Lahore: It has been 27 years since Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the uncrowned king of music, was separated from his fans.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, a famous musician equally popular in Pakistan and India, during his long career, made the world his audience with his arfana kalam, songs, ghazals and qawwalis.
Shahshah Qawwali was born on October 13, 1948 in a Qawwal family in Faisalabad, learned the art of Qawwali at the age of 16, sang ghazals, classical and Sufi songs along with Qawwali.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan used to sing Sufi kalam with such skill that the listeners would be enthralled. The Emperor of Tones brought innovation as well as a new dimension to qawwali by using western instruments, his qawwali ‘Dum Mast Qalandar Ali Ali’ has gained worldwide popularity.
Meri Zindagi Hai To, Kisi Da Yaar Na Vachhede, Tum Ek Gorkh Dhanda Ho, Yeh Jo Halka Halka Sarwar, Allah Ho and Hehe Khuda Hai are many Qawwals that keep the great singer alive even today.
More than 125 audio albums of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s Qawwali have been released, his name is also included in the Guinness Book of World Records, he has been honored with several national and international awards including the Pride of Performance. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan passed away on August 16, 1997 after suffering a heart attack in a London hospital, but she is still alive in the hearts of her fans.
