03 Most memorable performance with Ustad Salamat Ali Khan - USTAD LATAFAT ALI KHAN Q&A

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My most memorable performance with my father Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, God rest his soul. I have performed quite a bit with him around the world. My first performance with him was at the Hong Kong festival, in the 80’s. They took me as a Ghazal singer. Ustad Sharafat Ali Khan would accompany him. On the Tabla, we were accompanied by Mumtaz Ali, who resides in Chicago. He was the student of Miah Shaukat Hussain Khan. It was a great tour, and my Father was exceptional there. After which, my Father took me to India. We almost toured the whole of India. Delhi, Mumbai, Madras, Calcutta, Hyderabad, and many other places. We toured many big festivals. My most memorable performance of my Father there, was his performance at the Shanker Lal festival (Delhi). I still remember his Raag Marwa. There was this huge crowd, the place was packed. Banay Khan Sahab was on the Sarangi and Ghulam Abbas Khan was on the Tabla, who was a student of Ustad Alla Rakha Khan. So, Ustad Salamat Ali Khan performed a Taan called a Sata, which elders usually discourage because you can damage your lungs with it. And he performed it causing high voltage bulbs above the stage to crack. Just imagine the frequency of the Taan. I was accompanying him on the harmonium. I was shook and was trying to take cover. The Sarangi player picked up his Sarangi and took cover under it to avoid bulbs falling on his head. Sarangi and took cover under it to avoid bulbs falling on his head. But Father was in his own world with his eyes closed, not paying any attention to what’s going on. It was a miracle no glass fell... After that he performed a very memorable Taan at Shah Jinnah, there is a huge shrine there. We used to get called there for ten days at a time by Sarkar Mohammed Gause who was the Gaddi Nasheen (”Successor/student of a Pir/ Sufi Saint”) of Pir Karorya, near Jhang (Punjab). His son Faisal who has also served as a minister (political) is now the Gaddi Nasheen there. So, my Father performed a Taan in Raag Gaud Malhar, and it caused a wooden beam in the roof to split in half. People thought the roof was going to fall. He was truly great, some even said he was their generation’s Tansen (Legendary singer from the 1500s). I’m not just saying this because he was my Father. It was the respect given to him by the world. He was a deep ocean. There were many other performances, these were some memorable ones where I was present. There are many stories I heard from people, but these were events I witnessed myself. People like to hear from eyewitnesses. But to get to such a state of singing, he used to practice, often 20 hours at a time. Nowadays people don’t have 30 minutes to practice. People say I’m tired now, let’s take a break. And even after 3-4 breaks they still don’t get on with it. As the elders say, this is an art where you practice all your life, till your dying breath. Whether you’re a professional or not, you have to maintain your voice and this art.