Who was he?
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Khan was one of the most popular singers in the Indian subcontinent. He predominantly sang qawwali, the music of devotional Sufism, but incorporated other forms including Khyal (traditional classical) to produce a unique style that appealed to followers of all religions. He performed with the Party, a group of highly trained Pakistani musicians which included several family members.
In 1971, Khan took over from his father (Ustad Fateh Ali Khan) as leader of the Party. Through the 1970s and 1980s Khan’s music began to become increasingly synonymous with India’s and Pakistan’s dynamic film industry. Peter Gabriel’s admiration of Nusrat’s singing has led to his collaboration with WOMAD on projects including a compilation album, several festival appearances and more recently releases on the Virgin /Real World Records label, recorded in England. (more…)