LAHORE-Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was a world renowned Pakistani singer and is credited with introducing Qawwali music in the west. He possessed an extraordinary range of vocal abilities and could perform at a high pitch for several hours. The Pakistani Sufi maestro had also received much recognition in the international music industry, performing with Peter Gabriel, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, Michael Brook and many others before his untimely demise in 1997.
The year 2017 marks his 20th death anniversary and to show appreciation and love for him his nephew Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has announced to undertake tour of 48 cities across the globe. He made this announcement in press conference was held yesterday at Faletties Hotel. Actor Shan was also present on the occasion. The project of holding 48 concerts will start from January 2, 2017. The grand international tour will start from Faisalabad and continue across the globe including Wembley Arena in London.
Talking to the media Rahat Said two decades had passed since Ustad Nusrat passed away leaving a vacuum in the music industry that can never be filled. “We endeavour to pay tribute from across the globe in as many as 48 cities with 48 concerts to mark his life with high esteem of 48 years. First concert will be held in Faisalabad where the legendary singer was born. I will merge my voice with the legendary singer’s voice and perform which will be a new experience for me and people across the globe. The income generated from the concerts will be used to establish music academy in Lahore. In this academy we will bring trained singers from abroad to teach our young generation music and bring revival in the music industry of Pakistan. We will invite singers from other countries to come and perform in Pakistan,” Rahat said.
Shan speaking on the occasion said that such tours should be organized not only for the legendary singer like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan but also for all the legendary singers in Pakistan. “My request to the media channel owners is that every media house should make a music channel to complete the mission of Khan sahab. There is a lot of hidden talent which need platform and through this academy we will release their albums. They will be properly trained by the professionals. After that we will send them abroad to promote Sufism internationally to complete the mission of Khan sahib,” Shan said.
