Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

File:NFAKBurki.png and a young Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (biting his thumb) pictured at a winter wedding in Jalandhar (1961)]]

Khan was born into a Punjabi Muslim familyArbor, Ann, University Musical society, Nusrat Fateh Ali khan, Michigan, 1993Karla, S Virinder, University of Manchester, Punjabiyat and the music of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Manchester, UK, 2014 in Lyallpur (present-day Faisalabad) in West Punjab in 1948. Khan's family belonged to Jalandhar; his ancestors had emigrated to Basti Sheikh Darvesh in Jalandhar at the end of the 12th century.{{cite web |last1=Asaro |first1=Guiseppe |title=A Voice From Heaven |url=https://www.asianstudies.org/publications/eaa/archives/a-voice-from-heaven-nusrat-fateh-ali-khan-2/ |website=Association for Asian Studies |publisher=The Association for Asian Studies}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hR8TAQAAMAAJ |title=The Herald |title-link= |publisher= |year=2007 |pages= |quote="Born into a family that has been associated with qawwali for the last 600 years...}} His ancestors learned music and singing there and adopted it as a profession.Arbor, Ann, University Musical society, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Michigan, 1993 He was the fifth child and first son of Fateh Ali Khan, a musicologist, vocalist, instrumentalist, and qawwal. Khan's family, which included four older sisters and a younger brother, Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan, grew up in central Faisalabad. The tradition of qawwali in the family has been passed down through successive generations for almost 600 years.{{cite web |title=The Herald|volume=38|issue=7–9|date=2007|quote=Born into a family that has been associated with qawwali for the last 600 years... |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hR8TAQAAMAAJ}} Initially, his father did not want Khan to follow the family's vocation. He had his heart set on Nusrat choosing a much more respectable career path and becoming a doctor or engineer because he felt qawwali artists had low social status. However, Khan showed such an aptitude for and interest in qawwali, that his father finally relented.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/music/Ustad-Nusrat-Fateh-Ali-Khan-A-tribute/Article1-733869.aspx |title=Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: A tribute, Hindustan Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106120836/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/music/Ustad-Nusrat-Fateh-Ali-Khan-A-tribute/Article1-733869.aspx |archive-date=6 January 2012 |df=dmy-all }}

A young Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan joined his father’s qawwali party initially as a tabla player whilst continuing to learn the intricacies of singing.{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Unnati |date=2022-10-13 |title=Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was Singing Buddha in Japan, Pavarotti in Paris, Islam spirit in London |url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1191003/nusrat-fateh-ali-khan-was-singing-buddha-in-japan-pavarotti-in-paris-islam-spirit-in-london |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=Images |language=en}} In 1964, after the death of his father Fateh Ali Khan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan became the lead singer of the qawwali party alongside his uncle Mubarak Ali Khan.{{Cite web |title=Qwal Gharana – LBF Virtual Museum |url=https://lbfvirtualmuseum.org/qwal-gharana/ |access-date=2025-02-22 |language=en-US}} The party also included Mujahid Mubarak Ali Khan, the son of Mubarak Ali Khan and the cousin of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. After the death of Mubarak Ali Khan in 1971, the party became known as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mujahid Mubarak Ali Khan & Party.{{Cite web |last=Noorani |first=Asif |date=2015-07-13 |title=REVIEW:Crossing all barriers: Nusrat by Pierre-Alain Baud |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1193983 |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} As Nusrat’s prominence grew, the party eventually becoming recognized as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Party. One of Khan's earliest public performances as leader of the family qawwali group was in March 1965, at a studio recording broadcast as part of an annual music festival organized by Radio Pakistan, known as Jashn-e-Baharan.{{Cite news |date=2011-08-16 |title=Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: A tribute |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/music/ustad-nusrat-fateh-ali-khan-a-tribute/story-ojvTi5T9zhRTRcwsT4WvPM.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210519034723/https://www.hindustantimes.com/music/ustad-nusrat-fateh-ali-khan-a-tribute/story-ojvTi5T9zhRTRcwsT4WvPM.html |archive-date=2021-05-19 |access-date=2025-02-22 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |date=2019-08-16 |title=Outlook India. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - 1988 interview. |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/art-entertainment/1988-interview-news-282000 |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=Outlook India |language=en}} The 1965 Jashn-e-Baharan performance drew praise from legends such as Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Umid Ali Khan, Roshan Ara Begum, and Amanat Ali Khan. Khan sang mainly in Urdu and Punjabi and occasionally in Persian, Braj Bhasha, and Hindi. Among Khan’s first major hits in Pakistan was the punjabi qawwali ‘Ni Main Jana Jogi De Naal’ which he composed and first performed live in 1971, with a studio version subsequently recorded in 1973.{{Cite journal |last=Kalra |first=Virinder S. |date=2014-07-03 |title=Punjabiyat and the music of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19438192.2014.912464 |journal=South Asian Diaspora |language=en |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=179–192 |doi=10.1080/19438192.2014.912464 |issn=1943-8192}} The lyrics to Ni Main Jana Jogi De Naal’ were written by Bulleh Shah, a 17th century Sufi poet.{{Cite web |title=A Closer Look at Qawwali: Interview with Farina Mir |url=https://ums.org/2014/03/17/a-closer-look-at-qawwali-interview-with-farina-mir/ |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=University Musical Society |language=en-US}} Another of Khan's early hits in Pakistan was the qawaali 'Haq Ali Ali' which featured restrained use of his sargam improvisations.{{cite web|url=http://global.ptv.com.pk/NusratFatehAliKhan.asp|title=Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Profile on PTV|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512222325/http://global.ptv.com.pk/NusratFatehAliKhan.asp|archive-date=12 May 2014|df=dmy-all}}{{Cite web |last=Akhtar |first=Suleman |date=2014-08-16 |title=Remembering Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: The man who gave life to qawwali |url=https://tribune.com.pk/article/23689/remembering-ustad-nusrat-fateh-ali-khan-the-man-who-gave-life-to-qawwali |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}

