R. Sathyanarayana (9 May 1927 – 16 January 2020) was a musicologist and dance scholar from Mysore, India.

In 2018, Sathyanarayana received the Padma Shri civilian honour from the President of India for his contribution to the field of music.

[1][2] His most prominent disciples include his son, Vidwan Dr R S Nandakumar, who is a renowned Karnataka Classical vocal musician and scholar of international repute,[3] and Vidwan Dr Srikantham Nagendra Shastry, who is also a renowned Karnataka Classical vocal musician, Professor and Scholar.

[4] Dr R Sathyanarayana has degrees ranged from a Master's in chemistry from the University of Mysore to a PhD and multiple D.Litt.

He was a public speaker on Indological disciplines, and was an active participant in Government of India sponsored music festivals and international seminars.