Ustad Amir Khan Saheb... Rag Jog

Around 1945-50, Amir Khan was one of the topmost and most sought after vocalist in North India. He was invited in almost all important music conferences. Naturally, both the gramophone company and the music directors in Hindi/Bengali film industry approached him. With the bitter experience of the 78-rpm records made in 1935, Amir Khan was rather reluctant with this medium. G. N. Joshi of HMV, was a great fan of Ameer Khan's gayaki and would attend his concerts frequently. He tried to persuade Amir Khan for cutting new records for the Gramophone Company. In his book 'Down Melody Lane' (published by Orient Longman), G. N. Joshi writes,

To obtain Amir Khan's agreement for the recording, I had to meet him, and therefore it was incumbent on me to visit his residence. I was greatly put off when I learnt about the locality where he stayed. I was afraid of what people would say if they observed me entering a house of ill repute. Any outsider would naturally draw his own conclusions, not knowing that an eminent singer was living in that building. If I had, out of fear or social stigma, refrained from going to visit Amir Khan, his great artistry would have gone unrecorded. The idea of securing his consent for recording together with a keen sense of duty prompted me to enter the building, eyes downcast, not looking about me till I entered Amir Khan's room on the third floor. Once in his room, I cheered up, and I talked to him for an hour or two. After that I visited him often. We exchanged views on music and gharanas, and such visits gave me opportunities to study his likes and dislikes. These visits also gave him confidence in me. After a couple of months and few such visits, he agreed to come for a recording. Some more time was lost in persuading him to agree to the terms of payment. Finally, this hurdle too was crossed. Yet Amir Khan went on canceling dates, giving fresh ones and then again postponing the recording on some flimsy grounds. I got fed up with his dilly-dallying and, in spite of my great regard and respect for him, I justifiably felt very annoyed. Ultimately one day I plucked up my courage and said to him, 'If I had approached 'God almighty' as many times as I have come to you, he would have blessed me, but all I can get from you is the promise of a future date.' Seeing my exasperation he became thoughtful, smiled a little and replied, 'Please do not disbelieve me. Name any day of this week and I will keep the appointment.'
(for full article visit this link) http://www.pathcom.com/~ericp/akarticle.html

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• Amir
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[lovingearth123]

Wonderful !!! Always admire Ustad Amir Khan.

However, the starting background picture could have been a better one...

[dhingin]

Thank you Mirza Saheb .

[sbchoudhuryable]

Ustad Amir Khan Saheb is one of my most favorite kindhearted Hindustani Classical vocalists. He's such a wonderful singer. I really like his recordings.................LOL­:)!

[arjhendrix]

thank you for sharing

best wishes n regards

[Naraayangopal]

Hearting&awesome

[chamogaa]

I have enjoyed quite a few of UAK's raaga renditions. With this one you also provide a very intriguing glimpse into his private life. One wants to know more from G.N. Joshi's account. Thanks, Mirzaji.