Abdul Rashid Khan

Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan (born 1908) is a performer of Hindustani music in the tradition of Mian Tansen. He was born in a family of great musicians tracing back to the great Behram Khan, who was a singer of tradional Gwalior gayaki. His father's elder brother Bade Yusuf Khan and his father initially trained him. This was followed with extensive taleem from his family elders, like Chand Khan, Barkhudar Khan, Mahtab Khan who had imbibed the Gwalior Gayaki. He further developed this style suiting his own artistic sensitivity. Apart from khayal, Khan sings dhrupad, dhamar and thumri with equal versatility.

The special features of Khan's gayaki are his resonant and deep mellow voice. Even at an advanced age he has superb voice control and uses three octaves in his rendering; purity raga, an attractive process of 'Raga-Vistaar', multi dimensional embellishment of the complete text of the composition with melodic and rhythmic excellence.

Khan's traditional compositions have been recorded by the BBC and Iraq Radio. Organizations like Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy, Lucknow and ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata have recorded and preserved more than 1500 compositions.

During the past several decades, he has been a regular performer on Akashvani and Doordarshan Lucknow. Khan has participated in many national and regional conferences like Sadarang Conference, Godrej Conference, Lucknow Mahotsav, Dover Lance Conference, ITC Sangeet Sammelan, Prayag Sangeet Samiti Sangeet Sammelan all over India and has been felicited by Critics, fellow artists and many reputedd recognized institutions like Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy, (1981), Banaras Hindu University (1993), Eastern Zone cultural center and Press club Kolkata.

He has received many awards including ITC award (1994), Sangeet natak Academy award (1981), Kashi Swar Ganga Award (2003) and Ras Sagar (titlle) Award 2004. He has been a member of the All India Radio Audition Committee, New Delhi and has been awarded with many titles by the different reputed organizations like 'Sangeet Maharishi', 'Sangeet Sartaz', 'Rassagar', 'Bandish Samarat'.

Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan is an excellent composer in his own right; he has not only rendered a great service to the practical aspect of Hindustani classical vocal music his compositions. He has composed more than two thousand composition. Khan is also a prolific writer and an inspired poet, fashioning the pseudonym "Rasan Piya". Many compositions (bandish) that he sings are his own creations. He has trained numerous students in his lifetime. He is now a "guru" at ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata.