Ustad Rashid Khan (Singer) Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography, Songs & More
Ustad Rashid Khan was one of the most celebrated and respected musicians in the Hindustani classical music tradition. He belonged to the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana, a musical lineage that traces its roots to the 19th century. He was the great-grandson of the gharana founder, Ustad Inayat Hussain Khan, and the nephew of Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, another eminent vocalist. He was married to Soma Khan, and had three children, Suha Khan, Shaona Khan and Armaan Khan, who are also pursuing music as their careers.
Ustad Rashid Khan (Singer) Wiki/Bio
| Name | Ustad Rashid Khan |
| Born | 1 July 1968 |
| Died | 9 January 2024 |
| Place of birth | Sahaswan, Budaun, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Place of death | Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Cause of death | Prostate cancer |
| Occupation | Classical vocalist |
| Years active | 1977–2024 |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan (2022), Padma Shri (2006), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2006), and many others |
| Musical genre | Hindustani classical music |
| Musical lineage | Rampur-Sahaswan gharana |
| Guru | Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan |
| Pen name | Rasan Piya |
| Spouse | Soma Khan |
| Children | Shaona Khan and Armaan Khan |
| Caste | Muslim |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Islam |
| Links | Wikipedia-@Rashid_Khan_(musician) Facebook- @rashidkhanmusician Instagram- @rashid_khan_ustad Homepage- Newsunzip |
Ustad Rashid Khan passed away on 9 January 2024, at the age of 55, due to prostate cancer. He was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kolkata, where he breathed his last. His demise was mourned by the entire country and the music fraternity, who paid tribute to his legacy and contribution to the art form. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who visited the hospital, said, “This is a great loss for the entire country and the entire music fraternity. I am in a lot of pain as I still can’t believe that Rashid Khan is no more.”
Birthday, Early Life and Training
Ustad Rashid Khan was born in Sahaswan, Budaun, Uttar Pradesh, on 1 July 1968 (age: 55 years, when died) to Hamiz Reza Khan. He received his initial training from his maternal grand-uncle, Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan, who was a renowned exponent of the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana. As a child, he had little interest in music, and was more fond of playing cricket and flying kites. His uncle, Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, was among the first to note his musical talents, and for some time, trained him in Mumbai.
However, he received his main training from Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan, who was a strict disciplinarian and a perfectionist. He would insist on voice training (Swar Sadhana) from four in the morning, and make Rashid practice one note of the scale for hours on end. A whole day would be spent on practicing just a single note. Although he detested these lessons as a child, the disciplined training showed in his easy mastery of taan and layakaari later. It was not until he was 18 that he began to truly enjoy his musical training.3
In April 1980, when Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan moved to the ITC Sangeet Research Academy (SRA) in Kolkata, Rashid Khan also joined the academy at the age of 14. He was one of the youngest musicians to be acknowledged as a musician (a formal process) at the academy in 1994. He also received guidance from other stalwarts of the academy, such as Ustad Zakir Hussain Khan and Pandit A. Kanan.
Height, Weight
- Height: around 5 feet 8 inches
- Weight: around 70 kg
- Eye color: Black
- Body measurements: not available
- Skin color: fair
Ustad Rashid Khan: A Musical Genius Gone Too Soon
The world of music lost one of its brightest stars on Tuesday 9 January 2024, as Ustad Rashid Khan, the maestro of Hindustani classical music, breathed his last at a private hospital in Kolkata. He was suffering from prostate cancer for a long time and had a cerebral attack last month, which worsened his condition. He was 55 years old.
Ustad Rashid Khan’s death was mourned by the entire nation and the music fraternity, who paid tribute to his legacy and contribution to the art form. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who visited the hospital, said, “This is a great loss for the entire country and the entire music fraternity. I am in a lot of pain as I still can’t believe that Rashid Khan is no more.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and many other prominent personalities also offered their condolences and praised his musical genius.
Ustad Rashid Khan’s body was kept in Peerless Hospital in Kolkata till 6 pm on Tuesday. His mortal remains were then sent to Peace Haven, Kolkata, for the night. His last rites will take place on Wednesday, with a gun salute, as announced by Mamata Banerjee. His mortal remains will also be kept at Rabindra Sadan for the public to pay their last respects.