In the summer of 1985, Khan performed at the World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD) festival in London.{{cite web |url=http://www.asianmonth.com/prize/english/winner/07_04.html |title=Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – The 7th Fukuoka Asian Culture Prizes 1996__Arts and Culture Prize |website=Asianmonth.com |access-date=19 November 2012 |archive-date=7 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507081112/http://asianmonth.com/prize/english/winner/07_04.html |url-status=dead }} He performed in Paris in 1985 and 1988. He first visited Japan in 1987 at the invitation of the Japan Foundation. He performed at the 5th Asian Traditional Performing Art Festival in Japan.{{Cite web|url=http://nusratonline.com/blog/nusart-fateh-ali-khan-live-at-national-theatre-tokyo-1987-part-1/|title=Nusrat Online Blog {{!}} Nusart Fateh Ali Khan – Live At National Theatre Tokyo, 1987 Part 1|website=Nusratonline.com|date=30 October 2012 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-01-31}} He also performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, in 1989, earning him admiration from the American audience.{{cite book|title=Lives and Legacies: Artists, Writers, and Musicians|year=2001|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-1573561549|page=[https://archive.org/details/artistswritersmu0000unse/page/105 105]|author=Manheim|editor1=Michel Andre Bossy|editor-first2=Thomas|editor-last2=Brothers|editor-first3=John C.|editor-last3=McEnore|url=https://archive.org/details/artistswritersmu0000unse/page/105}}

In 1988, Khan teamed up with Peter Gabriel on the soundtrack to The Last Temptation of Christ, which led to Khan being signed to Gabriel's Real World label.

In 1989, commissioned by Oriental Star Agencies Ltd in Birmingham, UK, Khan collaborated at Zella Recording Studios with composer Andrew Kristy and producer Johnny Haynes on a series of 'fusion' tracks that propelled Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Party into the Channel 4 Christmas Special of "Big World Café." While in the UK in 1989, Khan and his party performed Sikh devotional music at a Sikh Gurdwara in Slough, continuing a tradition of Muslims performing hymns at Sikh temples.{{Cite web |title=Virinder Kalra - when Nusrat came to Slough UKPHA | South Asian Heritage Month |url=https://www.keepingwellsel.nhs.uk/about/events/event-details?occurrenceID=3668}}

Following this, in 1990, the BBC devoted a programme of its series Network East to this collaboration, and Big World Café invited Khan, Andrew Kristy, and violinist Nigel Kennedy to perform Allah Hoo live on the show. A UK tour performing these new fusion tracks happened in 1990.

