Died on July 31st 1980. His best song. Enjoy this, his greatest song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkFv5ybbwW0
Rafi Saab, is indeed the best singer of all times. Today, 43 years after his death, he lives on eternally. His songs today are just as popular as they were during his lifetime.
Mohd. Rafi was born on December 24th, 1924 in the small Punjabi village of Kotla Sultan Singh. This is located not far from Amritsar. As a child, he had the nickname of "Pheeko". Mohd. Rafi started to show an inclination towards music at a very early age when he used to imitate the songs of a wandering fakir that used to visit his village. In 1935, when Rafi jee was a small lad, his family moved to Lahore. His father had a men's salon, and business opportunities were much better in the city than in the village. This move to the city afforded the young Rafi the ability to pursue his musical career.
In 1944, he moved to Bombay to further his career. Rafi married twice; his first marriage was in 1945 to his cousin that took place in his ancestral village. The marriage ended when his first wife refused to live in India following the killing of her parents during the riots of partition of India and moved to Lahore, Pakistan. So, his personal life was under stress in 1947 by the partition.
At that point he decided to remain in India. Rafi Saab had three sons and three daughters. He was very much a family man, following a recording-room, to home and to recording-room itinerary. He rarely attended film parties, did not smoke or drink, was religious, and was considered a humble man. He used to perform his riyaz (musical practice) regularly. His only indulgences were playing carom, badminton, and flying kites.
A major milestone for came in 1949 when Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki, became a great hit. This solidified Mohd. Rafi's position as a top ranking male playback singer. He maintained this position until the 1970's.
In 1948 - Rafi received a silver medal from the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, on the first anniversary of the Indian Independence Day. In 1967 – Rafi jee was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India. In 2001 - Rafi was honoured with the "Best Singer of the Millennium" by Hero Honda and Stardust Magazine.
Rafi died at 10:50 p.m. on 31 July 1980, following a heart attack. His last song was "Shaam phir kyun udaas hai dost" (Aas Pass), which he had recorded with Laxmikant - Pyarelal few hours before his death. Rafi was buried at the Juhu Muslim cemetery. It was one of the biggest funeral processions Mumbai had ever witnessed, with over 10,000 people attending.
Now, Rafi jee is not amongst us, but that divine voice and soul will never fade from this earth. Rafi had sung 26,000 songs. He was, and remains, a major force in film music, the music of love, despair, hope, humor…etc. Rafi’s voice had the healing capability. His music is as calm, as raging, as deep, as beautiful. It is the manifestation of the goodness and the divine.
Mohd. Rafi was born on December 24th, 1924 in the small Punjabi village of Kotla Sultan Singh. This is located not far from Amritsar. As a child, he had the nickname of "Pheeko". Mohd. Rafi started to show an inclination towards music at a very early age when he used to imitate the songs of a wandering fakir that used to visit his village. In 1935, when Rafi jee was a small lad, his family moved to Lahore. His father had a men's salon, and business opportunities were much better in the city than in the village. This move to the city afforded the young Rafi the ability to pursue his musical career.
In 1944, he moved to Bombay to further his career. Rafi married twice; his first marriage was in 1945 to his cousin that took place in his ancestral village. The marriage ended when his first wife refused to live in India following the killing of her parents during the riots of partition of India and moved to Lahore, Pakistan. So, his personal life was under stress in 1947 by the partition.
At that point he decided to remain in India. Rafi Saab had three sons and three daughters. He was very much a family man, following a recording-room, to home and to recording-room itinerary. He rarely attended film parties, did not smoke or drink, was religious, and was considered a humble man. He used to perform his riyaz (musical practice) regularly. His only indulgences were playing carom, badminton, and flying kites.
A major milestone for came in 1949 when Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki, became a great hit. This solidified Mohd. Rafi's position as a top ranking male playback singer. He maintained this position until the 1970's.
In 1948 - Rafi received a silver medal from the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, on the first anniversary of the Indian Independence Day. In 1967 – Rafi jee was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India. In 2001 - Rafi was honoured with the "Best Singer of the Millennium" by Hero Honda and Stardust Magazine.
Rafi died at 10:50 p.m. on 31 July 1980, following a heart attack. His last song was "Shaam phir kyun udaas hai dost" (Aas Pass), which he had recorded with Laxmikant - Pyarelal few hours before his death. Rafi was buried at the Juhu Muslim cemetery. It was one of the biggest funeral processions Mumbai had ever witnessed, with over 10,000 people attending.
Now, Rafi jee is not amongst us, but that divine voice and soul will never fade from this earth. Rafi had sung 26,000 songs. He was, and remains, a major force in film music, the music of love, despair, hope, humor…etc. Rafi’s voice had the healing capability. His music is as calm, as raging, as deep, as beautiful. It is the manifestation of the goodness and the divine.
