Credited with popularising the ghazal genre and making it accessible to the masses, Singh cut more than 40 private albums and sang for innumerable Bollywood films, influencing an entire generation of music lovers.
His songs from movies like “Arth” and “Saath Saath” are evergreen favourites.
“It’s horrible,” singer Usha Uthup told NDTV, her voice choking. “I cannot believe we are talking of him in the past. He was an incredible human being.”
Singh was supposed to perform with singer Ghulam Ali in Mumbai when he was rushed to hospital.
Stirring millions of hearts with his soulful numbers 'Jhuki jhuki si nazar' and 'Kaagaz ki kashti', ghazal king Jagit Singh infused a new life in the dying genre of music in the seventies and carved a niche for himself in Bollywood.The pain and melancholy in his voice gave vent to the feelings of many a lonely heart.
Conjuring up hits like yeh zindagi kisi aur ki, mere naam ka koi aur hai, Patta-patta boota-boota haal hamaara jaane hai, Hontho se chhoo lo tum, Tum ko dekha, Hazaar baar ruke ham and hazaar baar chale, Singh made a mark during the '70s when the ghazal scene was dominated by well-established names like Noor Jehan, Malika Pukhraj, Begum Akhtar, Talat Mahmood and Mehdi Hassan.
The voice behind the timeless ghazals was inspired by singers like K L Sehgal, Talat Mahmood, Abdul Karim Khan, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Amir Khan.
One of the most successful and loved artistes of his time, he has left behind a huge body of work in a career spanning five decades, including 80 albums. Often called the 'Ghazal King' by his fans and peers, Jagjit was born on February 8, 1941 in Sriganganagar, Rajasthan, to Amar Singh Dhiman, a government employee, and Bachan Kaur. He had four sisters and two brothers and was called Jeet by his family. He was raised as a Sikh by religion. His birth name was Jagmohan but his Sikh father rechristened him as Jagjit following the advice of his guru.
It was his father, who first recognised his son's talent. He sent young Jagjit to learn the nuances of music under a blind teacher, Pandit Chhaganlal Sharma. He later trained under Ustad Jamal Khan of Sainia gharana for six-years and gained knowledge in Khayal, Thumri and Dhrupad forms. Singh was of the view that music was for inspiration and not for competition. "The moment one brings competition into music, the soul is lost."
In a recent interview to PTI, he had regretted the fact that devotion and practice were disappearing from music at a time when everyone was running after instant fame.
"Music is a vast subject. There is mathematics and grammar in music. Unless one knows all of it, he cannot become good singer. One should learn music for 15 years before actually trying their hands at singing ghazals," he had said.
Among his most memorable numbers were Tum itna jo muskara rahe ho, Apni Marzi Se Kahan Apne Safar Ke Hum Hain and Pehle Har Cheez Thi Apni Magar Ab Lagta Hai Apne Hi Ghar Mein Kisi Doosre Ghar Ke Hum Hain.
His last concert was planned with Ghulam Ali on September 23 at Shanmukhananda Hall, Matunga, in Mumbai but was cancelled after he was taken ill the same day. The duo had given a stirring performance days ago in Delhi.
Singh began his musical journey singing 'shabads' or devotional songs in gurudwaras. He studied in DAV College, Jalandhar where his fee was waived because of his voice. He got a chance as professional singer in Jalandhar's All India Radio station, which offered him six live music segments a year for small payments.
His last concert was planned with Ghulam Ali on September 23 at Shanmukhananda Hall, Matunga, in Mumbai but was cancelled after he was taken ill the same day. The duo had given a stirring performance days ago in Delhi.
Singh began his musical journey singing 'shabads' or devotional songs in gurudwaras. He studied in DAV College, Jalandhar where his fee was waived because of his voice. He got a chance as professional singer in Jalandhar's All India Radio station, which offered him six live music segments a year for small payments.
