The king of music, the unmatched master of qawwali, and a shining star of the music world, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, left his fans 28 years ago.
He was born on 13 October 1948 in Faisalabad and learned music from his teacher Mubarak Ali Khan. With his powerful voice, he made his name in the world of qawwali.
His qawwalis like Dum Mast Qalandar Ali Ali became famous worldwide, and he introduced Sufi poetry to the new generation in a unique way. After receiving recognition in 1971 with Haq Ali Ali, he went on to record over one thousand qawwalis and released 125 albums. His name was added to the Guinness Book of World Records, and he became a symbol of Pakistan, bringing pride to the country.
In 1995, his fusion projects with Canadian guitarist Michael Brook and his album Must Must with Peter Gabriel gave him global fame as the king of music.
He received many awards including the Pride of Performance and the UNESCO Music Award. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan became an ambassador of art for Pakistan, connecting the music of the East and West in one heartbeat. His popularity also grew in India, where he sang many songs for Bollywood films.
On 16 August 1997, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan passed away in London due to a heart attack. Today, his fans are observing his 28th death anniversary with love and respect. His qawwalis still live in people’s hearts, and even now listeners feel joy and passion when they hear his voice.