First and foremost, I must begin by expressing my gratitude to God for the gifts in music, in art, and in life, for they have made my life so much richer and more rewarding.  

 

Second, whatever I have accomplished in the world of music is because of my daughter, Aisha.  My very first CD was at her request and she persisted until it got done.  She has since inspired and encouraged me to keep singing and keep recording. She has been my rock and my champion. 

 

My talent and love for music, however, is from my parents.  In Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, where we lived, there was a popular Indian music store where the owner received the latest 78-speed new records from India every Friday, and he knew exactly the selection of semi-classical and classical vocal music my Papa liked.  Every Friday, Papa, (Gulamhusein Nurmohamed Bhaloo) most famously known by his nickname “Red”, would come home with new records.  He played them over and over and my sisters and I learned to love the music.  

 

My mother, Shirin, used to sing and play the harmonium, and Papa was a great violinist.  People used to come to their restaurant, Cosy Café, almost every night to hear him play.

 

At a very young age, my sister, Anaar (Kanji), began her vocal training in classical music.  She had an amazing voice.  I recall so vividly how the entire family would attend music parties when she was singing.  We would sit in the front row, simply in awe of her beautiful voice.  She was our role model.

 

About 14 years ago, my daughter asked me to record a Ginan CD for her.  I immediately reminded her that I had no training in singing and told her to ask Aunty Anaar to record whatever Ginans she wanted.  She said she wanted mine for her yaadgiri (memory).  I didn’t take her seriously and in fact refused, so she found me a classical Indian vocal music teacher!  I did want to make her wish come true and I went for voice lessons until I had the confidence to record.  I got in touch with an old family friend, Mohamed Kassam, himself an amazing violinist in London and when he heard a clip of my singing, he asked me to come to London to record the Ginans with music.  My husband Sadru, Aisha, myself and my nephew, Rahim Kassamali, (who had experience recording music and was an invaluable confidant during the process), flew to London.  There, we were introduced to Deepak Khazanchi, a well-known music director who has played with Mehdi Hassan, Jagjit & Chitra Singh, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, and other high-profile professional artists.  I was terrified.  The CD was recorded with Mohamed playing the violin at Deepak’s studio.  Deepak managed all the music production and in 2012 the first CD was born.   Over the next eight years, Deepak has given more than his all to my recordings and has directed all the music.  He has also become a dear friend.

 

When the first CD was ready, Sadru loved the recording and decided that we should do something worthy with it.  We decided to use the CDs to collect enough to provide a scholarship at the Aga Khan Academies (www.agakhanacademies.org) for one student for one year.  Lots of friends, and even total strangers came out of the woodwork and offered to distribute the CDs and raise funds for the Academies.  It was just magical.

 

I want to thank my husband, Sadru, who has always supported every process in the production and distribution of each CD.  He has been steadfast in his commitment to making sure these CDs reach the farthermost corners of the globe.

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The proceeds of sales from all of my music and art will go towards the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org).

 

I would like to acknowledge the dedication of my nephew, Zahid Dewji, for his contribution to the design of my music website and YouTube channel.  Thank you, Zahid, for helping me share my gift around the world!

 

There are other family members who have supported me tirelessly with their skills in design, in review of the recording and the content.  Although they wish to remain anonymous, my prayer is they know how much their support has meant to me.  

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Finally, thank you to all those who have sent messages and emails of encouragement.  You’ve kept me singing!  It has been a blessing to continue the music tradition in my family and I pray that my parents are smiling upon me! 

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- Almas -