Ghulam Nabi Sheikh was one of the all-time great vocal artists of Kashmir, a majestic musician hailed as transformative by peers and admirers, local light music artists said today.The artists, who enthralled audience at Auditorium hall at Department of Information and Public Relations here during three hour long concert, shared their association with the legendary artist.The musical tribute ‘Ba Yaad-e-Ghulam Nabi Sheikh’ - Remembering Legacy was organized by Radio Kashmir in which all the prominent vocalist and instrumentalists participated.Artist said that the remarkable attribution about Sheikh was that he fashioned his singing along with Ghazal maestro, Mehdi Hassan, a style of singing that did not exist before them. “Sheikh sahib was popularly known as Mehdi Hassan of Kashmir in the artist circles,” the artists said.
They said that the ghazal as a song was not part of our culture. However with the contribution of many artists including Shiekh, the light music singing gained popularity in the Himalayan State.Prominent artists including noted Singer and composer, Waheed Jeelani, noted music composer and Singer, Muneer Ahmad Mir, Qaisar Nizami, Shazia Hamid, Raja Bilal, Umer Khan, Aaqib Asad, Shahi Mumtaz, Sunita Bhan paid their musical tributes by singing his compositions and popular songs.Remembering his time at Radio Kashmir, the then Station Director, Dr Rafiq Masoodi recalled Sheikh as an amazing artist. He said his death created a great musical void in the artist community of Kashmir. He said that Shiekh ran through a variety of pieces in different styles, displaying a command on rhythm and style of singing.Director Information and Public Relations, Muneer-ul-Islam said it was a momentary time for the Department to hold such kind of functions in the department and host the noted artists. He lauded the role of Radio Kashmir for preserving the local music and culture of the State.
Station Director and noted broadcaster, Humayun Qaiser, said with his soulful singing, the regionally based light classical idiom and revealing a breathtaking technique and clear, nuanced diction. “He always sang so impressively,” he said.Speaking during the concert, Sheikh’s son Sheikh Arafat thanked the gathering saying for turning to the concert.Programme Executive, AIR and noted broadcaster, Talha Jehangir presented the vote of thanks.Pertinently Sheikh gained extensive popularity Jammu and Kashmir, and was particularly famous in Kashmir, where he is still remembered as the “Mehdi Hassan of Kashmir”. He had set up a free music school where he taught music to people interested in singing.Ghulam Nabi Sheikh mysteriously died on the night of July 13-14, 2003. It was found that he died in mysterious circumstances while on a train journey from Jammu to Delhi. On the night of his killing, the noted singer was travelling along with his daughter and a friend to Delhi from Jammu via Shalimar Express.