In the 1992 -1993 academic year, Khan was a visiting artist in the Ethnomusicology department at the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States.{{cite web |url=http://www.music.washington.edu/ethno/nusrat.html |title=Official biography, University of Washington |website=Music.washington.edu |date=16 August 1997 |access-date=16 December 2011 |archive-date=21 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221171600/http://www.music.washington.edu/ethno/nusrat.html |url-status=dead }}

Khan released five albums of traditional qawwali through Real World, along with the more experimental albums Mustt Mustt (1990), Night Song (1996), and the posthumous remix album Star Rise (1997).{{cite web |date=5 January 2008 |title=Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Michael Brook: Mustt Mustt & Night Song |url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=28018 |access-date=16 December 2011 |website=Allaboutjazz.com}} Khan's experimental work for Real World, which featured his collaborations with the Canadian guitarist Michael Brook, led to several further collaborations with other Western composers and rock musicians. One of these collaborations occurred in 1995, when Khan teamed up with Pearl Jam's lead singer Eddie Vedder on two songs for the soundtrack to Dead Man Walking. Khan also provided vocals for The Prayer Cycle, which was put together by Jonathan Elias, but died before the tracks could be completed. Alanis Morissette was brought in to sing alongside his unfinished vocals. In 2002, Gabriel included Khan's vocals on the track "Signal to Noise" on his album Up.

Khan was the main performer at Imran Khan's charity appeal concert at the InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel on December 3, 1992{{cite web |date=23 April 2016 |title=Imran Khan Cancer Charity Appeal Concert - Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - OSA Official HD Video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5iZVFZyrJ8 |website=YouTube}} to raise funds for Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, a cancer hospital built in Imran's mother's name which provides free services.{{cite web |title=1992: When India's Amitabh promised to help and 'be there' for Pakistan's Imran Khan |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/539750-a-memorable-meeting-of-amitabh-bachan-and-imran-khan}} The audience included Peter Gabriel, Elizabeth Hurley, Mick Jagger, and Amitabh Bachchan.{{cite web |title=1992: When India's Amitabh promised to help and 'be there' for Pakistan's Imran Khan |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/539750-a-memorable-meeting-of-amitabh-bachan-and-imran-khan}}

Khan's album Intoxicated Spirit was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album in 1997. That same year, his album Night Song was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best World Music Album.{{cite news|url=http://articles.philly.com/1997-01-08/entertainment/25559354_1_three-nominations-rap-album-shoop-shoop/8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726010027/http://articles.philly.com/1997-01-08/entertainment/25559354_1_three-nominations-rap-album-shoop-shoop/8|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 July 2011|title=Babyface Captures 12 Grammy Nominations He Equaled A Mark Set By Michael Jackson. Awards Will Be Given Out February 26.|first=Tom|last=Moon|date=8 January 1997|access-date=4 February 2011|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|publisher=Philadelphia Media Holdings|page=8}}

Khan contributed the song "Gurus of Peace" to the 1997 album Vande Mataram, composed by A. R. Rahman, and released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of India's independence. As a posthumous tribute, Rahman later released an album titled Gurus of Peace which included "Allah Hoo" by Khan. Rahman's 2007 song "Tere Bina" for the film Guru was also composed as a tribute to Khan.{{cite news |date=22 December 2006 |title=Rahman on how the music of Guru was born |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061222/asp/etc/story_7144101.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070224121035/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061222/asp/etc/story_7144101.asp |archive-date=24 February 2007 |access-date=18 February 2007 |work=The Telegraph}}

Khan contributed songs to, and performed in, several Pakistani films. Shortly before his death, he composed music for three Bollywood films, which include the film Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, in which he also sang "Koi Jaane Koi Na Jaane" on-screen with the lead pair, and "Zindagi Jhoom Kar." He also composed music for Kartoos, where he sang for "Ishq Da Rutba" and "Bahaa Na Aansoo" alongside Udit Narayan. He died shortly before the movie's release. His final music composition for Bollywood was for the movie Kachche Dhaage, where he sang "Iss Shaan-E-Karam Ka Kya Kehna." The movie was released in 1999, two years after his death. Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar performed the songs he composed in his brief stint in Bollywood. He also sang "Saya Bhi Saath Jab Chhod Jaye" for Sunny Deol's movie Dillagi. The song was released in 1999, two years after Khan's death. He also sang "Dulhe Ka Sehra" from the Bollywood movie Dhadkan ,which was released in 2000.

Khan had been seriously ill for several months, according to a spokesperson at his U.S. label, American Recordings.{{cite magazine|last=Rose|first=Cynthia |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/nusrat-fateh-ali-khan-dead-at-48-19970818 |title=Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Dead at 48 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=18 August 1997 |access-date=11 January 2017}} After traveling to London for treatment for liver and kidney problems, he was rushed from the airport to the Cromwell Hospital, where he died of a sudden cardiac arrest on 16 August 1997, aged 48.{{cite news|last=Rose |first=Cynthia|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19970819/2555510/nusrats-passing-leaves-void-in-the-music-world |title=Nusrat's Passing Leaves Void in the Music World |work=Seattle Times |date=19 August 1997 |access-date=16 December 2011}} His body was repatriated to Faisalabad, and his funeral was a public affair. His wife, Naheed Nusrat, moved to Canada after the death of her husband, where she died on 13 September 2013 in Mississauga, Ontario.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1043297|title=Naheed Nusrat, wife of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan passes away|date=16 September 2013|website=Dawn.com|access-date=10 December 2019}}[http://www.rahatfatehalikhan.co/rfak.php Rahat grieved over death of Naheed Nusrat] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402123812/http://www.rahatfatehalikhan.co/rfak.php |date=2 April 2015 }} Khan's musical legacy is now carried forward by his nephews, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Rizwan-Muazzam.

Khan is widely considered to be the most important qawwal in history.{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0000887719|tab=biography|title=Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan –Biography|first=Ken|last=Hunt}}Virginia Gorlinski. [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/316267/Nusrat-Fateh-Ali-Khan Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]. Encyclopædia Britannica. In 1987, he received the President of Pakistan's Award for Pride of Performance for his contribution to Pakistani music.{{cite web|url=http://www.red-lines.co.uk/utterance/nusrat.htm |title=Utterance | Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali |website=Red-lines.co.uk |access-date=16 December 2011}} In 1995, he received the UNESCO Music Prize.{{cite web|url=http://www.imc-cim.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=74 |title=International Music Council – Prize laureates 1975–2004 |website=Imc-cim.org |date=16 October 2008 |access-date=16 December 2011}}{{cite news| url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/previous-winners-of-the-unesco-music-prize-cgkx3j8grkm |location=London |work=The Times | title=Previous winners of the UNESCO Music Prize | date=18 September 2008}} In 1996 he was awarded Grand Prix des Amériques at Montreal World Film Festival for exceptional contribution to the art of cinema.{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002163/awards|title=Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan|website=IMDb.com|access-date=10 December 2019}} In the same year, Khan received the Arts and Culture Prize of the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prizes.{{cite web |url=http://www.asianmonth.com/prize/english/winner/index.html |title=Past Laureates | Fukuoka Prize |website=Asianmonth.com |access-date=19 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230230451/http://www.asianmonth.com/prize/english/winner/index.html |archive-date=30 December 2017 |url-status=dead }} In Japan, he was also remembered as the Budai or "Singing Buddha."{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/630929/nusrat-fateh-ali-khan-the-singing-buddha/|title=Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: The singing Buddha|date=17 November 2013|access-date=28 July 2016}}

