Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, born Pervez Fateh Ali Khan, was a renowned Pakistani singer, songwriter, and music director. He was primarily known for his exceptional talent in qawwali—a form of Sufi devotional music. Often referred to as the “Shahenshah-e-Qawwali” (the King of Kings of Qawwali), he is widely regarded as the greatest qawwali singer of his generation, as recognized by The New York Times. In 2016, LA Weekly even ranked him as the fourth greatest singer of all time.
NFAK was famous for his remarkable vocal abilities, capable of delivering intense performances that could last for several hours.
During the early 1980s, Khan was signed by Oriental Star Agencies in Birmingham, England, which paved the way for his international recognition. He released movie scores and albums across Europe, India, Japan, Pakistan, and the U.S. Khan’s extensive touring took him to more than 40 countries.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s Biography
Table of Contents
Real Name/ Full Name: Parvez Fateh Ali Khan
Nick Name/ Celebrated Name: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan- NFAK
Birth Place: Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
Date of Birth: 13 October 1948
Date of Death: 16 August 1997
Age: 49 years
Height: 5 ft 7 inches
Weight: 136 kg approx
Eye Colour: Black
Hair Colour: Black
Parents’ Names: Father’s name was Fateh Ali Khan & mother’s name is not known.
Siblings: 4 sisters and 1 brother
School: NA
College: NA
Religion: Islam
Nationality: Pakistani
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Straight
Marital Status: Married
Zodiac Sign: Libra
Spouse’s Name: Naheed Nusrat
Kids: one daughter
Profession: singer, songwriter, and composer
Net Worth: $ 7 million
Songs & Career:
- In the summer of 1985, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan performed at the World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD) festival in London. He also had performances in Paris in 1985 and 1988. His first visit to Japan was in 1987, where he was invited by the Japan Foundation to perform at the 5th Asian Traditional Performing Art Festival.
- In 1989, NFAK showcased his talents at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, receiving great admiration from the American audience. During the 1992 to 1993 academic year, he served as a Visiting Artist in the Ethnomusicology department at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, United States.
- In 1990, the BBC dedicated an entire program on Network East to his collaboration with Andrew Kristy and violinist Nigel Kennedy, with a live performance of “Allah Hoo” on the Big World Café show.
- Peter Gabriel featured Khan’s vocals on the track “Signal to Noise” on his 2002 album “Up.”
- Khan’s album “Intoxicated Spirit” earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Traditional Folk Album in 1997. Additionally, his album “Night Song” received a Grammy Award nomination for Best World Music Album that same year.
- Khan’s final music composition for Bollywood was for the movie “Kachche Dhaage,” where he sang in the song “Iss Shaan-E-Karam Ka Kya Kehna.” The movie was released in 1999, two years after his passing. Notably, the renowned Bollywood singing sisters Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar sang songs he composed during his brief stint in Bollywood.
- Furthermore, Khan lent his voice to “Saya Bhi Saath Jab Chhod Jaye” for Sunny Deol’s movie “Dillagi,” which was released in 1999, again two years after Khan’s demise. He also sang “Dulhe Ka Sehra” for the Bollywood movie “Dhadkan,” released in 2000.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s Net Worth
According to sources, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s net worth was approximately $7million in 2019.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s Early Life
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was born in 1948 in Lyallpur (now Faisalabad), Punjab, Pakistan, into a Punjabi Muslim family. His family had roots in Basti Sheikh Darvesh, which is now located in Jalandhar, Punjab, India. The family’s musical heritage can be traced back to their ancestors, who learned music and singing in Jalandhar and made it their profession.
Nusrat was the fifth child and the first son of Fateh Ali Khan, who was not only a musicologist but also a skilled vocalist, instrumentalist, and qawwal. He grew up in central Faisalabad with his four older sisters and a younger brother named Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan. The tradition of qawwali had been a cherished part of their family for nearly 600 years.
Initially, Nusrat’s father had different aspirations for him. He hoped that Nusrat would pursue a more socially respectable career, possibly as a doctor or engineer, as he believed that qawwali artists had lower social status. However, Nusrat displayed such a remarkable talent and passion for qawwali that his father eventually relented, allowing him to follow in the family’s musical footsteps.
Death
In his later years, Khan struggled with obesity, with reports indicating that he weighed over 137 kilograms (300 pounds). He had been seriously ill for several months. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan traveled from his native Pakistan to London, seeking treatment for liver and kidney problems. Tragically, upon his arrival at the airport, he was rushed to the Cromwell Hospital in London, where he passed away due to a sudden cardiac arrest on 16 August 1997 at the age of 48.
NFAK Source of Income
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s source of income was his songs and compositions. He gave music in many Bollywood and Pakistani films as well.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s Social Profiles
- https://www.instagram.com/theofficialnusrat/?hl=en
- https://www.facebook.com/theofficialnusrat/
- https://twitter.com/nusratofficial?lang=en
Lesser known facts about Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
- Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s family moved from India to Pakistan in 1948.
- His father wanted him to become a doctor or engineer.
- Nusrat’s family has a traditional Qawwali singing heritage of 600 years
- Many Bollywood movies copied music from Nusrat’s songs.
FAQs:
1. What was the age of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan when he died?
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was a world-famous Pakistani singer and musician. He died at the age of 49 on 16th August 1997. His zodiac sign was Libra.
2. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan married?
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan got married in 1979. His wife’s name was Naheed Nusrat.
3. What are Nusrat Fateh Ali’s famous Songs?
Nusrat was a world-famous Pakistani singer. Some of his most famous songs were Dum Mast Qalandar, Akhiyan Udeekdiyan, Saya bi Sath, Allah Hoo, Tumhy Dillagi Bhool Jani Pregi.
4. What was the income of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan?
NFAK was not only a renowned singer but a composer and songwriter as well. He used to charge PKR 4-5 lacs for a single song.
