Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 6: Ghulam Qadir Langoo, the noted Kashmiri Sufi singer and court singer for Maharaja Hari Singh, died at the age of 100.
Langoo breathed his last at his younger son Mohammad Ramzan’s residence in Aloochi Bagh area of the city at around midnight, family sources said.
A court singer for Maharaja Hari Singh, Langoo enthralled people of Kashmir with his voice and music.
The musician belonged to the family who had a long association with the royal courts.
His grandfather Shabaan Langoo was a Nakaal (entertainer) in Maharaja Pratap Singh’s court.
During his long career, Langoo, who retired from Radio Kashmir nearly four decades ago, shared stage with musical greats like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle and Mahendra Kapoor, mostly playing Tanpura (a musical instrument).
He also sang and played the instrument for political stalwarts like first Prime Minister of the country, Late Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, former Chief Ministers Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad.
Langoo is credited with giving the Kashmiri music some of the finest female voices like Raj Begum, Zoon Begum and Naseem Akhtar.