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Although two decades have passed since his demise, the captivating
melodies of classical vocalist Ustad Amanat Ali Khan are still fresh and
fragrant. His recordings are appreciated by listeners of all ages.
Amanat Ali was tutored under the keen eye of his father, Ustad Akhtar
Ali Khan, a noted musician of the Patiala gharana. Amanat Ali was a
master of three musical forms: the raga, the thumri, and the ghazal.
Classical music was at its peak when Amanat Ali and his younger brother,
Fateh Ali, began their career. Amanat Ali was immediately noticed for
his remarkable talent. He created a unique and innovative style of
performing music which helped those not initiated in this art to
understand and appreciate traditional music. He simplified the
structures of ragas, sang thumris more softly
and smoothly than any of his contemporaries, and innovated a novel style
of ghazal singing during the last days of his life. His
death proved to be an irreplaceable loss to the music of the
subcontinent. In recognition of his remarkable services, the Pride of
Performance Award was conferred upon him in 1969.
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