In 1997, he was nominated for two Grammy Awards, for Best Traditional Folk Album and Best World Music Album. In 1998, he was awarded PTV Life Time Achievement Award.{{Citation |title=PTV Awards 1998|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ6o5shu2Tw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/xZ6o5shu2Tw |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|website=PTV (News)| date=10 October 2019 |access-date=29 June 2021}}{{cbignore}} As of 2001, he held the Guinness World Record for the "Most Qawwali Recordings", having recorded over 125 qawwali albums before his death.{{cite book |title=Guinness World Records |date=2001 |publisher=Guinness World Records |isbn=9780851121024 |page=[https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec2001engl/page/104 104] |url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec2001engl |url-access=registration |quote=Most Qawaali Recordings Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Pakistan) recorded over 125 albums of Qawaali (the devotional music of the Sufi Muslims) before his death in 1997.}} In 2005, Khan posthumously received the "Legends" award at the UK Asian Music Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.wass-up.com/ukama2005.php|title=Artists unite to celebrate British Asian Music|access-date=24 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110150402/http://wass-up.com/ukama2005.php|archive-date=10 January 2011|df=dmy-all}} Time magazine's issue of 6 November 2006, "60 Years of Asian Heroes", lists him as one of the top 12 artists and thinkers in the last 60 years.{{cite magazine|last=Baker |first=Aryn |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1554964,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821125033/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1554964,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 August 2008 |title=Asian Heroes: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan |magazine=Time |date=13 November 2006 |access-date=16 December 2011}} He also appeared on NPR's 50 great voices list in 2010.{{cite web|last=Danna |first=Mychael |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123973589 |title=Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: The Voice Of Pakistan |website=NPR.org |date=22 February 2010 |publisher=NPR |access-date=16 December 2011}} In August 2010 he was included in CNN's list of the twenty most iconic musicians from the past fifty years.{{cite web |url=https://realworldrecords.com/news/article/2115/nusrat-fateh-ali-khan-nominated-one-of-the-20-most-iconic-musicians-from-the-past-50-years/ |title=Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – Nominated One of the 20 Most Iconic Musicians From The Past 50 Years |publisher=Real World Records |date=10 August 2010 |access-date=16 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230225816/https://realworldrecords.com/news/article/2115/nusrat-fateh-ali-khan-nominated-one-of-the-20-most-iconic-musicians-from-the-past-50-years/ |archive-date=30 December 2017 |url-status=dead }} In 2008, Khan was listed in 14th position in UGO's list of the best singers of all time.{{cite web |url=http://www.ugo.com/music/best-singers-nusrat-fateh-ali-khan |title=Best Singers of All Time |website=Ugo.com |access-date=16 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202091859/http://www.ugo.com/music/best-singers-nusrat-fateh-ali-khan |archive-date=2 December 2011 |df=dmy-all }}

Many honorary titles were bestowed upon Khan during his 25-year music career. He was given the title of Ustad (the master) after performing classical music at a function in Lahore on the anniversary of his father's death.Lok Virsa – Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Qawal & Party, Vol. 1, Moviebox Birmingham and london Ltd (2007).

Khan was listed at position 91 on Rolling Stone's 200 Best Singers Of All Time list, which was published on 1 January 2023.{{Cite magazine |date=2023-01-01 |title=The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-singers-all-time-1234642307/ |access-date=2023-01-05 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}

He was called the ‘Singing Buddha' in Tokyo, ‘The Voice of Paradise' in Los Angeles, ‘Quintessence of the Human Voice' in Tunis, ‘The Spirit of Islam' in London, ‘Pavarotti of the East' in Paris, ‘Emperor of Qawwali' (Shahenshah - e - Qawwali) in Lahore.{{Cite news |date=2013-11-17 |title=Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: The singing Buddha |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/630929/nusrat-fateh-ali-khan-the-singing-buddha |access-date=2023-10-06 |newspaper=The Express Tribune newspaper|language=en}}

File:Nusrat Fathe Ali Khan Arts Council faisalabad.JPG's auditorium named after Khan]]

Khan is often credited as one of the progenitors of "world music." Widely acclaimed for his spiritual charisma and distinctive exuberance, he was one of the first and most important artists to popularize qawwali, then considered an "arcane religious tradition", to Western audiences.{{cite book|author1=Michel-Andre Bossy |first2=Thomas |last2=Brothers |first3=John C. |last3=McEnroe |title=Artists, Writers, and Musicians|year=2001|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|pages=105}} His powerful vocal presentations, which could last up to 10 hours, brought forth a craze for his music all over Europe. Alexandra A. Seno of Asiaweek wrote:[http://www-cgi.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/97/0829/nat7.html Asiaweek: Unforgettable] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708171041/http://www-cgi.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/97/0829/nat7.html |date=8 July 2011 }}. CNN.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's voice was otherworldly. For 25 years, his mystical songs transfixed millions. It was not long enough ... He performed qawwali, which means wise or philosophical utterance, as nobody else of his generation did. His vocal range, talent for improvisation and sheer intensity were unsurpassed.

