Mehdi Hassan Khan Sahib was born in Luna, which is 107 miles from Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. According to a news report he inherited music from his ancestors, who came from fifteen generations of musicians. In other words, Mehdi Hassan is the culmination of fifteen generations of musicians. Arguably, he is the sixteenth one in that lineage.

Mehdi Hassan received his musical training and grooming under his father at the age of six. Ustad Azeem Khan and his uncle Ustad Ismail Khan who were classical musicians at that time and were well-versed in dhrupad singing. Mehdi Hassan got training from them in classical music like thumri, dhrupad, khayal and dadra, After the Partition of India, young Mehdi Hassan and his family migrated to Pakistan and suffered severe financial hardships. Mehdi Hassan began working in a bicycle shop and later became a car and diesel tractor mechanic. Despite the hardships, his passion for music didn't wither and he kept up the routine of practice on a daily basis.

In the year 1952 Z. A. Bukhari a radio officer introduced Mehdi Hassan on Radio Pakistan, primarily as a thumri singer, which earned him recognition within the musical fraternity. It is widely considered that the era of the 1950s and 60s was the golden age of radio broadcasting in the Indian sub-continent. Ustad Barkat Ali Khan, Mukhtar Begum and Begum Akhtar established themselves as major exponents of ghazal gayaki. However, Mehdi Hassan has added a further dimension to this art form. It was during this period that a rich and mellifluous voice captured the hearts of all the listeners through broadcasts on Radio Pakistan. He sang ghazals of all the renowned Urdu poets and his innovative style was soon appreciated by both masses and discerning audiences.

Mehdi Hassan’s voice and unique performance skills in ghazal singing were unmatched in the world of South Asian music. The 60s and 70s can be named Mehdi Hassan’s period. Mehdi Hassan songs were played back in almost all the films of Pakistan. Mehdi Hassan voice suited with Muhammad Ali voice and Mehdi Hassan recorded many songs specially for Muhammad Ali films.

Mehdi Hassan is universally acclaimed as the finest ghazal singer of all time. His unsurpassable vocal range and his mastery over even the most difficult of ragas makes him the emperor of ghazals.His popularity amongst the masses, appreciation by the masses, and continued success over five decades makes him on par with Noor Jehan and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in the league of the greatest Pakistani singers of all time. Lata Mangeshkar, compared his songs to the " Voice of God ". His sons Asif and Kamran are following in their father's footsteps and trying to carve a career as ghazal singers, other prominent disciples are Parvez Mehdi, Ghulam Abbas, Salamat Ali, Asif Javed and Talat Aziz.While he was singing in the Court of King of Nepal, he forgot the lines of his song "Zindagi mein to sabhii pyar kya kerte hain". Shah of Nepal, then stood from his seat and start singing the next line. Mehdi Hassan recently took part in the 50th anniversary of Rajasthan celebrations in India in which the leading artistes of Rajasthani origin participated.

In the late 80s, Mehdi Hassan stepped down from playback singing after severe illness. Later due to severity of his illness he completely retired from music. Now he is living a secluded life with his son Arif Mehdi in his permanent residence in Ancholy Society, Karachi.

About Arif Mehdi and Ikram Mehdi

Arif Mehdi Hassan looks a bit like his father and he once used to play tabla with his father. Arif Mehdi who is elder son of Mehdi Hassan is planning to produce a music album with latest sequencing. All these sequencings will be recorded with Ikram Mehdi voice. Arif Mehdi, the son of ghazal icon, plans to meet Indian music producers in India to hold music shows in different cities in which Ikram Mehdi will sing Mehdi Hassan songs.

Ikram Mehdi is student of Mehdi Hassan and he is performing in satellite channels and in live programmes in Karachi stage. Ikram Mehdi Hassan voice is so similar with the master singer’s voice (which is associated with thousands of recorded songs) that is somewhat difficult to absorb. Ikram Mehdi have taken formal music training from the legendry singer. He often visits Mehdi Hassan for guidance in musicology.

Awards

Mehdi Hassan has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions: the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz granted to him by Gen Ayub Khan; the Pride of Performance bestowed on him by Gen Ziaul Haq; and the Hilal-i-Imtiaz conferred by Gen Pervez Musharraf. Besides the Nigar Film and Graduate Awards from Pakistan, he was presented the Saigal Award in Julandhar, India, in 1979, whereas the Gorkha Dakshan Bahu Award was given to him in Nepal in 1983. Recently, he traveled to Dubai to receive yet another award.