देश ने बेश्कीमती आवाज खो दी : जावेद अख्तरमशहूर गजल गायक जगजीत सिंह के निधन पर पूरा कला जगत गमगीन है। उनके करीबी दोस्त और लोकप्रिय गीतकार जावेद अख्तर का कहना है कि आज जगजीत के रूप में हिंदुस्तान ने अपनी एक बेशकमीती आवाज खो दी
बॉलीवुड के महानायक अमिताभ बच्चन ने गजल सम्राट जगजीत सिंह के निधन पर गहरा शोक व्यक्त करते हुए इसे संगीत उद्योग के लिए एक बड़ी क्षति करार दिया।
चर्चित फिल्मकार मधुर भंडारकर ने ट्वीट किया, जगजीत सिंह के निधन की दुखद खबर सुनकर बहुत स्तब्ध हूं। मैंने अपना प्यारा मित्र खो दिया। आपकी आत्मा को छू जाने वाले उनके गाने अनंतकाल तक बने रहेंगे।
मशहूर निर्माता निर्देशक महेश भटट ने जगजीत सिंह के निधन पर दुख जताते हुए लिखा है कि जगजीत सिंह के योगदान के बिना मेरी फिल्म 'अर्थ' करोड़ों लोगों के दिलों को छू नहीं पाती। मेरे मित्र आपको बहुत बहुत धन्यवाद।
बॉलीवुड के सुपर स्टार शाहरूख खान ने लिखा कि जगजीत सिंह के निधन की खबर सुनकर बहुत दुखी हूं। अल्लाह उनकी आत्मा को शांति दें। अभिनेता अक्षय कुमार ने लिखा, गजल सम्राट के निधन की खबर सुनकर बहुत दुखी हूं। उनका गीत 'तुम इतना जो मुस्कुरा रहे हो' मेरी आंखों को नम कर रहा है। ईश्वर आपकी आत्मा को शांति दे।
अभिनेत्री प्रीति जिंटा ने कहा कि भगवान जगजीत सिंह जी की आत्मा को शांति दे। वह कविता और आत्मा को छूने वाले संगीत के बादशाह थे। वह हमारे दिलों में हमेशा जिंदा रहेंगे। पाश्र्व गायिका श्रेया घोषाल ने लिखा कि जगजीत सिंह का निधन। संगीत के चाहने वालों के लिए यह सर्वाधिक दुखद दिनों में से एक है। यह स्वर्णिम आवाज़ अब और नहीं गा सकेगी। भगवान आपकी आत्मा को शांति दे।
अभिनेत्री सेलिना जेटली ने लिखा कि गजल सम्राट जगजीत सिंह के निधन की खबर सुनकर स्तब्ध हूं। हमने अपने महान गजल गायक और शानदार व्यक्तित्व के धनी व्यक्ति को खो दिया। फिल्मकार करण जौहर ने लिखा कि मैं जगजीत सिंह की प्रतिभा को सुनते हुए बड़ा हुआ हूं। मेरी मां उनकी बहुत बड़ी प्रशंसक थी और मुझे भी वैसा बनाया। एक सच्चे दिग्गज का निधन हो गया।
अभिनेता फरहान अख्तर ने लिखा कि एक और दिग्गज जगजीत सिंह का निधन हो गया। ईश्वर उनकी आत्मा को शांति दे। गौरतलब है कि प्रसिद्ध गजल गायक जगजीत सिंह का सोमवार सुबह लीलावती अस्पताल में निधन हो गया। वह ब्रेन हेम्रेज के बाद से अस्पताल में भर्ती थे।
पदम भूषण से सम्मानित 70 वर्षीय जगजीत को 23 सितंबर को अस्पताल में भर्ती कराया गया था और तभी से वह आईसीयू में थे। पिछले कुछ दिन से उनकी हालत ज्यादा बिगड़ गई थी और वह जीवन रक्षक प्रणाली पर थे।