Ustad Rashid Khan was a legend in the field of Hindustani classical music, who left behind a rich and lasting legacy. He was admired and respected by his peers and his fans, who were mesmerized by his voice and his artistry. He was a rare and gifted musician, who enriched and elevated the musical heritage of India. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest singers of all time, and an inspiration for generations to come.
Musical Style and Achievements
The Rampur-Sahaswan gayaki (style of singing) is closely related to the Gwalior gharana, which features medium-slow tempos, a full-throated voice, and intricate rhythmic play. Ustad Rashid Khan included the slow elaboration in his vilambit khayals in the manner of his grand-uncle and also developed exceptional expertise in the use of sargams and sargam taankari (play on the scale). He was influenced by the style of Ustad Amir Khan and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, and incorporated elements of their gayaki in his own. He was also a master of the tarana, a fast-paced composition that uses syllables instead of words, but sang them in his own manner, preferring the khayal style rather than the instrumental stroke-based style for which Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan was famous.
Alvida Ustad Rashid Khan Saab! #UstadRashidKhan @TheSouthfirst cartoon. pic.twitter.com/59dKLX160Y
— Satish Acharya (@satishacharya) January 10, 2024
Ustad Rashid Khan had a versatile and expressive voice that could range over three and a half octaves. He was known for his effortless rendition of complex and intricate passages, his command over laya (rhythm), and his ability to improvise and innovate within the framework of the raga. He was equally adept at singing lighter genres, such as thumri, dadra, bhajan, and ghazal, and often experimented with fusion music, collaborating with artists from different genres and traditions. He composed many bandishes (compositions) under the pen name “Rasan Piya”, and also sang for several films, such as Welcome to Sajjanpur, Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, and Dor.
Ustad Rashid was widely acclaimed and honored for his musical excellence and contribution. He was awarded the Padma Shri, as well as the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, in 2006. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian award, in 2022 by the Indian Government in the field of Art. He also received many other prestigious awards and titles, such as the Sangeet Samman, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Ratna, the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award, and the Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan Award. He performed at many national and international platforms, such as the Dover Lane Music Conference, the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival, the Tansen Music Festival, the BBC Proms, and the Carnegie Hall. He was regarded as one of the finest and most influential vocalists of his generation and a torchbearer of the Hindustani classical music tradition.
Spouse, Kids
Ustad Rashid Khan was married to Soma Khan (Joyeeta Basu Khan), who is also a trained classical singer. They had two children, Shaona Khan and Armaan Khan, who are following in their father’s footsteps and pursuing music as their careers. Shaona Khan is a vocalist and a composer, who has sung for films such as Lagaan, Swades, and Jodhaa Akbar. She has also collaborated with her father on several albums and concerts. Armaan Khan is a tabla player and a vocalist, who has performed with his father and other eminent musicians.
Ustad was a devoted and humble person, who always acknowledged his guru and his lineage. He was also a generous and supportive teacher, who mentored many young and aspiring musicians. He was associated with several institutions, such as the ITC SRA, the Sangeet Research Academy of Bengal, and the Calcutta School of Music, where he imparted his knowledge and guidance. He also established the Rashid Khan Academy of Music, where he taught students from different backgrounds and regions.
He was a legend in the field of Hindustani classical music, who left behind a rich and lasting legacy. He was admired and respected by his peers and his fans, who were mesmerized by his voice and his artistry. He was a rare and gifted musician, who enriched and elevated the musical heritage of India. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest singers of all time, and an inspiration for generations to come.
Songs
| Song | Movie | Year | Composer | Lyricist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaoge Jab Tum | Jab We Met | 2007 | Sandesh Shandilya | Irshad Kamil |
| Allah Hi Rahem | My Name Is Khan | 2010 | Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy | Niranjan Iyengar |
| Jheeni Re Jheeni | Issaq | 2013 | Sachin-Jigar | Mayur Puri |
| Bol Ke Lab Azad Hain | Manto | 2018 | Sneha Khanwalkar | Faiz Ahmed Faiz |
| Chanda Se Chhup Ke | Goldfish | 2019 | Ustad Rashid Khan | Gulzar |
| Aiyo Piyaji | Chakravyuh | 2012 | Salim-Sulaiman | Irshad Kamil |
| Kabhi Aayine Pe Likha Tujhe | Hate Story 2 | 2014 | Rashid Khan | Tanveer Ghazi |
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth in INR |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 33 crore |
| 2022 | 35 crore |
| 2023 | 37 crore |
