Born on 4 May 1958 in Ernakulam, Kerala, Shri K.V. Prasad received his training in the Mridangam from Narayana lyer, Parassala Ravi, and T.K. Murthy. He follows the Thanjavur style in playing the instrument. Shri Prasad has received training also in other percussion instruments like the Chenda and Edakka, and in Carnatic vocal music. He holds a Bachelor's degree in science from Kerala University. Shri K.V. Prasad is today acknowledged as a front-ranking Mridangam artist . He is known for his deftness on the instrument, characteristic of players groomed in the Thanjavur style, and his deep knowledge of rhythm. These attributes have combined to produce finely nuanced tala in his concerts, resulting in brilliant performances. He enjoys the distinct ion of having accompanied several great musicians on the Mridangam, including such names as Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, D.K. Pattammal, and M. S. Subbulakshmi. He has played also with a host of other eminent artists - Chitti Babu, K.V Narayanaswamy, Nedunuri Krishnamurthy, T. N.Seshagopalan, K.J. Yesudas, U. Srinivas, Ravi Kiran, and Kadri Gopalnath, to name only a few.. He is a recipient of the title Kalaimamani bestowed by the Tamilnadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram (2000), the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award (2010), and the Vani Kala Sudhakara conferred by the Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha, Chennai (2011). He was made Asthana Vidwan of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham shrine in 2001. Shri K.V. Prasad receives the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution to Mridangam music.