Jeff Buckley cited Khan as a major influence, saying of him "He's my Elvis", and performing the first few minutes of Khan's "Yeh Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai" (including vocals) at live concerts.Buckley, Jeff. Live at Sin-é (Legacy Edition). Sony Music (2003).{{cite web|url=http://www.liquidgnome.com/JeffBuckley/nusrat.html |title=Mojo Pin – Jeff's Dedication to Khan |website=Liquidgnome.com |access-date=10 April 2012}} Many other artists have also cited Khan as an influence, such as Nadia Ali, Zayn Malik, Malay,{{cite magazine |last1=Spanos |first1=Brittany |title=Zayn Malik Reveals How Dad Inspired Song in Book Excerpt |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/zayn-malik-reveals-how-dad-inspired-song-flower-in-book-excerpt-116659/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=20 October 2016}} Peter Gabriel,{{cite book |title=Peter Gabriel, from Genesis to Growing Up|pages=146–147|isbn=9780754665212|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G2pxDflDG1UC&pg=PA147|last1=Drewett|first1=Michael|last2=Hill|first2=Sarah|last3=Kärki|first3=Kimi|year=2010|publisher=Ashgate Publishing }} A. R. Rahman,[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p278580|pure_url=yes}} A. R. Rahman: AllMusic] Sheila Chandra,[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3240|pure_url=yes}} Sheila Chandra: AllMusic] Alim Qasimov,[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p43144|pure_url=yes}} Alim Qasimov: AllMusic] Eddie Vedder, and Joan Osborne, among others.{{cite magazine |title=Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Dead at 48 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nusrat-fateh-ali-khan-dead-at-48-186016/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=18 August 1997}} His music was also appreciated by singers such as Mick Jagger, socialites such as Parmeshwar Godrej, actors such as Amitabh Bachchan, Trudie Styler,{{cite news |title=As more satellite TV networks target Asia, the picture is one of confusion and uncertainty |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19930930-as-more-satellite-tv-networks-target-asia-the-picture-is-one-of-confusion-and-uncertainty-811618-1993-09-30 |work=India Today |date=30 September 1993}} Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Robbins, and authors such as Sam Harris, who cited Khan as one of his favourite musicians.{{cite web | url=http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/islam-and-the-misuses-of-ecstasy | title=Islam and the Misuses of Ecstasy | website=Samharris.org | date=9 June 2013 | access-date=19 January 2014 | author=Harris, Sam | archive-date=11 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011091923/https://www.samharris.org/blog/item/islam-and-the-misuses-of-ecstasy | url-status=dead }}

Paul Williams picked a concert performance by Khan for inclusion in his 2000 book The 20th Century's Greatest Hits: a 'top-40' list, in which he devotes a chapter each to what he considers the top 40 artistic achievements of the 20th century in any field (including art, movies, music, fiction, non-fiction, science-fiction).{{cite web|url=http://www.adherents.com/people/20th_Century_Greatest_Art.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060208084305/http://www.adherents.com/people/20th_Century_Greatest_Art.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=8 February 2006 |title=The 20th Century's Greatest Hits: A Top 40 List of art |website=Adherents.com |access-date=16 December 2011}} The Derek Trucks Band covers Khan's songs on two of their studio albums. Their 2002 album Joyful Noise includes a cover of "Maki Madni", which features a guest performance by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Khan's nephew. 2005's Songlines includes a medley of two of Khan's songs, "Sahib Teri Bandi" and "Maki Madni." This medley first appeared on the band's live album Live at Georgia Theatre (2004).{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-derek-trucks-band-mn0000244608|title=The Derek Trucks Band | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links|website=AllMusic|access-date=10 December 2019}}

In 2004, a tribute band called Brooklyn Qawwali Party (formerly Brook's Qawwali Party) was formed in New York City by percussionist Brook Martinez to perform the music of Khan. The 13-piece group still performs mostly instrumental jazz versions of Khan's qawwalis, using the instruments conventionally associated with jazz rather than those associated with qawwali.{{cite web |url=http://www.brooklynqawwaliparty.com/html/about.php |title=bqpmusic.com |website=Brooklynqawwaliparty.com |access-date=16 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005080152/http://www.brooklynqawwaliparty.com/html/about.php |archive-date=5 October 2011 |df=dmy-all }}

In 2007, electronic music producer and performer Gaudi, after being granted access to back catalogue recordings from Rehmat Gramophone House (Khan's former label in Pakistan), released an album of entirely new songs composed around existing vocals. The album, Dub Qawwali, was released by Six Degrees Records. It reached no. 2 in the iTunes US Chart, no. 4 in the UK and was the no. 1 seller in Amazon.com's Electronic Music section for a period. It also earned Gaudi a nomination for the BBC's World Music Awards 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/worldmusic/a4wm2008/2008_gaudi_nusrat_fateh_ali_khan.shtml |title=BBC Awards for World Music – Nominees |website=Bbc.co.uk }}

