced this sacred practice directly into our gatherings—transforming the space through song, prayer, and collective voice.

Kirtan (Sanskrit: Kīrtana) means “to narrate, recite, or tell a sacred story.” Through call-and-response chanting and storytelling, Wynne created a living prayer—inviting participants into devotion, harmony, and shared remembrance. His offerings bridged the individual heart, the collective voice, and the eternal, welcoming spirit, bringing them into the room with humility and grace.

Deeply inspired by Krishna Das, Wynne devoted his life to sacred music and service. After leaving the mainstream music industry in 1995, he began performing, recording, and producing music with Krishna Das—helping bring kirtan to wider audiences while remaining rooted in its devotional essence.

In addition to his work with Krishna Das, Wynne performed and recorded with artists including Rick Allen (Def Leppard), Mark Karan (Bob Weir/RatDog), JT Thomas (Bruce Hornsby Band), and Tony Levin and Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel). Since 1998, he has toured extensively, sharing his voice at more than 2,000 kirtans, concerts, festivals, and gatherings across the country.

Wynne was also a co-founder of the Lovelight Yoga & Arts Festival, one of the region’s largest yoga festivals, co-founded alongside Michael Lang, the iconic producer of Woodstock.

Wynne’s legacy lives on through the hearts he touched, the songs he shared, and the sacred spaces he helped awaken. His introduction of kirtan to our Yoga Sangha continues to ripple through our community—echoing in every chant, every gathering, and every moment of shared devotion.

He is remembered with deep gratitude, love, and reverence.