Mourning an artist: Pashto singer Amir Zeb Khan passes away

The crooner was lauded by Pukhtuns from both sides of the border.

PESHAWAR:

The Pashto music industry mourned the passing of renowned singer Amir Zeb Khan, who died of cardiac arrest on Sunday morning at the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) at the age of 44. He was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Udigram, Swat.

According to his younger brother, Shahzeb Khan, Amir had been ill for the last two years.

Amir Zeb had been serving the language for 20 years and was a versatile singer who modernised Pashto music at a time when it was losing popularity. He was also the first singer to introduce Qawali to Pashto music.

He began his music career in 2005 with his first album, ‘Eshqa za tabah di kram’, which gained huge popularity in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. The album stood apart from contemporary music at the time. Amir’s selection of lyrics, musical composition, and melodious voice earned him huge appreciation.



Amir released a total of seven albums, with the most recent one released in 2011 titled Shabab. His most famous numbers include Shukr De, Ishq ta Salam, Dilbara Dilbara, Gul Gulalai (Attan), Khad Usay Abad Usay, A Rukhe Zaibo Marhba, and his national song, Zalmi da Pakistan.

“He was the only educated singer associated with the Pashto music industry, placing him in a better position to serve Pashto music,” said singer Musharraf Bangash. Besides being a singer, Amir was a good human being and was an inspiration for the new talent, he added.

“At a time when Pashto music was full of meaningless lyrics and awkward beats, Amir tried to revive its lost grandeur and bring a positive, meaningful change,” said legendary Pashto singer, Hidayatullah.

He further said Amir was intensely modest about his achievements and possessed immense intellectual generosity. He never minded being copied by other singers and producers who wanted to earn their own recognition, added Hidayatullah.

In his later years, Amir developed a special attachment to AVT Khyber TV and PTV, recording many Pashto tracks for the channels. His brother informed Amir had also worked in two Pashto dramas in 1992 and two Urdu serials in 1995.

Amir never adopted music as a source of money. He took jobs with non-governmental organisations to fulfil his financial needs. He also worked as a child health technician for the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Programme.

Amir Zeb is survived by four children­­­­­ - two daughters and two sons.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2013.

Correction: In an earlier version of the article, 'PTV' was misspelled as 'PTC'. The error has been rectified.