Born in Thanjavur on 3 April 1947, O.S. Thyagarajan skilfully balances a career as an accounts officer and his passion for music as a veteran Carnatic music vocalist. Initiated into music by his father and guru O.V. Subramanyam, he is an ‘A’ grade artiste of All India Radio and Doordarshan and Sangita Bhooshanam of the Annamalai University where he also served as the Dean, Faculty of Fine Arts, for five years. At the university he also underwent training with Tiger Varadachariar and Tanjore Ponniah Pillai while at a later stage he received guidance from Lalgudi Jayaraman and T.M. Thiagarajan. 

His sonorous voice, classicism and versatility in bringing out the subtle nuances of a raga are the prime characteristics of his musical style. Awards and titles have been conferred on him like Sangeetha Choodamani, Sangeetha Kalasagara, Sangeetha Saragnya, Madura Kala Praveena, Nada Booshanam, Naada Kanal, and Sangeetha Mamani.