S. Ramanathan (1917-1988) was a Carnatic music singer and musicologist. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1985. He learned music from Tiger Varadachariar, Sabesa Iyer, , and Sathur Krishna Iyengar. Post this, he also trained under Vidwan known as "Kirthana Kutir" - Granary of Kirthanas for vocal music and for the veena and acquired proficiency in both fields. He received a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, where he also taught.