Discography

• Live at Royal Albert Hall
• Andaz-e- Mastana
• Classical Ghazals vol. 1, 2, 3
• Khuli Jo Aankh
• Life Story
• Kehna Usey
• Nazrana
• Ghazals For Ever Vol 1
• Dil Jo Rota Hai
• Ghalib Ghazals
• In Concert
• Golden Collection Of Mehdi Hasan Vol 1, 2
• Golden Greats
• Live at Khambays
• Live Concert in India
• Mehdi Hassan
• Mehdi Hassan Ghazals Vol 1
• Sada E Ishq
• Sarhadein
• The Legend

• Yaadgar Ghazalen Vol 1

• Sur Ki Koi Seema Nahin

• The Finest Ghazals

Ghazals

• Guncha-e-Shauq Laga hei Khilne
• Hamari Sanson Men Aaj Tak
• Har Dard Ko
• Dekh to dil keh jaan se uthta hai
• Dil-E-Nadan Tujhe Hua Kya Hai
• Ik Husn Ki Dewi Se Mujhe Pyaar Hua Thaa
• Ab Ke Hum Bichde
• Ek Bar Chale Aao
• Dayam Pada Hua Tere Dar Pe Nahi Hoon Main
• Ga Mere Dewane Dil
• Fikr Hii Thaharii To Dil Ko Fikr-E-Khubaa
• Ae Raushnion Ke Shahr
• Apnon Ne Gham Diye To Yaad Aa Gaya
• Bhuuli bisri chand umeedein
• Aankhon Se Mili Aankhen
• Gulshan gulshan shola e gul ki
• Jab Bhi Pee Kar
• Gulo.N Me.N Rang Bhare
• Main Hosh Mein Tha
• Mohabat Karne Wale
• Jab Koi Piar Se Bulaae Ga
• Jahan Jake Chain
• Kahan Gai Woh Wafa
• Kiya Hei Pyaar Jisse Humne Zindagi ki Tarah
• Jab Bhi Aati Hei Teri Yaad Kabhi Shaam ke Baad
• Jab Bhi Chahen Ek Nai Sorat
• Kya Bhala Mujhko Parakhne Ka Nateeja Nikla
• Kyoon Humse Khafa Ho Gaye
• Mohabat Zindagi Hai Aur Tum Meri Mohabat Ho
• Mujhe Tum Nazar Se Gira To Rahe Ho
• Yoon Zindagi Ki Raah Mein Takra Gaya Koi
• Zindagi Mein To Sabhi Pyaar Kiya Karte Hain
• Zulf Ko Teri Ghataon Ka Payam Aaya Hai
• Tere Bheege Badan Ki Khooshboo Se
• Naavak andaz jidhar diida-e-jaana honge
• Phuul hi phuul khil utthe
• Rim Jhim Ki Barsaat Hai Aur Jaage Huye Jazbaat Hain
• Saamne Aa Ke Tujhko Pukara Nahin
• Pyaar Bhare Do Sharmile Nain
• Rafta Rafta Wo Meri Hasti Ka Saamaan Ho Gaye
• Yaaro Kisii Qaatil Se Kabhii Pyaar Na Maa.Ngo
• Ye Dhooan Kahan Se Uthta Hei
• Ye Kaghzi Phool Jaise Chahre
• Ranjish Hi Sahi
• Sahar Ho Rahi Hai
• Shikwa Na Kar Gila Na Kar
• Tark-e-Ulfat Ka Sila
• Ye Mojazaa Bhii Muhabbat Kabhii Dikhaaye Mujhe
• Ye Tera Naazuk Badan Hai Ya Koi Mehka Gulaab
• Tere Mere Piar Ka Aisa Nata Hai
• Thah ar Thorri Der To
• Tu Meri Zindagi Hei
• Usne Jab Meri Taraf
• Uzr Aane Mein Bhi Hei Aur Bulaate bhi nahin
• Wo Dil Nawaaz Hei Lekin Nazar Shinaas Nahin
• Aap Ki Aankhon Ne
• Aaye Kuchh Abr Kuchh Sharaab Aaye
• Chalte ho to chaman ko chaliye
• Dil Ki Baat Labon Par Laakar
• Aage barhe na qissa -e -ishq -e- butaan
• Aaj Tak Yaad Hai Woh Piar Ka Manzar
• Dil Men Toofan Chupae Betha Hon
• Duniya Kisi Ke Pyaar Mein

Arif Mehdi son of Mehdi Hassan and tulsi supari singer Ikram Mehdi photographs at ragatracks. Arif Mehdi son of Mehdi Hassan is producing music album of his father songs with new sequencing. Teach yourself harmonium sargam free.