Nusrat Fateh’s 61st Birth Anniversary Being Observed

61st birth anniversary of world’s most prominent singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is being observed today especially by his fans and admirers.

According to various TV channels, SPIN magazine listed Nusrat, who born on October 13, 1948 and died on August 16, 1997, as one of the 50 most influential artists of music in 1998.

The Shahenshah-e-Qawwali, (Emperor of Qawwali), who had worked with such Western musicians as Eddie VedderEddie Vedder, Peter GabrielPeter Gabriel and progressive guitarist,producer Michael Brook is truly a legend, a reason to be proud of Pakistan and an inspiration to many.

Khan had made a great impression on the music scene with his mix of Eastern poetic music with that of the West.

He was an excellent singer possessing a six-octave vocal range and could perform at a high-level of intensity for several hours. He brought Pakistani Sufi music to a huge international audience until his death over a decade ago.

Born into a family with a centuries-long tradition of Qawwali singing, Khan began recording in the early `70s after ignoring his father’s wishes that he pursue medicine.

He sang in Urdu, Punjabi and occasionally Persian. Khan also captivated many Westerners, including such musicians as Vedder, Joan Osborne and the late Jeff Buckley, as well as Hollywood types like Sean PennSean Penn, Susan SarandonSusan Sarandon and Tim RobbinsTim Robbins.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan holds the world record for the largest recorded output by a Qawwali artist-a total of 125 albums as of 2001. Since then, many posthumous albums have been released, but an accurate count of the total number of albums is not available.

His first major hit in Pakistan was the song Haq Ali Ali, which was performed in a traditional style and with traditional instrumentation.

After traveling to London for treatment for liver and kidney problems, Khan was rushed from the airport to Cromwell Hospital, where he suffered a fatal heart attack. Khan departed from this sphere on the 16th of August 1997 when he was just 48. He will be missed immensely by his fans all across the globe.

He featured in Time magazine’s 2006 list of ‘Asian Heroes’. Among other honorary titles bestowed upon him.

Eddie Vedder said, “I was lucky to work with Nusrat, a true musician who won’t be replaced in my life. There was definitely a spiritual element in his music.” Eddie Vedder also incorporated ‘Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’ into the lyrics of ‘Wishlist’ during the 98′ Yield tour in Melbourne, Australia.

Nusrat contributed songs to, and performed in, several Pakistani films. Shortly before his death, he recorded a song each for two Bollywood films, Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya (in which he also appeared) and Kachche Dhaage.

He also sang the immensely-popular title song of the film, Dhadkan. There was also a song sung by him in the movie Kartoos, starting Sanjay DuttSanjay Dutt and Manisha Koirola.