Sharafat Hussain Khan (1930 - 1985) was amongst the most brilliant Khayal vocalists of the post - independence era.
He represented the Agra Gharana (stylistic lineage) , and was unanimously regarded as the most illustrious heir to
the legacy of his principal mentor, the legendary Ustad Faiyyaz Khan (1886 - 1950) .
Sharafat Hussain Khan was born in July, 1930, to Ustad Liaquat Hussain Khan, a court musician in the erstwhile
Jaipur State, and Alla Rakhi Beghum. From his father's side, Sharafat was a descendant of Inayet Hussain Khan
(1845 - 1936), founder of Atrauli Gharana, and from his mother's side, and of his maternal grandfather Mehboob Khan
(Daras Piya) , also of the Atrauli Gharana, but whose music was greatly influenced by the Rangile Gharana of his
mother's family, founded by Ramzan Khan (1759 - 1806). In early childhood, Sharafat was trained by his father.
When Sharafat was only eight years old, his prodigious talent impressed the legendary Faiyyaz Khan during one
of his visits to Atrauli. The maestro, without a son despite three marriages, adopted Sharafat, and took away forthwith
to Baroda to groom him as his heir.
Sharafat was a child prodigy, who rose meteorically after his adoption by Faiyyaz Khan. At the age of eight, he
made a stunning debut at the influential Matunga Music Circle in Mumbai. This triggered off invitations to perform
at the All India Music Conference at Allahabad, and the All Bengal Conference in Kolkata. When he was eleven,
he was hailed as the "Rising Sun" of vocalism at the Gaya Conference.By the age of twelve, he has made his first
disc with HMV/ EMI, and topped the prestigious Baroda State Music Competition.
Sharafat was only 20, when Faiyyaz Khan died. Thereafter, he started studying with his maternal uncle,
Ustad Ata Hussain Khan of the allied Atrauli - Bangile Lineage. Soon thereafter, he acquired a third guide
- his scholarly father - in - law, Vilayat Hussain Khan of the Agra Lineage. Thus, like his foster - father, Sharafat
Hussain came to represent a magnificent confluence of three intimately connected lineages - Agra, Atrauli, and
Rangile.
While still in his 30s, Sharafat became amongst the busiest vocalists in India, and enjoyed a continuous run
of sucess for two decades (1965 - 1985). Along with popularity came the honours. He was made an Honorary
Fellow of the Performing Arts Academy of Uttar Pradesh (Northern Provinces) and decorated with the Padma
Shree by the President of India. In 1985, Sangeet Natak Akademi ( The National Performing Arts Academy)
held a special ceremony to honour him shortly before he succumbed to lung cancer at the age of 55. He also
got a Tansen Award.
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