The living legend, Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan who is known for his enchanting and soothing voice, was honored with the degree of Doctor of Music. The Pak singer was honored in the ceremony held by one of the world most prestigious, Oxford University.
On receiving his degree he said: “I am honored to be accepting this degree from Oxford University, a world-famous educational institution. This is a very special day for my family and me, but also for my fans, who have shared this journey with me. To be presented with this honor is a massive achievement and I am happy that my music has allowed me to reach such incredible heights.”
Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has won numerous globally recognized awards. He had performed for the British royal family at Buckingham Palace and performed at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony recently.
He has amassed over 1 billion views on his music videos. He has sung more than 50 title tracks of television serials and over 100 film songs in both Hollywood and Bollywood.
In honor of the work of Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Oxford University has named one of their prestigious music halls after the maestro.
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He carries the torch for a family that has a rich cultural history in music, a heritage which includes over 600 years in Sufi and Qawwali music folklore. He has carried forward the name of his uncle the legendary Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Oxford University described him as a “Pakistani singer, primarily of Qawwali, a devotional music of the Muslim Sufis”.
“Born into a family whose name has become synonymous with South Asian musical tradition, he began formal training at the age of seven and has since released more than 50 albums, performed in numerous high-profile concerts across the world and amassed a global following, achieving over one billion views online,” the university in an interview.