Vocalist Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan

Delhi Gharana Khalifa Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan passed away in New Delhi earlier today. He was 64 years old.
Hindustani Classical Music And Everything pays rich tributes to the departed soul. May his soul attain sadgati. Om Shanti.
Heartfelt condolences to his family members, disciples and fans. 🙏💐

A short highlight on his musical career and achievements ;
Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan (25 November 1956 - 17 December 2020) had been serving the Indian Classical Music for more than 50 years. Young Iqbal was adopted and groomed by his maternal grandfather Ustad Chand Khan Sahib and his paternal grandfather Ustad Jahan Khan and grand uncle Ustad Usman Khan. With this grounding he also had the privilege of learning from his uncles Ustad Hilal Ahmed Khan, Ustad Naseer Ahmed Khan, Ustad Zafar Ahmed Khan & his father Ustad Zahoor Ahmed Khan. He has since then received much acclaim worldwide and been awarded numerous awards internationally and eventually emerged as a true custodian (Khalifa) of Delhi Gharana & an active promoter of Hazrat Amir Khusro’s musical work.

Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan was well known for his versatility and his vocal expression has been described by International media as solid, substantial, graceful and supple. His renditions have been described as uniquely powerful and delicate at the same time. He sings a whole range of Classical and Semi Classical music. His rich voice makes him versatile. His style of classical singing and his renderings of Thumri, Dadra, Tappa, Bhajans and Ghazals have won him great acclaims. He was a regular feature in all the major Music Festivals organized by different prestigious institutions of India.

Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan was awarded many prestigious awards like International Amir Khusro Award, Sangeet Ratan Award, Gyan Acharya award, Priyadarshini award, Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Samman to name a few. He was also equally famous in the electronic media and had composed music for popular serials like Amir Khusro, Indra Sabha, "Chadar Ka Tukra", "Basant Bahar", "Police File Se", Ye Dilon ke raste and so on. He was awarded with the Best Music Director award in 1988 for the music he composed for the documentary called "Qutab Minar and its Monuments and Sculptures." As a young boy he won many prizes in music competitions at school and University including "International Ameer Khusro Gold Medal" in 1966. A hot favourite of his grandfather Sangeet Martand Ustad Chand Khan Sahib, he received his blessing to be chosen as the Custodian of Delhi Gharana (Khalifa).

A Top Grade Vocalist of Akashwani, Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan was not only well known for his versatile style of singing but was also regarded as a noble soul for his social activities which he was taking up in upbringing of the Indian Music. Whereas, through his singing, on one hand he was spreading the knowledge among the masses, on the other hand he through his social activities was busy promoting the scholars of Indian Music.

• Biography Credits : Swarganga.com