Sabri Brothers

The Sabri Brothers (Urdu: صابری برادران) are a Qawwali party from Pakistan.

Original members

The Sabri Brothers originally consisted of Ghulam Farid Sabri (b. 1930 in Kalyana, East Punjab - d. April 5, 1994 in Karachi^[1]; lead vocals, harmonium), Maqbool Ahmed Sabri (b. October 12, 1941 or 1945 in Kalyana; lead vocals, harmonium), Kamal Sabri (d. 2001; vocals, swarmandal), Mehmood Ghaznavi Sabri (b. 1949 in Karachi; vocals, bongo drums, tambourine), Fazal Islam (chorus), Azmat Farid Sabri (chorus), Sarwat Farid Sabri (chorus), Javed Kamal Sabri (chorus), Umer Daraz (chorus), Abdul Aziz (chorus), Masihuddin (chorus, tanpura), Abdul Karim (dholak), and Mohammed Anwar (nal, tabla).

Early life

The Sabri brothers learnt music from their father, Ustad Inayat Sen Sabri. He trained his sons in Qawwali and North Indian classical music. Their first public performance was at the annual Urs festival of Hazrat Peer Mubarak Shah in Kalyana in 1946. The family moved from India to Karachi, Pakistan following the Partition of India in 1947. Maqbool furthered his knowledge of music under Ustad Fatehdin Khan, Ustad Ramzan Khan, and Ustad Latafat Hussein Khan Rampuri. With the help of his father, Maqbool formed a Qawwali group at the age of eleven. Soon afterwards, Ghulam Farid, who was then performing with Ustad Kallan Khan's Qawwali party, joined him and became the leader of the party, which soon came to be known as The Sabri Brothers.

Career

Their first recording, released in 1958 under the EMI Pakistan label, was the Urdu Qawwali, Mera Koi Nahin Hai. They were the first exponents of Qawwali to the West, when they performed at New York's Carnegie Hall in 1975. The group now features Maqbool as the leader, supported by Mehmood Ghaznavi Sabri.

Over the years, several of their qawwalis have featured in films. 'Mera Koi Nahin Hai appeared in the 1965 film Ishq-e-Habib, Mohabbat Karne Walo in the 1970 film Chand Suraj, Aaye Hain Tere Dar Pe in the 1972 film Ilzam, Bhar Do Johli Meri Ya Muhammad in the 1975 film Bin Badal Barsaat, Teri Nazr-e-Karam in the 1976 film Sachaii, and Tajdar-e-Haram in the 1982 film Sahaaray.

Partial Discography

• Ae Mere Hamnasheen (Oriental Star Agencies, 1996)
• Ajmer Ko Jana Hai (Oriental Star Agencies, 2007)
• Balaghul Ula Bekamalehi (Oriental Star Agencies, 1997)
• Bindia Lagaon Kabhi (Oriental Star Agencies, 2003)
• Greatest Hits of Sabri Brothers, Vol.1-3 (Sirocco, 1994-97)
• Hazir Hain (Oriental Star Agencies, 1998)
• Jami (Piranha, 1996)
• Jhoole Jhoole Ji Mohammad (Oriental Star Agencies, 2003)
• Jitna Diya Sarkar Ne Mujhko (Oriental Star Agencies, 2005)
• Kawwali Musicians from Pakistan (Arion, 1978)
• Khawaja Ki Diwani - Live in Europe 1981 (Oriental Star Agencies, 1996)
• La Elah Ki Boli Bol (Oriental Star Agencies, 1994)
• Maikadah - Live in Concert (Oriental Star Agencies, 1997)
• Mangte Hai Karam Unka (Oriental Star Agencies, 2005)
• Milta Hai Kya Namaz Mein - Live in UK (Oriental Star Agencies, 1994)
• Nazan Hai Jis Pai Husn (1997)
• Pyar Ke Mor (Oriental Star Agencies)
• Pyar Ke Morr, Vol. 1(Oriental Star Agencies, 1993)
• Qawwali (Nonesuch, 1998)
• Qawwali Masterworks (Piranha, 1993)
• Savere Savere (Oriental Star Agencies, 1994)
• Tajdare Haram (Oriental Star Agencies, 1996)
• The Music of the Qawwali (Auvidis, UNESCO, 1990)
• Ya Habib (Real World, 1990)
• Ya Mustapha (Xenophile, 1996)
• Ya Raematal Lilalmin (Oriental Star Agencies, 2001)

References