Shiva Baum

Shiva Siddha Aaron Jason Moshe Ruven Baum was the big name of a very large presence in the world, combining his Jewish lineage with the heritage of Bhakti Hinduism. At the tender age of 51, Shiva left his body, painfree and peaceful, in Mission Viejo, CA after a brief, unexpected illness, days after attending his final Bruce Springsteen concert. Music was an integral part of his life, as was the spiritual realm, exemplified by his deep devotion to the Indian saint Neem Karoli Baba, his lifelong connection to Ram Dass, and his commitment to service.

Shiva was born in New York City in 1974 to his beloved parents, Radha and Mohan Baum, and blessed by his godfather, Krishna Das. Anyone who knew Shiva as he grew up recognized him as a true force of nature, filled with energy and knowledge exceeding his age, a precocious and dedicated lover of film and music. He attended Bard College and left to work in the music industry.

Shiva became a respected A&R professional who helped numerous indie and mainstream musicians find their artistic identities. He was known as a peak performance coach for artists and creatives, like guitarist Sammy Boller, now a full-time touring member of the Goo Goo Dolls. The musicians and bands he mentored knew it was the power of his love that sustained them and transformed their development. Shiva was head of music programming for the Bhakti Fest and Shakti Fest annual festivals that served as hubs for global mantra artists and spiritual musicians. For a decade he performed as the emcee on the main stage for Bhaktifest; those who attended as well as those who played there held him deeply in their hearts. 

Over the years he was associated with many of the top names in the music industry. He was part of the Triloka Records team that supported Grammy-winning record producer Rick Rubin and noted kirtan artist Krishna Das in making several albums. He interned under Paul Sloman when Paul was the recording studio manager and producer at Sony Music Studios. He spent time under Danny Goldberg’s auspices when Danny was Chairman and CEO of Mercury Records Group, and had heartfelt associations with the artist Dave Matthews and Gardner Cole, songwriter and producer. Recently, he partnered with producer Jim Kaufman to develop the band Return to Dust and was thrilled when their breakout single ”Bored” hit number one on the US Active Rock Chart.

As a spiritually adept HinJew and loving son, his last years were dedicated to caretaking his mother, who had become disabled after an auto accident. Filled with such deep compassion and love, he truly appreciated everyone he was close with, bathing them with authentic and unyielding gratitude. Many considered him their best friend or spiritual brother.

Shiva was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Dale and Daniel Kasen, and his paternal grandparents Sylvia and Richard Baum. He is survived by his mother, Radha Baum, of New City, NY; father Mohan Baum of Goa, India; his aunt Adriane Greenberg of West Orange, NJ; cousin Adam Kutner of Las Vegas, NV; uncle Donald Kasen of Boynton Beach, FL; cousin Danielle Kasen of Ordell, NJ and daughter Eloise; cousin Jacqueline Kasen of Miami, FL; uncle Mark Baum of Baltimore, MD; cousin Eric of Portland, OR, and daughters Sylve and Alyce; cousin Jeffrey Baum of Baltimore, MD and sons Noah and Eli. Other surviving relatives are Annie Greenberg and daughter Zoe Greenberg Huber; Ellen Greenberg Schwartz and son Mark Weinberg; Fred Greenberg and sons Harris and Zachary; Fern Mermelstein Oliveri and daughters Ann Beth Oliveri, Nicole Curtis, and Michelle Oliveri Rosler.

Shiva was cremated in Costa Mesa, CA; rabbinical student Mikey Pauker, a longtime friend and musician, led a ceremony preceding the cremation. A portion of his ashes will be buried under a tree planted in his name in the memorial garden of the Neem Karoli Baba Ashram in Taos, NM. Some ashes will be scattered by his cousin Adam Kutner, some interred in a Jewish cemetery in the LA area, some are going to Hanuman Maui and the Pacific ocean, and some will be brought to the tip of Long island and released into the Atlantic. Mohan, Shiva’s father, will release some ashes into a sacred river in India.

Shiva was unlike any other and he will be missed and celebrated by family, friends, and those he graced. May his memory be a blessing to all as he travels in the realms of light.