Quick Facts
Indian Celebrities Born In February
Also Known As: Jagmohan Singh Dhiman
Died At Age: 70
Family:
Spouse/Ex-: Chitra Singh
father: Amar Singh
mother: Bachan Kaur
children: Monica, Vivek Singh
Folk Singers Ghazal Singers
Died on: October 10, 2011
place of death: Mumbai
More Facts
education: Kurukshetra University
awards: 2012 – Rajasthan Ratna
2003 – the Padma Bhushan
1998 – Sahitya Academy Award for popularizing the work of Mirza Ghalib
Sangeet Natak Academy Award
1998 – Sahitya Kala Academy Award by Rajasthan government
1999 – Dayawati Modi Award
1998 – Lata Mangeshkar Samman
2003 – D. Litt. by Kurukshetra University
Haryana
2006 – Teacher’s Lifetime Achievement Awards
Childhood & Early Life
He was born on February 8, 1941 in Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner princely state, India, to Sardar Amar Singh Dhiman, a government official, and his wife, Sardarni Bachchan. He was one of seven children of his parents.
He received his early education from the Khalsa High School and Sri Ganganagar Government College. Later he attended the DAV College at Jalandhar and graduated with arts degree. Then he obtained a post-graduate degree in history from Kurukshetra University in Haryana.
With a natural flair for music which his father spotted in him, he was encouraged to learn music from renowned classical musicians such as ‘Pandit Chaganlal Sharma’ and ‘Ustad Jamaal Khan’ in the early years of his life.
Career
In 1965, he traveled to Mumbai to pursue a career as a musical artist in the entertainment industry. Initially, he worked as a jingle writer for advertisements and performed at wedding functions.
Later, he started his career as a playback singer and persuaded the record company HMV to produce an ‘Extended Play (EP)’. He also acted in his first film in ‘Dharati Na Chhoru’, a Gujarati production by Suresh Amin.
In 1976, he released his first successful LP titled ‘The Unforgettable’, along with his wife, Chitra. The album was an instant hit.
Subsequently, the singing duo recorded albums such as ‘Biraha Da Sultan’ (1978) and ‘Come Alive in a Concert’ (1979). In later years, the couple released many more successful albums including ‘Ecstasies’ (1984), ‘A Sound Affair’ (1985) and ‘Passions’ (1987).
His later solo albums include ‘Hope’ (1991), ‘In Search’ (1992), ‘Visions’ (1992), ‘Mirage’ (1995) and ‘Love Is Blind’ (1998) which received considerable success. Besides ghazals, he also sang devotional songs in albums such as ‘Man Jeetey Jagjit’ (1990), ‘Maa’ (1993), ‘Hare Ram Hare Krishna’ (1999).
He also sang many melodious Bollywood film songs such as ‘Hontho se chhoo lo tum’, ‘Jhuki Jhuki Si Nazar’, ‘Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho’, ‘Tum Ko Dekha To Yeh KhayalAaya’, ‘Din Aa Gaye Shabab Ke’, ‘Hosh Walon Ko’, ‘Kiska Chehra ab mai dekhun’, ‘Badi Nazuk Hai’ and many more.
Some of his more recent albums include ‘Aaeena’ (2000), ‘Soz’ (2001), ‘Forever’ (2002), ‘Chahat’ (2004), ‘Moksha’ (2005), ‘Awaaz’ (2007), ‘Jazbaat’ (2008) and ‘Inteha’ (2009).
Major Works,
One of his most celebrated works is the album ‘The Unforgettable’ (1976) which features compositions such as ‘Baat Niklaygi Toh’ and ‘Sarakti Jaye Hai’. The album was an immediate success and established him and his wife, as remarkable Ghazal singers.
In 1988, he composed all of the songs for ‘Mirza Ghalib’, a TV series based on the life of the eponymous poet, Mirza Ghalib, featuring some of his evergreen tracks such as ‘Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi’ and ‘Dil-e-Nadaan Tujhe’.
Awards & Achievements
In 1998, he was awarded the Sahitya Kala Academy Award by Rajasthan government.
In 1998, he also received the Sahitya Academy Award, a literary honor in India for popularizing the work of Mirza Ghalib.
In 2003, he was conferred the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honor by the government of India.
In 2006, he was awarded the Teacher’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2012, he was posthumously awarded the Rajasthan Ratna, the highest civilian award by the State Government of Rajasthan.
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1967 he met Chitra Dutta, a married Bengali singer. Soon she divorced her first husband and married him in December 1969. They performed together in many critically as well as commercially successful albums.
They were blessed with a son, Vivek, who unfortunately died in an accident in 1990. The couple was shattered by this loss and Chitra quit singing after the incident. Even though he continued singing, he was deeply afflicted by the incident for the rest of his life.
He died on October 10, 2011 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India due to cerebral hemorrhage after being in coma for two weeks. He was cremated at Chandanwadi Crematorium in Mumbai.
Facts About Jagjit Singh
Jagjit Singh was known for his love of painting and was a skilled artist, often finding inspiration in nature and spirituality.
He was a dedicated philanthropist and actively supported various charitable causes, including educational initiatives and healthcare programs.
Jagjit Singh had a great sense of humor and was known to lighten the mood with his witty jokes and playful banter, even during serious performances.
Despite his fame and success, Jagjit Singh remained humble and down-to-earth, always valuing simplicity and authenticity in his interactions with others.
In addition to his mastery of classical Indian music, Jagjit Singh also experimented with fusion genres, blending traditional sounds with modern elements to create unique and innovative compositions.
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