Pandit A T Kanan was born in Madras on June 18, 1929.

He was interested in music as well as in cricket in youth and he joined Railway service. In his 20's, while visiting Mumbai for a cricket match, he visited All India Radio, gave the audition and also got a chance to perform on AIR!

He learnt music under Pt. Lahanu Babu Rao (Hyderabad) and Pt. Girija Shankar Chakraborty (Kolkata). He also had a great impact of Ust Amir Khan Sahib of Indore. He gave his debut performance in All Bengal Music Conference (1943).

Kanan performed in all important music conferences, AIR National programs. He also worked as playback singer for many films, such as Meghe Dhaka Tara, Basant Bahar, Jadu Bhatta and Megh Malhar, etc.

In 1950s, along with other musicians, he founded 'Calcutta Music Circleâ'. With his wife and famous vocalist Malabika Kanan, he joined ITC-SRA as a Guru from its establishment and also contributed a lot in its evolution. This couple has contributed in shaping many talented singers in Kolkata.
Kanan was awarded ITC Award (1994) and Sangeet Natak Academy award (1995).

Pandit A T Kanan died at the AMRI Apollo Hospitals, Kolkata on September 12, 2004.