Jagjit Singh was born in a small village in Rajasthan on 8th Feb 1941. He belongs to a very religious family. His father ( Sardar Amar Singh Dhiman) wanted his son to be an IAS officer. But there was something else in his destiny. He was very much fond of music. In the beginning he learned the music from Pandit Chaganlal Sharma and Ustad Jamaal Khan. He was always open to learn from any one who was having talent but was not known much.
In the decade of sixties and seveties there were lot many great gazal singers like, Mallika Pukhraj, Begum Akhtar, Noor Jahan, K. L. Saigal, Talat Mahmood and Mehndi Hassan. And they ruled the "Gazal" segment of Indian music. The Gazal sung by these singers are excellent. But in the year of 1976 an album was released by the name "The Unforgettables". The album was having gazals written by great poets like Kafeel Aazer, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Ameer Minai, Tariq Badayuni, Jigar Moradabadi, Sudarshan Fakir, Saeed Rahi, Kunwar Mahendra Singh Bedi 'Sahar'. It had total of 10 Gazals. The album was a record hit and the credit goes to soothing melody sung by none but Jagjit Singh and Chitra Singh. Jagjit Singh met Chitra singh in 1967 and they got married in the year of 1969.
The beauty of gazals is in its words. Most of the gazals are in Urdu and in order to understand those, one need to have an excellent knowledge of urdu words. The gazal segment of Indian music was facing this problem, it was not getting closer to a common man, but Jagjit singh took the risk and started simplifying them for a common man. Started explainign or changing a few words so that it can be understood by most. Soon, Jagjit Singh became an icon of Gazals and was known as "Gazal Mastero". He single handily is responsible for bringing the Gazals closer to the masses.
Even though Jagjit singh has excelled in Gazal singing but he explored in other areas like, Bhajans with a few albums like 'Maa' , "Hare Krishna ..." etc. He also left his presence felt in Bollywood with playback singing in some of the movies like "Arth", "Saath Saath", "Prem Geet". These movies are still all time favorites of many and Jagjit's voice is one of the factor to determine that.
Jagjit and Chitra has gone through various ups and downs in his life. They struggled a lot during their initial days of career. But they made their mark, and then there was a darkest day in their life, their only son died in a car accident. It was a very tragic moment, not only for the couple but millions of their fans across the globe.
Well slowly the wound was healed, and he devoted himself again towards the music. Once in a interview he admitted that, it would have been very difficult for him to come out of the grief, if he dint had music.
The following are some of their best album (as per me)
Beyond Time (1987)
Face to Face (1993)
In Search (1992)
Insight (1994)
Kahkashan (1991)
Love is Blind (1997)
Marasim (1999)
Mirage (1995)
Passions (1987)
Saher (2000)
Sajda (1991)
Someone Somewhere (1990)
Sound Affair, A (1985)
Together (1999)
Unforgettables, The (1976)
Visions (1992)
-Narender
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