Santoo Govi (born February 27, 1949) is a new age and ambient German American musician. Each of Govi's albums have reached Top 10 on Billboard's New Age chart.

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Govi
Birth name	Santoo Govi
Born	(1949-02-27) February 27, 1949 (age 75) Germany
Origin	U.S.
Genres	New age, new flamenco, instrumental, World, ethnic fusion
Occupation(s)	Musician, guitarist, composer
Instrument(s)	Guitar
Years active	1988–present
Labels	Real Music, Higher Octave Music, Govi Music
Website	www.govimusic.com

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Govi was born as Werner Monka in Germany. During his teens, he lived in Minden, Germany, near Bielefeld. There, he performed as the lead guitarist in bands including Blackbird (1962), Virus (1971), and Weed (1971, with Ken Hensley of Uriah Heep^[1]). These experiences led to his first live performance as a member of a group that won a national band competition and a recording contract that allowed them to tour throughout Germany.^{[citation needed]}

Although a native of Germany, Govi decided to leave Europe. He sold his electric guitar, a Gibson Les Paul, to pay for the flight to India, where he changed his name first to Govinda, then Govi. He spent eight years living in India.^[2] He started playing the mandolin, mandocello, sitar, bouzouki, charango, and the eight string ukulele. While in India, he established a friendship with the German new age artists Deuter and Karunesh. Deuter co-produced Govi's first album Sky High, throughout which Deuter can be heard playing flutes and keyboards.

Govi has released 19 albums. His fifth album, Guitar Odyssey, became one of the most successful albums in its genre, reaching the top ten of the Billboard new age albums, eventually climbing to number three.^[3] In 2022, Govi released a new extended play featuring four new songs.^[4]

Govi currently lives in Kula, Hawaii.^[5] He often collaborates with German musician Karunesh, who also lives in Hawaii.

• 1997 - Gypsy Passion: New Flamenco (Narada)
• 1999 - Obsession: New Flamenco Romance (Narada)
• 2000 - Gypsy Fire (Narada)
• 2000 - Guitar Greats: The Best of New Flamenco - Volume I (Baja/TSR Records)
• 2004 - Barcelona: Music Celebrating the Flavors of the World (Williams Sonoma)
• 2009 - Gypsy Spice: Best Of New Flamenco (Baja/TSR Records)
• 2011 - The World Of The Spanish Guitar Vol. 1 (Higher Octave Music)
• 2013 - Guitar Greats: The Best of New Flamenco - Volume III (Baja/TSR Records)

• New Flamenco
• Flamenco rumba
• New-age music