Narayan Gopal Guruwacharya(Nepali: नारायण गोपाल गुरूवाचार्य) (October 4, 1939 - December 5, 1990) was a prominent popular singer and composer of Nepali music. He has been referred to as "Swar Samrat" (Nepali: स्वर सम्राट, meaning: Emperor of Voice) in Nepali music. He was also known as "Tragedy King." His voice range allowed him to sing songs of every genre of Nepalese music. Often, his songs were orchestrated with the sitar, harmonium and flute. He belongs to the first generation of Nepali singers who became professional singers. His songs have also been used in several movies and dramas across the country.
Narayan Gopal Guruwacharya was born into a Newar family in Kilagal Tole, Kathmandu, on October 4, 1939 (18 Asoj, 1996 B.S.). His father was Asha Gopal Gurubacharya and mother was Ram Devi Guruwacharya. He had six brothers and four sisters. He completed his School Leaving Certificate (SLC) exams in 2016 B.S. and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities from Tri-Chandra College. Later he also went to Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda to study classical Indian music, but returned without completing his studies. He married Pemala Lama in 1971.
Later he joined the Rastriya Naach Ghar (National Dance Theater) and rose to the post of manager (hakim). He also worked as the editor of a musical journal Bageena (बागीना) for its first three issues. He became the managing director of Sanskritik Sansthan (Cultural Center) and became adviser to the Ministry of Communication onwards; and an associate professor in Lalit Kala Campus. He also wrote a musical drama titled Kanchi Masyang (कान्छी मस्याङ).
By that time Prem-Manik duo had started to sing their own compositions. Following suit, Narayan Gopal composed six original songs written by the contemporary poet Ratna Shumsher Thapa. In that collection four of the songs were for solo vocal ('स्वर्गकी रानी', 'आँखाको भाखा आँखैले', 'भो भो मलाई नछेक', 'मधुमासमा यो दिल') and two were for duet ('बिछोडको पीडा' र 'ए कान्छा ठट्टैमा यो बैंश जानलाग्यो'). All these songs were eventually recorded in Kolkata, India, while he was in that country for his studies. These songs started to attract attention within Nepal and India.
Narayan Gopal died from complications of diabetes on December 5, 1990 (19 Mangsir, 2047 B.S.) in Bir Hospital, at 9 p.m. in Kathmandu, at the age of fifty-one. He had no children. He has six brothers and four sisters.