Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
Background information
Native name	راحت فتح علی خان
Birth name	Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
Born	1974 (age 41–42) [1][2] Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
Origin	Pakistan
Genres	Pakistan film industry playback Bollywood playback Qawwali
Occupation(s)	Vocalist, musician, recording artist
Instruments	Harmonium
Years active	1985–present
Associated acts	Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Website	rfakworld.com

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (born 1974) is a Pakistani singer, primarily of Qawwali, a devotional music of the Muslim Sufis. He is the nephew of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and son of Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan and also the grandson of Qawwali singer Fateh Ali Khan.^[3] In addition to Qawwali, he also performs ghazals and other light music. He is popular as a playback singer in Bollywood and Pakistan film industry.^[4]

Early life

Rahat was born into a family of Qawwals and classical singers in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan^[3] into a family of traditional musicians. The son of Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan, he was trained by his uncle Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in the art of classical music and Qawwali.^[5]

Career

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan at SAMAA

Rahat was chosen by his uncle Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan for tutoring in the traditions of Qawwali^[6] music and was singing with his uncle and father by the age of three.^[7] At the age of seven he began formal training with his uncle and he performed first time in public at the age of nine at the death anniversary of his grandfather. From age fifteen, he was made an integral part of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's well-known qawwali group. He toured the UK with his uncle in 1985, and performed solo songs in addition to singing with the Qawwali group.^[8] At a concert in Birmingham on 27 July 1985, he performed the solo ghazal, Mukh Tera Sohneya Sharab Nalon Changa Ae. At a concert at the Harrow Leisure Centre in 1985, he performed the solo song, Gin Gin Taare Lang Gaiyaan Rattaan. He sang Bollywood playback in the 90s and debuted as a playback singer in Bollywood with the movie Paap (2003), featuring the hit song, Mann Ki Lagan. His recent works include Pakistani nationalistic songs such as Dharti Dharti and Hum Pakistan, and songs from Bollywood films. He has performed in Pakistan, India, United Kingdom and other countries. In April 2012 Rahat toured in the UK, performing at Wembley Arena and the Manchester Arena, playing to a combined audience of over 20,000 people.^[9][10]

Soundtracks and collaboration

In a subordinate role with his uncle Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, working in collaboration with Eddie Vedder, of the American rock band, Pearl Jam, Rahat contributed to the soundtrack of the 1995 Hollywood film, Dead Man Walking. In 2002, he worked on the soundtrack of The Four Feathers in collaboration with the American composer of orchestral and film music, James Horner.^[11] In 2002, Rahat guested with The Derek Trucks Band on the song Maki Madni for Trucks' album, Joyful Noise. In 2006, his vocals were featured on the soundtrack of Mel Gibson's Apocalypto.

Television

He judged the show, Chhote Ustaad 2 alongside Sonu Nigam. He was also one of the judges on the singing reality show Junoon – Kuchh Kar Dikhaane Ka, premièred on NDTV Imagine in 2008.^[12][13]

Nobel Peace Prize Concert

Rahat became the first Pakistani to be invited at 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, to perform at its concert.^[14] He performed Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's most memorable qawwali "Tumhe Dillagi..." and "Mast Qalandar...", he also sang "Aao Parhao – Jo Seekha hai woh sab ko seekhao" (Come Teach – Teach all that you have learnt).^[15][16]

UN General Assembly Concert

Pakistan Day was celebrated for the first time at the United Nations General Assembly Hall on 23 March 2016. At the occasion a concert titled "Sufi Night: Music of Peace" was organized. The sole performer at the concert was Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. Diplomats from 140 countries were present in the concert.^[17]

Coke Studio

Rahat has appeared for multiple times in the popular musical show Coke Studio. Rahat appeared for the first time in season 1, where he collaborated with singer Ali Azmat for the track Garaj Baras. He then appeared in season 8, this time with Abida Parveen. Rahat was also a part of season 9, where he generated the hit song "Afreen Afreen" along with Momina Mustehsan, then also he sang along with Amjad Sabri. This was one of the last performances of Sabri, who was assassinated in Karachi on 22 June 2016.^[18]

MTV Unplugged

Khan appeared on MTV Unplugged with a new compositions of the Qawalis sung by himself and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.^[19]

Awards

Discography

Singles

Albums

Compilations

Pakistani drama soundtracks

Pakistani film soundtracks

Bollywood soundtracks

Pollywood soundtracks

Collaborations

Coke Studio (Pakistan)

See also

• Back 2 Love
• Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan
• Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
• Dildar Hussain
• List of Pakistani musicians

References

External links

• Rahat Fateh Ali Khan at the Internet Movie Database
• Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Biography All Music Guide