KHAIRPUR, Oct 23 Ghund Khol Deedar Karao, Main Aya Mukh Waikhan. The voice behind this ecstatic song is no more.

Suhrab Faqir, a renowned Sufi singer of Sindh, died in Talpur Wada village near Thari Mirwah on Friday after protracted illness.

He leaves behind two wives, five sons, six daughters and a large of numbers of fans to mourn his death.

Born in 1936 in a family of musicians whose forefather had migrated from Indian state of Jaisalmeer, Suhrab Faqir learnt music from his father Hammal Faqir, an expert of Tabla and Sarangi.

Suhrab Faqir launched his career in early 1970s by playing Tabla with Ustad Khursheed Ali Khan, and later with Ustad Manzoor Ali Khan.

In 1974 at the Urs celebrations of Sakhi Allahyar in the Tando Mohamad Khan area, Ustad Manzoor Ali Khan asked him to sing a song. He did amid the applause of the audience. Thus began his singing career.

Known writer Tanveer Abbasi introduced him to Radio Pakistan Khairpur where he recorded two songs, of which Ghamdal Faqir's Galyan Prem Nagar Diyan made him a household name across Sindh.

In early 1980s he became a disciple of Faqir Dur Mohammad Heesbani and formed a group, called Sung in Sufi jargon.

Soon he become the most popular Sufi vocalist of post-Allan Faqir Sindh and earned Sachal award, Bhitai award and Pride of Performance award among others. He also performed in Sufi concerts in Europe, particularly Germany and France.