Ustad Rashid Khan Passes Away At 55; Leaves Behind A Legacy In Hindustani Classical Music

With his soul-stirring notes and melodic voice that reverberated across time, Ustad Rashid Khan established an enduring legacy that forever altered the rich tradition of Hindustani music. Rashid Khan, 55, bravely battled cancer for more than four years before passing away at a metropolitan hospital on Tuesday. His wife, two daughters, and son all survive him.

31st generation of Sangeet Samrat Mian Tansen

According to information on his official website, Rashid Khan was acknowledged as the 31st generation of Sangeet Samrat Mian Tansen, making him potentially the last surviving legend of the Rampur Sahaswan gayaki (style of singing). For more than thirty years, he enthralled millions of fans of Hindustani vocal classical music with his mastery of the “Vilambit Khayal” gayaki.

Rashid Khan, who was raised in Badayun, Uttar Pradesh, had his early instruction from Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan, his maternal grand-uncle. At the age of ten, he came to Kolkata in April 1980 when his grandfather, Nissar Hussain Khan, did.

Rashid Khan debut into the magical music world at 11

Rashid Khan entered the world of music at a very sweet age of 11. By the year, 1994, he had made his name known in the field of music. Mr. Khan bloomed under the guidance of his grandparent, Inayat Hussain Khan. His core interest always lied in Hindustani classical music and that is where he got trained himself.

The Gwalior gharana and the Rampur-Sahaswan gayaki are closely related in terms of musical traditions. The medium-slow tempos, deeply resonant voice, and complex rhythmic play that characterize this particular style. Rashid Khan skillfully crafts a story that is greatly influenced by masters like Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Ustad Amir Khan. Skillful with the tarana, just like his mentor Nissar Hussain, he added a unique personal touch to his performances.

Even though Ustad Rashid Khan displayed a common proficiency with stroke-based musical methods that were evocative of Nissar Hussain’s fame, he presented the khayal style in a way that was all his own.

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Bollywood projects of Music Maestro

Rashid Khan demonstrated his skill in playback music in addition to his Hindustani vocal prowess, contributing to hits including “My Name is Khan,” “Jab We Met,” “Isaaq,” “Manto,” “Mausam,” “Bapi Bari Ja,” “Kadambari,” and “Mitin Masi.”

Rashid Khan gained recognition for his avant-garde style by fusing Hindustani vocals with Sufi and Western instrumentalist legend Louis Banks. He performed “jugalbandis” alongside Shahid Parvez, a sitarist. The album ‘Baithaki Rabi,’ which featured songs by Rabindranath Tagore and was released in the mid-2000s, demonstrated Khan’s flexibility in Rabindra Sangeet.

Commenting on the album at the time of its launch, Khan stated, “I believe a musician cannot complete his circle or journey without having sung ‘Rabindra Sangeet.’ “I am ready for criticism, but this is my way of imbibing Gurudev’s song, internalizing the meanings and ‘bhab’ and interpreting in my way without deviating from the swaralipi.”