India, April 12 -- The death of Asha Bhosle, one of the most celebrated singers of Indian music, marks the end of an era. Asha was the last of the original great singers of Bollywood, voices that shaped the industry and the nation's tastes. Together with her sister Lata Mangeshkar and fellow legends Mukesh, Mohammed Rafi, and Kishore Kumar, she dominated the Hindi music scene for over half a century. And now, as the junior-most member of the elite club, she is the last to depart, truly calling curtains on an era that will never return.

Asha began her singing career at the age of 9 in 1943. By then, Lata, her older sister, was already establishing herself in the industry. By the end of the decade, Lata was the first choice of most compose...