Asad Amanat Ali Khan


Asad Amanat Ali Khan
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was a popular classical, semi-classical and ghazal singer from Pakistan. Hailing from Patiala Gharana, Asad was son of musician Ustad Amanat Ali Khan. Asad Amanat Ali Khan died relatively young of a heart attack on 8 April 2007 in London.

Early life and background

Asad Amanat Ali Khan was born in Lahore, Pakistan. His great-grandfather, Ali Baksh Khan, was the founder of Patiala Gharana. His grandfather, Akhtar Hussain, was a musician. Amanat Ali Khan, Asad's father, died in 1974. Asad was only 19 years old when his father died. His uncle Bade Fateh Ali Khan taught him music and trained him as if he was his own son. Bade Fateh Ali Khan also encouraged him to become a singing duo with his youngest brother Hamid Ali Khan.
Asad's younger brother Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan is a pop and classical singer. He was the lead singer of the Pakistani music band Fuzön.

Singing career

When he was 10 years old Asad recorded his first song, which featured on his grandfather's debut album. He had also been interested in academics and often said if not a singer, he would love to be a pilot. He joined a private institution however and began singing professionally after completing his F.A. He started his musical career performing "Thumri". One of the songs that featured in almost every concert he performed was "Insha Ji Utho".
Asad worked for Pakistan Television for several years. Nisar Bazmi, composer and PTV producer, who died one week before him, gave him his first break, introducing the artist to the world on television.
Asad also sang as a member of the very successful singing duo with his youngest uncle Hamid Ali Khan in the late 1970s and 1980s. Other than music and the family name, Asad inherited from his father a passion to act in films. But the affair was cut short after an unsuccessful attempt.

Death

He had visited London in January 2007 and was receiving treatment for a condition known as Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He returned to Pakistan during his treatment to receive the President's award of Pride of Performance. However, after receiving the award, he had left Pakistan on 3 April 2007 for medical consultation, and while in England, on 8 April 2007, he died in Cassiobury Park in London whilst enjoying an outing with the family.

Discography

Some of his superhit songs are listed below.