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Channi Singh pioneered the Punjabi music revolution in the UK, writes
Prabhjot Singh
For
the godfather of bhangra music in England, Channi Singh of the group
Alaap, awards come naturally. Latest in the list of honours and awards
has been the "Lifetime achievement for Punjabi music Award given
to him by the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Mary Draycott, at the 13th
anniversary celebrations of the BBC Radio’s Punjabi
Programme. Fifty-three-year-old Channi Singh, from Malerkotla in
Punjab, has been the pioneer of Punjabi music in England. In the late
70s, he formed the UK’s first Punjabi music band, Alaap, that shot
into fame with its first album, Bhabhiye nee Bhabiye. Nach
Mundiya and Chunni de Sitare followed. He also cut an album
of shabad. His daughter, Mona Singh, perhaps the youngest
Asian British to perform at Royal Albert Hall in London, was chosen
the Most Promising Singer by Lashkara some time back. Channi is the
founder, lead singer and director of Alaap which is currently in the Guinness
Book of Records for the most successful and longest-running band.
Channi Singh is the first British Asian to be appointed as a honorary
Senior Lecturer of Music through Liverpool University. He has composed
and directed music for big banner Bollywood films such as Yalgaar,
Shaktimaan, Janasheen and Top less released in
September. Channi Singh, accompanied by his wife, Dhan, was here on a
short visit to India. "When I came to England in 1975, I noticed
that the Indian youths, especially Punjabis, had very few links with
their rich cultural heritage back home. I wanted them to be proud of
their cultural roots and believed that music would be the best method
of educating them about their cultural roots. As destiny would have
it, I soon met talented musicians with whom I formed Alaap in
1977." Channi Singh has contributed to Punjabi Music for over
three decades and has performed all over the world. He is highly
respected by the Punjabi Community. Alaap has performed with Sir Jimmy
Seville, UB40 and performed at Madison Square Garden in USA, Al Nasr
Indoor Stadium in Dubai, and Royal Albert Hall in London. The band was
described as ‘Simply the Best’ by The Gurkha Battalion in Bosnia.
He has also performed in Canada, Australia and other countries. In
1992, Alaap became the first Asian British bhangra band to perform in
Pakistan. "Live performances are back. The disc jockeys (DJs)
phase appears to be on the way out. It is why I have decided to come
out with some of my classic albums starting with Bhabhiye nee
Bhabhiyee, Chunni de Sitare, Nach Mundiya, etc.,
etc. There is a great demand for these albums which are now collectors’
items," says Channi. Channi, who is a music producer, has
recently done an album for a Persian singer who has sung a Punjabi
song also. "I have done music for a number of singers from
various Asian countries," reveals Channi Singh who has set up his
studio in the backyard of his Southall House. Coming to his Lifetime
Achievement Award in service of Punjabi music, he said that in 1992,
members of the Sikh community asked the BBC, which is the backbone of
the media, to dedicate programmes in Punjabi, the second most spoken
language in England. This was pioneering work and the hardworking and
respected community responded enthusiastically to the new programme.
Gurpreet Kaur who has been presenting the Punjabi Programme since it
started broadcasting on September 9, 1992 said that since the
programme began the air time has increased. The audience of the
Punjabi programme ranges between four-year-olds to 74-year-olds, it
includes Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims and Christians. After the lifetime
achievement award presentation, Channi Singh sang his popular
songs. "It was indeed a very touching moment for me as I became
the first-ever singer to be given the life time achievement award by
an organisation like BBC," said. |
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