On 13 October 2015, Google celebrated Khan's 67th birthday with a doodle on its homepage in six countries, including India, Pakistan, Japan, Sweden, Ghana, and Kenya,{{Cite web|date=2015-10-13|title=Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's 67th birthday: Google doodles a qawwali|url=https://www.news18.com/news/tech/nusrat-fateh-ali-khans-67th-birthday-google-doodles-a-qawwali-1150925.html|access-date=2021-03-10|website=News18|language=en}} calling him the person "who opened the world's ears to the rich, hypnotic sounds of the Sufis." "Thanks to his legendary voice, Khan helped bring 'world music' to the world," said Google.{{cite web |url=https://doodles.google/doodle/nusrat-fateh-ali-khans-67th-birthday/ |title=Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's 67th Birthday |publisher=Google website |date=13 October 2015}}, Retrieved 9 April 2016{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/internet/google-celebrates-nusrat-fateh-ali-khans-67th-birthday-with-doodle/article7756273.ece |title=Google celebrates Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's 67th birthday with doodle |newspaper=The Hindu|date=13 October 2015}}, Retrieved 9 April 2016

In February 2016, a rough mix of a song recorded by Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1998 called "Circle of the Noose" was leaked to the internet. Guitarist Dave Navarro described the song saying, "It's pop in the sense of verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, hook. I really love it and we use a loop of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. It's really nice. The best way I can describe it is it's like pepped- up '60s folk with '90s ideals, but I would hate to label it as folk because it's not, it moves."{{Cite web|url=http://www.alternativenation.net/red-hot-chili-peppers-unreleased-1998-song-circle-of-the-noose-leaks/|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers' Unreleased 1998 Song "Circle of the Noose" Leaks|website=Alternativenation.net|date=3 February 2016|access-date=10 December 2019}}

The 2018 book The Displaced Children of Displaced Children (Eyewear Publishing) by Pakistani American poet Faisal Mohyuddin includes the poem "Faisalabad", a tribute to Khan and to the city of Khan's birth. "Faisalabad" includes a number or references to Khan, including the excerpt, "There are no better cures for homesickness / than Nusrat's qawwalis, / except when you're a mother / and you find comfort in the unfolding / hours of a child's existence." The poem was first published by Narrative Magazine in Spring 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.narrativemagazine.com/issues/spring-2017/poetry/land-five-rivers-faisal-mohyuddin|title=The Land of Five Rivers by Faisal Mohyuddin|first=Faisal|last=Mohyuddin|date=9 January 2017|website=Narrative Magazine|access-date=10 December 2019}}

{{Listen|type = music

| filename = Tere Bin Nahin Lagda.ogg

| title = "Tere Bin Nahin Lagda"

| description = From Sorrows Vol. 69 (1996). The song inspired several remixed/cover versions, and featured in several films.

}}

One of Khan's famous qawwali songs, "Tere Bin Nahin Lagda"{{cite news |last1=Iyengar |first1=Shriram |title=The guru of peace: Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan |url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2016/oct/13/2516/the-guru-of-peace-ustad-nusrat-fateh-ali-khan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221043021/https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2016/oct/13/2516/the-guru-of-peace-ustad-nusrat-fateh-ali-khan |url-status=live |archive-date=21 December 2018 |work=Cinestaan |date=3 October 2016}} ("I am restless without you"),{{cite book |last1=Dudrah |first1=Rajinder Kumar |title=Bollywood: Sociology Goes To the Movies |date=2006 |publisher=SAGE Publishing |isbn=9789352805365 |page=161 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mIFjDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA161}} appeared on two of his 1996 albums, Sorrows Vol. 69{{cite web |title=Sorrows, Vol. 69 by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan |url=https://music.apple.com/album/sorrows-vol-69/215183099 |website=iTunes |date=January 1997 |access-date=20 December 2018 |language=en-gb}} and Sangam (as "Tere Bin Nahin Lagda Dil"), the latter a collaborative album with Indian lyricist Javed Akhtar;{{cite web |title=Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Javed Akhtar – Sangam |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/view/262358 |website=Discogs |year=1996 |access-date=18 December 2018}} Sangam sold over 1{{nbsp}}million copies in India.{{cite book |last1=Kumar |first1=Keval J. |title=Mass Communication in India |date=2000 |publisher=Jaico Publishing House |isbn=9788172243739 |page=320 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ECF7hjnZWfcC&pg=PT320|edition=4th }} Lata Mangeshkar recorded a cover version called "Tere Bin Nahin Jeena" for Kachche Dhaage, starring Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan and Manisha Koirala. Composed by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the Kachche Dhaage soundtrack album sold 3{{nbsp}}million units in India.{{cite web |title=Music Hits 1990-1999 (Figures in Units) |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=284&catName=MTk5MC0xOTk5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102010439/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=284&catName=MTk5MC0xOTk5 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 January 2010 |website=Box Office India website|access-date=6 October 2023}} British-Indian producer Bally Sagoo released a remix of "Tere Bin Nahin Lagda", which was later featured in the 2002 British film Bend It Like Beckham, starring Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley. A cover version called "Tere Bin" was recorded by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan with Asees Kaur for the 2018 Bollywood film Simmba, starring Ranveer Singh and Sara Ali Khan.{{cite news |title=Simmba song Tere Bin: Check out the recreated version of the classic Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan track ft. Ranveer Singh and Sara Ali Khan |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment/news/bollywood-news/article/simmba-song-tere-bin-check-out-the-recreated-version-of-the-classic-nusrat-fateh-ali-khan-track-ft-ranveer-singh-and-sara-ali-khan-bollywood-news/330881 |agency=Times Now |date=14 December 2018}}

