HYDERABAD, March 17: The man who composed several songs for Abida Parveen and adorned her soulful singing with fascinating pieces of harmonium, is no more. Rajab Ali Raza died in the Civil Hospital here on Friday after protracted illness. He was 55.

He leaves behind wife, five sons and five daughters and thousands of fans.

His mortal remains were laid to rest in Tando Yousuf graveyard on Saturday. Hundreds of people attended his funeral and burial.

A cancer patient, Rajab Ali Raza was admitted to the Police Hospital, Hyderabad, one and a half month ago from where he was shifted to the Civil Hospital due to his serious condition.

The son of noted singer Ustad Khair Mohammad Khan, Rajab Ali Raza was born in Hyderabad and received training in music from Ustad Ghulam Ali Khan, Ramzan Ali and Lal Bux.

Rajab Ali had performed in eight foreign countries, besides different parts of Pakistan, and received several awards.

He had been associated with the Radio Pakistan for almost all his professional life. He had also served as a music teacher in the Sindh University Model School and as director of the music academy established by the Sindh culture department.

He remained associated with internationally-acclaimed Sufi singer Abida Parveen for over 24 years as harmonium player. Rajab Ali Raza was considered a maestro of harmonium playing.

He had composed more than 1,000 songs for renowned singers like Abida Parveen, Humaira Channa, Fouzia Soomro and others.