Sri K. N. Krishnamurthy was born in Pal ghat district, Kerala, which has produced many percussion maestros. He has had training under great artists like Late Sri C. S. Ayya Mani Iyer, Sri Pal ghat K Kunjumani, Sri Palghat T. S. Mani Iyer, and Sri M. L. Veerabhadriah of Bangalore. Though he had his initial training in Mridhangam, it was the tingling and melodious sound of GHAT AM, which attracted him more. Thus, he took to Ghatam, and with much perseverance, practice and the able guidance of his gurus, he attained mastery over the instrument, as much as he had mastered the Mridhangam.

Sri K. N. Krishnamurthy started giving public perfonnances ever since 1952, and has never looked back. Over a period of four decades, he has accompanied three generations of reputed artists, starting with Sriyuths, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Chembai Vaidhyanatha Bhagavathar, T. Chowdiah, Balamurali Krishna, Radha Jayalakshmi, R. K. Srikantan, Bombay Sisters, M. L. Vasanthakumari, Sudha Raghunathan, T. R. Mahalingam, N. Rarnani, Chittibabu, Doreswamy Iyengar, Kadri Gopalanath, Mandolin Srinivas and new generation artists, on umpteen occasions.