He is credited with popularizing the Ghazal in a manner that probably no other vocalist of this generation has. Urdu poetry – timeless in its beauty, was caught within the confines of an elitist society. But thanks to the work of this famous artist, it is now a source of entertainment enjoyed by nearly all Indian music lovers. Jagjit Singh is a name that's synonymous with the ghazal today.

Background

Jagjit saab hails from a small town called Sri Ganga Nagar in Rajasthan. As a child his passion for music wasn't quiet understood by his family. For Jagjit might not have been born with the academic inclination to study for the IAS Entrance test, but what he was born with was a voice, so endearing...it was almost velvety in texture. It took fifteen years of training under the tutelage of Ustad Jamaal Khan and dedicated riyaaz, that is adhered to till date, that saw this artist chart new paths in the world of light Hindi music.

Early Days

All he wanted to ever do was sing. This desire, coupled with a fascination for Urdu poetry, led to him focusing his vocal skills on the ghazal. . What followed after coming to Bombay in 1965, were years of uncertainty and a struggle, as he worked to make a mark for himself in the professional music world. Life wasn't easy at all. He took to singing ad jingles, while the offers to do anything else seemed few and far between. It was through his tryst with the ad world that Jagjit Singh met his wife and co-artist of many years to follow, Chitra Singh. They soon started featuring in private mehfils and shows as a ghazal duo and these performances soon grew to attract many audiences.

The Turning Point

It was in 1976 that the singing couple recorded their first LP titled Unforgettables. It had truly memorable numbers like ‘Sarakti Jaaye Rukh Se Naqaab, Ahista Ahista and Aaye Hain Samjhane Log', which are among their most popular numbers at concerts even today. Needless to say, the album was a big hit. For Jagjit Singh this marked the onset of a very prosperous career as a singer and composer. He followed it up with other highly successful albums with wife Chitra; Live at Wembley, Milestone, Passion, Echoes and Main Aur Meri Tanhai, being some of these. This, as well as some very memorable film music for films like Arth and Saath Saath, ensured that his was a name carved among significant musicians in the professional world.

Jagjit Singh has very rarely lent his voice for film playback, but the ones that he has done, have truly been memorable, the newest being ‘Chhitti na koi Sandesh' from the film Dushman as well as the very popular ‘Hoshwalon Ko Khabar Kya' from the film Sarfarosh.

Future

For an adolescent who was expected to write a public service examination, to finally leaving a mark in a field that he always wanted to be in, it has been a successful career spanning close to thirty years. And it still hasn't satiated his appetite for music, which he believes is a form of prayer, a meditation and a way of reaching out to God.

In a field that he always wanted to be in, it has been a successful career spanning close to thirty years. And it still hasn't satiated his appetite for music, which he believes is a form of prayer, a meditation and a way of reaching out to God.