Mr. Balu took singing as a hobby during his childhood. He developed an interest in music very early in his life, and had studied notations and learnt to play instruments such as harmonium and flute on his own while listening to his father. At the time he was at Chennai for doing an Engineering Course at AMIE, he continued his music hobby and participated in and won awards at many singing competitions.

In 1964, a Chennai-based Telugu Cultural Organisation, organised a music competition for amateur singers. Mr.Balu participated in it and won the first prize, and that was a turning point in his life. Music director S.P Kodandapani took him under his group. Then Mr.Balu got many offers for singing inTelugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam movies.

Mr. S.P,Balasubrahmaniam entered film music as a singer in 1966 by singing in a Telugu film “Mariyadai Ramanna” by Mr.S.P.Kodandapani. He has sung in more than 5 different Indian languages including Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, and Malayalam. However, he has sung most of his songs in Telugu.

Mr.Balu has recorded over 39,000 songs within 40 years, including film songs and devotional songs in various South Indian languages and Hindi. It is a world record which will be soon recorded in the “Guinness Book of World Records.”

Mr.Balu has recorded 21 songs in Kannada and 19 songs in Tamil 16 songs in Hindi, all in a day (12 hours) each on different days, which are his notable achievements. Also in one of his Tamil songs “Mannil Intha Kadhal Indri Yarum Vazha Koodumo” he has tried to sing continuously without taking in breath, which will be interesting to hear and watch in the film “Keladi Kanmani”.

Mr. S.P.Balsubramaniam continues to be one of the best and “NUMBER ONE” film play back singer though many persons have entered into the field of film play back singing.