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's music had a big impact on Bollywood music, inspiring numerous Indian musicians working in Bollywood since the late 1980s. For example, he inspired A. R. Rahman and Javed Akhtar, both of whom he collaborated with. However, there were many hit filmi songs from other Indian music directors that plagiarised Khan's music.{{cite news|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1418/14181230.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011230173145/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1418/14181230.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 December 2001|title=The stilled voice |author=Amit Baruah, R. Padmanabhan|newspaper=The Hindu newspaper via Frontline magazine|date=6 September 1997|access-date=6 October 2023}}{{cite book |last1=Chaudhuri |first1=Diptakirti |title=Bioscope: A Frivolous History of Bollywood in Ten Chapters |date=2018 |publisher=Hachette |isbn=9789351952299 |page=93 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_e9LDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT93}} For example, Viju Shah's hit song "Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast" in Mohra (1994) was plagiarised from Khan's popular qawwali song "Dam Mast Qalandar."

Despite the significant number of hit Bollywood songs plagiarised from his music, he was reportedly tolerant towards the plagiarism.{{cite news |title=A rare encounter with Ustad Nusrat Ali Khan |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/apr/05nusrat.htm |access-date=23 December 2018 |work=Rediff |date=1997}} In one interview, he jokingly gave "Best Copy" awards to Viju Shah and Anu Malik.{{cite news |title=Bollywood songs copied from Pakistan will break your heart |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/viral-news/shocking-twitter-thread-showing-bollywood-songs-copied-from-pakistan-will-break-you-heart/articleshow/62564935.cms |work=The Times of India |date=19 January 2018}} In his defense, Malik claimed that he loved Khan's music and was actually showing admiration by using his tunes. However, Khan was reportedly aggrieved when Malik turned his spiritual "Allah Hoo, Allah Hoo" into "I Love You, I Love You" in Auzaar. Khan said "he has taken my devotional song Allahu and converted it into I love you. He should at least respect my religious songs."

His music also appears on soundtracks for Hollywood films such as The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), Natural Born Killers (1994), and Dead Man Walking (1995).

{{Main|Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan discography}}

{{trim|{{#section::Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan discography|Sales}}}}

{{Portal|Punjab|Biography|Pakistan}}

• Filmi qawwali
• List of Pakistani musicians
• List of Pakistani qawwali singers

{{Reflist}}

• Baud, Pierre-Alain (2008). Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: The Messenger of Qawwali. Editions Demi-Lune. A biography of Nusrat.
• Baud, Pierre-Alain (2015). Nusrat: The Voice of Faith. HarperCollins India. A biography of Nusrat.
• Rubi, Ahmed Aqil (1992). Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: A Living Legend . Words of Wisdom
• Soni, Varun (2014). Natural Mystics: The Prophetic Lives of Bob Marley and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Figueroa Press. Depicts Religious aspects of Artists lives, and how they used technology.

{{Wikiquote}}

{{Commons category|Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan}}

• [http://edwebproject.org/nusrat.html Article with brief 1993 interview (edwebproject.org)]
• {{YouTube|id=inWKTCcsczQ|title=King of Qawali documentary}}
• [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123973589 "Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: The Voice of Pakistan]". All Things Considered. NPR.
• {{IMDb name|0002163}}

{{Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan}}

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