Ustad Faiyaz Khan (1886-1950)

Ustad Faiyaz Khan was one of the foremost and best known exponent of Agra Gharana in Hindustani Classical Vocalist. He was born on 8th February  1886 in Sikandra of North- Western provinces . He was the son of Safdar Hussain. His singing taalim was started by his maternal grandfather. He began his taalim by his grandfather upto 25 years. After that he recieved taalim from Ustad Meheboob Khan whose pen- name was "Daraspriya" .  Later on he also received his training from his father in-law Natthan Khan and also from his uncle  Fida Hussain Khan. Apart from Dhrupad taalim which he recieved by Ghulam Abbas Khan , he also enriched in Dhamar taalim by his grand uncle Ustad Kallan khan.

He was remembered as Mehfil Ka Badshah by those who lived during his time and went to his live concerts. He served for a long time as the court musician of Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the Maharaja of Baroda, where he was awarded the "Gyan Ratna"  The Maharaja of Mysore awarded him the title "Aftab-e-Mausiqi" (the Sun of Music) in 1908.

Ustad ji was famous for his kheyal gayiki and as well as in Dhrupad gayiki . Later he also gained his popularity in Thumri gayaki and Gazal.  Ustad Faiyaz Khan was blessed with a sonorous voice which was very expressive. He performed in various parts of India - Calcutta , Lucknow, Mysore , Gwalior , which was organized by the Prince of various states. He also performed in Jorasanko in Calcutta in front of Kabiguru Rabindra Nath Tagore who was a great admirer of Ustad ji. 

Later on he was affected by a bout of typhoid in 1945 followed by tuberculosis restricted Faiyaz Khan to lower his pitch to B and B Flat, though in his prime, he always sang in C Sharp and C. Faiyaz Khan died of tuberculosis on 5 November 1950 at Baroda, Gujarat in India.

Ustad ji was not only a great artist , he also gained popularity as great Ustad also. Some of Faiyaz Khan's best-known disciples  were Dipali Nag, K. L. Saigal , Dilip Chand Bedi, Sohan Singh, Asad Ali Khan Dhruvatara Joshi, Shrikrishna Ratanjankar and Jnanendra Prasad Goswamy.