TRINIDAD EXPRESS - Williamsville Festivals Committee will dedicate Indian Arrival Day this year to the late veteran classical singer Yusuff Khan.
The concert tiled "Songs of Yusuff" will feature Devanand Sookram, a classical singer who will be singing the songs made popular by the late singer and will be held at Brother's Ground, Williamsville on May 30, starting 4:00 p.m.
Khan was born in 1943 at Ben Lomond. His father provided the early influence that shaped his participation in Indian cultural activities. The late Pandit Ramnarine Maharaj also played a major role in making Khan one of the most talented classical singers of Trinidad.
Khan, along with Fyzool Bally (Dilip), Frankie Sooklal and others, formed the Dil-e-Nadan Orchestra and in 1962, at age 22, Yusuff made his first appearance on Radio Trinidad on the program "Sunday Morning Indian Hour" hosted by the late Moen Mohammed. The same year, he won the State — sponsored Local Independence Singing Competition with the song, "Sab Koi Trinidadian and Tobagonian".
Khan won many trophies, prizes and awards for his singing and also participated in Mastana Bahar for many years reaching the grand finals in 1972.
His versatility extended to other genres of music. For many years he was a regular contestant in the local song category of the Mastana Bahar Indian Cultural Pageant. In this competition he was known as the Mighty Crepsole. Some of the popular songs he rendered in this competition included "Mor man Laga", Mastana Bahar, "Trinidad aur Tobago Ki Jai Jai" and "Indian Singing".
His records include Haunting Melodies of Yusuff Khan, Yusuff Khan Sings Again, Garam Massala, Battle of the Giants — Yusuff Khan versus K.B Singh and Tent Singing by our Classical Masters. Khan's singing can also be heard on several other LPs with other masters of classical singing.
His most popular songs are "Rahareeya Kee Patiya", "Ayodha aisee dhaam", "Brindaban Basi gayo Mathura Ki Chor", "Dukh Haro Dwarika Nath", "Sudamaji", "Aaj sawaliya sasur ghar jana", "Koi nahi hai gayr baba", "Laagi sawan ki mahinwa", "Bhajo dasrath rajkumar", "Manush Roop", "Sultan banay baitee" and "Ab dhobeeya jalabi say marta piyasa".
He went on musical tours to Guyana, Surinam, Holland, Canada and the USA and among the musicians who regularly accompanied him were the late Zoon Ramcharan (father of Lily Ramcharan — Moon), Robert Sahadeo, Frankie Sooklal, Teeka Boodram, Ramsumair and Keso.
Singers trained by Khan include Rawle Ramjitsingh, Heeralal Rampartap, Ravi Jagroop, Devanand Sookram, Sputnik and Lily Ramcharan-Moon.
Khan received awards from National Chutney Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago and 103FM Hall of Fame.
Lily Ramcharan-Moon, a stalwart of local Indian Classical singing said, "Nobody could match his voice and delivery. He was known as the Bengal Tiger of Classical Singing".
In celebrating Yusuff Khan, Doolarchand Hanoomansingh, spokesman for the Committee said that the tribute explored local Indian music and embraced Indian heritage throughout the years.
