Pandit Mahadev Prasad Mishra was a vocalist and also an exponent of Tabla and Harmonium. He was born in Shivkoti temple of Allahabad. His father, Pandit Dwaraka Prasad Mishra used to live in Kashi. He belonged to the Banaras gharana. He learned Tabla under Pandit Bhairavprasad Ji and vocal under Pandit Bade Ramdas Mishra.
He was well versed in many genres such as Dhrupad, Dhamar, Khayal, Tappa, Thumri – Dadra and folk songs. Besides being a bright performer even at old age, he was also an excellent teacher. Some of his welknown disciples are vocalist Purnima Choudhuri and instrumentalists such as Anand Gopal Bandopadhyay (Tabla), Anant Lal (Shehnai), Dr N Rajam (violin).
He was awarded with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the ITC Award in the year 1983.