Tuesday morning saw the death of a subcontinental musical legend. The music community lost Ustad Hussain Baksh Gullo in Lahore, leaving a legacy of Eastern classical music. He died at 75, leaving his sons Suraj and Chand to continue the family history.
As with his father, Ustad Nathu Khan, Gullo was a master of Eastern classical music from Patiala and Sham Chaurasi gharana. Known for his command of Thumri and Kafi, Pakistan awarded Gullo a Pride of Performance medal for his skill and determination.
In a five-decade career, Gullo played worldwide and released several critically regarded records. His work and dedication to pushing classical singing earned him recognition from classical music circles on both sides of the border and from aspiring singers who look to him for inspiration.
Sharif Awan, culture curator and founder of the Tehzeeb Foundation, said he was a giant in his field and was recognized for singing Multani kafi.
“Ustad Hussain Baksh Gullo was the singer of singers who worked tirelessly for his craft,” Tehzeeb Foundation founder Sharif Awan told The Express Tribune. “Multani Kafi was his most popular classical music, but he sang Thumri and Khyal. He ruled classical music like no other. He knew how to set the mood for his performance. Gullo’s death was a major loss for classical music.”
Before his death, musician Sajjad Tafu named Gullo the most experienced in his area. “Ustad Hussain Baksh Gullo pioneered classical music. “He was the most experienced musician, who contributed greatly to his art,” stated guitarist Sajjad Tafu. “He was also the brother-in-law of Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, while Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan was his nephew.”
Gullo’s selflessness in teaching classical music until he could was inspiring to ghazal vocalist Tarranum Naz. “Hussain Baksh Gullo was the reason for our domination in classical music,” she told The Express Tribune. “He devoted most of his life to serving classical music and fought to gain an international reputation. He taught all singers who wanted to study from him; he was an institution. A glorious age of classical music ended with his death.”
Veteran composer and actor Arshad Mehmood felt that Gullo was underappreciated despite having the loveliest classical music voice. Hussain Buksh Gullu was a popular classical singer whose voice was the sweetest and best for classical singing. No one sings kafi as well as he did, Mehmood told The Express Tribune. “Despite his efforts to promote classical music, this country did not give him the respect and regard he deserved, but performers and singers will always be in his debt.”
Honoring the great
Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi mourned Ustad Hussain Baksh Gullo’s death. The Lahore Arts Council will hold a sad Gullo tribute. This meeting will focus on the late artist’s outstanding art and legacy. Tuesday sessions at Alhamra Academy of Performing Arts were canceled in honor of the late maestro.
Executive Director Alhamra Tariq Mehmood Chaudhry expressed his deep sadness over the departure of Ustad Hussain Bakhsh Gullo, saying that his longtime association with the academy enriched the musical experiences of many young performers. Alhamra continues to promote Ustad Hussain Bakhsh’s musical legacy.
“Classical music will die.”
Gullo expressed his disappointment about the future of classical music in the country in a 2017 Express Tribune interview. “Years ago, classical music dominated the industry, but it seems like that dominance is now coming to an end,” Gullo told The Express Tribune. Pakistan has many talented classical vocalists, but they lack opportunities. No one appears willing to discuss or consider our current challenges.”
The artist then discussed the country’s youth’s lack of motivation. “But no one wants to learn anymore. Everyone aspires to become famous, but that’s impossible. I wonder what happened to the ustad-shaagird tradition, Gullo lamented.
The forte Ustad Hussain Baksh Gullo guarded like a warrior may be lost after his death. Gullo is dead, and his tradition is dying.
Tuesday morning saw the death of a subcontinental musical legend. The music community lost Ustad Hussain Baksh Gullo in Lahore, leaving a legacy of Eastern classical music. He died at 75, leaving his sons Suraj and Chand to continue the family history.
As with his father, Ustad Nathu Khan, Gullo was a master of Eastern classical music from Patiala and Sham Chaurasi gharana. Known for his command of Thumri and Kafi, Pakistan awarded Gullo a Pride of Performance medal for his skill and determination.
In a five-decade career, Gullo played worldwide and released several critically regarded records. His work and dedication to pushing classical singing earned him recognition from classical music circles on both sides of the border and from aspiring singers who look to him for inspiration.
Sharif Awan, culture curator and founder of the Tehzeeb Foundation, said he was a giant in his field and was recognized for singing Multani kafi.
“Ustad Hussain Baksh Gullo was the singer of singers who worked tirelessly for his craft,” Tehzeeb Foundation founder Sharif Awan told The Express Tribune. “Multani Kafi was his most popular classical music, but he sang Thumri and Khyal. He ruled classical music like no other. He knew how to set the mood for his performance. Gullo’s death was a major loss for classical music.”
Before his death, musician Sajjad Tafu named Gullo the most experienced in his area. “Ustad Hussain Baksh Gullo pioneered classical music. “He was the most experienced musician, who contributed greatly to his art,” stated guitarist Sajjad Tafu. “He was also the brother-in-law of Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, while Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan was his nephew.”
Gullo’s selflessness in teaching classical music until he could was inspiring to ghazal vocalist Tarranum Naz. “Hussain Baksh Gullo was the reason for our domination in classical music,” she told The Express Tribune. “He devoted most of his life to serving classical music and fought to gain an international reputation. He taught all singers who wanted to study from him; he was an institution. A glorious age of classical music ended with his death.”
Veteran composer and actor Arshad Mehmood felt that Gullo was underappreciated despite having the loveliest classical music voice. Hussain Buksh Gullu was a popular classical singer whose voice was the sweetest and best for classical singing. No one sings kafi as well as he did, Mehmood told The Express Tribune. “Despite his efforts to promote classical music, this country did not give him the respect and regard he deserved, but performers and singers will always be in his debt.”
Honoring the great
Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi mourned Ustad Hussain Baksh Gullo’s death. The Lahore Arts Council will hold a sad Gullo tribute. This meeting will focus on the late artist’s outstanding art and legacy. Tuesday sessions at Alhamra Academy of Performing Arts were canceled in honor of the late maestro.
Executive Director Alhamra Tariq Mehmood Chaudhry expressed his deep sadness over the departure of Ustad Hussain Bakhsh Gullo, saying that his longtime association with the academy enriched the musical experiences of many young performers. Alhamra continues to promote Ustad Hussain Bakhsh’s musical legacy.
“Classical music will die.”
Gullo expressed his disappointment about the future of classical music in the country in a 2017 Express Tribune interview. “Years ago, classical music dominated the industry, but it seems like that dominance is now coming to an end,” Gullo told The Express Tribune. Pakistan has many talented classical vocalists, but they lack opportunities. No one appears willing to discuss or consider our current challenges.”
The artist then discussed the country’s youth’s lack of motivation. “But no one wants to learn anymore. Everyone aspires to become famous, but that’s impossible. I wonder what happened to the ustad-shaagird tradition, Gullo lamented.
The forte Ustad Hussain Baksh Gullo guarded like a warrior may be lost after his death. Gullo is dead, and his tradition is dying.
