Daler Mehndi

Daler Singh, known by his stage name, "Daler Mehndi", born 18 August 1967, is an Indian recording artist, musician, song writer, author, record producer, performer and environmentalist. He is credited with making Bhangra popular worldwide, and setting up a parallel non-film music industry to the pre-Daler era’s then existent Bollywood music. An Indian pop icon known for his energetic dance songs, his distinctive power pitched voice, turban and long flowing robes has been cited as an influence by many musicians and the father of the Indian pop industry.

Early life

Daler Singh was born in Patna, Bihar on 18 August 1967. He was born into a majhabi sikh family of musicians who had been singing for seven generations. His early influences on music are his parents, who taught him the ragas and Shabad's from the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. At age 11 inspired by the Patiala Gharana style of Indian classical music, he ran away from home in search of the Late Ustad Raahat Ali Khan Sahib of Gorakhpur for lessons. Gave his first stage performance in front of an audience of 20,000 at the age of 13 in Jaunpur where his parents found him standing centre-stage, his shoulders overflowing with garlands of flowers, sandalwood and money. Classical music of the great Indian maestros heard on radio, concerts and cassettes of the legendary Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Nazakat Ali- Salamat Ali, Mehdi Hasan, Parvaiz Mehdi, Chote Ghulam Ali Khan and the Illahi Kirtan Durbars attended all over India provided him with an introduction into the world of gurmat sangeet, thumri, khayal, ghazal. In 1991, he formed his own group composed of his brothers, cousins and musician friends. A.J Jaspal of IPCA gave Daler a professional set up and promoted him. In 1994, A J Jaspal sent Daler to compete at the annual Voice of Asia International Ethnic and Pop Music Contest at Azia Dynasys in Almaty, Kazakhstan. He represented India and was judged second amongst other two hundred contestants.

Music career

Magnasound signed Daler Mehndi for a three album contract for three years. Bolo Ta Ra Ra, Mehndi's debut album, sold over 20 million copies. The album established Daler as a pop star, which also won him the Channel V's Best Indian Male Pop Artist Award. A year later, his second album under Magnasound, Dardi Rab Rab, was launched. This album surpassed the sales of Bolo Ta Ra Ra. He was nominated in three categories at Channel V Music awards and won the Channel V Best Indian Male Artist Award. In 1997 he released his third album Balle Balle. This album got him Channel V Awards in six categories. Mehndi composed the popular track "Na Na Na Re" for the Bollywood film Mrityudata where he featured on the big screen with Amitabh Bachchan.

In 2001, Daler signed up with Universal Music and released a new track "Kala Kauwa Kaat Khayega". In 2003 Daler forayed into playback singing for films. He started with the song "Ru- Ba-Ru" for the film Maqbool. The same year Daler and A.R Rahman came together to give another track "Nach Le" for Lakeer – Forbidden Lines. He fused Rock with Bhangra with his next album titled Mojaan Laen Do and in 2004 he self produced Shaa Ra Ra.

In March 2014 International EDM sensation Deadmau5 created a frenzy on Twitter expressing his eagerness to have Daler Mehndi perform on his forthcoming show in India at the Sunburn Festival. And the outcome of bonding over social media and on the Coffee Run was an electrifying remix of Mehndi's '98 hit Tunak Tunak Tun performed by the duo.

On Navratri 2014, Daler Mehndi composed and recorded his rendition of the 'Hanuman Chalisa' overnight while working at his studio in Delhi. Daler Mehndi, feeling inspired during the festival of Navratri, composed and record his rendition of the 'Hanuman Chalisa' in the DM Folk Studio.

In September,2014 Daler Mehndi released his new song Aaja Mere Twitter Te to encourage users to visit his Twitter account and Facebook page.

On 6 November 2014 Daler Mehndi released his album Best of Gurbani on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti.