Tribute to Late Ustad Rais Khan (Sitar pieces in Madan Mohan Songs)

India-born legendary sitar player Ustad Rais Khan passed away in Pakistan on Saturday . He was 77. Ustad Rais was born in 1939 in Indore, India in a family of musicians. He belonged to the Mewati Gharana of Indian classical music. His maternal grandfather Inayat Ali Khan was also considered one of the finest sitar players in the subcontinent. He learned music from his uncle, Valayat Ali Khan and father Muhammad Khan. Rais Khan gave his first performance at the age of 5 in Bombay's Sunder Bi Hall.The performance was attended by the governor and `maharaja of India, who appreciated the his talent. Subsequently, he per formed on important occasions and had his first foreign tour to Poland.He traveled around the world and in 1963 he visited Pakistan for his maiden performance in Karachi. He met Balqees Begum in 1979 and the following year they tied the knot. (He played the sitar in almost every song for Madan Mohanji between 1964 and 1973) .