Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan has a unique perspective of Hindustani Music, because he has been singing longer than anyone else in the country today. Born in 1908 into a family of illustrious musicians, he received training from stalwarts of the Gwalior gayaki. In spite of being over a century old, he seems to have defied ageing and continues to perform with the strength, grace and nuance of an artist in his prime! He is also a prolific composer, having composed more than two thousand bandishes and still continuing.
He performs Khayal, Dhrupad, Dhamaar, Tirvat and Thumri styles with equal versatility, remembering intricate word chains and patterns that are rarely performed today. His vigour is such that he has regularly performed in the early morning at SPIC MACAY overnight concerts, with his voice keeping audiences enthralled until sunrise. Watching him perform makes one realise that the body makes no difference to what artistes like him give to the world. He says that he has stopped practising 20 years ago, and gains all his inspiration from the Quran and the Namaaz.
Ustadji is recognised throughout the country and the world as one of the greatest exponents of the Gwalior Gayaki. He has received many awards including the Sangeet Natak Academy Award, the ITC award and the Kashi Swar Ganga Award. He has had titles like ‘Ras Sagar’, ‘Sangeet Maharishi’, ‘Sangeet Sartaz’ and ‘Bandish Samarat’ bestowed upon him by various organisations across the country. He is currently the senior-most guru at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata.