'Shahenshah-e-Qawwali': World remembers Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan on his 69th birthday

LAHORE - Today would have been Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s 69th birthday. The legend of Pakistan’s greatest singer lives on and so do his qawwalis.

Nusrat, known as “Shahenshah-e-Qawwali” (The King of Kings of Qawwali) around the world, was born on October 13, 1948 in Faisalabad in a classical family of singers.

He sang predominantly in the Islamic devotional style known as Qawwali.



Ustad Nusrat is considered to be one of the greatest singers ever recorded and has a fan following all over the world.

Nusrat Fateh Ali's songs are still alive among his fans and also youngsters, and have defined the art-form of Qawwali for the generations to come.



The remixes and tributes have helped successfully impart his rich musical legacy to the generation that was born after his demise.



With his stunning voice, Khan’s first public performance was as the leader of a Qawwali party, at a studio recording broadcast as part of an annual music festival organized by Radio Pakistan, known as Jashn-e-Baharan.



His first major hit was the song ‘Haq Ali Ali’ while he also did joint ventures with well-known international singers. Khan reached out to western audiences through his work with Peter Gabriel on the soundtrack to the last temptation of Christ in 1985.

The music maestro passed away in London on 16 August 1997.

Here are some of his masterpieces:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iViz1ZG4AWs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYJscecsD5k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X7urgxoYqk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqB8MerjTiQ

Music lovers from all the world are paying tribute to the legendary singer on social media:

Remembering Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan on 69th birth anniversary.
Pakistani singer, known as Shahenshah-e-Qawwali, seen here with Dilip Kumar. pic.twitter.com/dK9HR5bVUL

— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) October 13, 2017

Happy Birthday #NusratSahab you live on in our hearts ❤️ #NusratFatehAliKhan ??? pic.twitter.com/NXLLe9cMLZ

— ARMAAN MALIK (@ArmaanMalik22) October 13, 2017

Lets pay a tribute to #NusratFatehAliKhan wishing him a very Happy Birthday!! pic.twitter.com/rxizrmipZZ

— Music & Sound (@MSMusicAndSound) October 13, 2017

The singer for the soul , #NusratFatehAliKhan
Nusrat fateh ali Khan & Eddie Vedder - The Long Road https://t.co/pJM8AHgsOI via @YouTube

— Shyamalatha Devi (@shyamalathadevi) October 13, 2017

if someone ask you what is surr , tell him "Surr is Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan"
Happy Birthday Khan Saab #69#LegendNeverDie

— Shahrukh Shafik (@ShahrukhShafik) October 13, 2017

The world has yet to see a soul moving musician like #NusratFatehAliKhan

— Khawaja Talha (@KhawajaTalha) October 13, 2017