Shiromani Ragi Bhai Balbir Singh Ji (23rd March 1933 23rd February 2020) was born in his maternal village Mrigindpura near Bhikhiwind (Amritsar), Punjab to Mata Prasan Kaur Ji and Bhai Santa Singh Ji. Bhai Sahib Ji was the eldest of the four brothers. His father Bhai Santa Singh Ji was a famous tabla/pakhawaj exponent who taught at the Gurmat Vidyalaya in Taran Tarn (Amritsar). Bhai Balbir Singh Ji received his initial training in Gurbani Kirtan from his father, his grandfather Bhai Kundan Singh Ji, and greatgrandfather Bhai Hira Singh Ji. Bhai Balbir Singh Ji began learning singing at the tender age of 4 year. Bhai Sahib Ji made his debut at the Darbar Sahib, Taran Taran at the tender age of 7 years where he sang two compositions. Bhai Balbir Singh Ji accompanied his father who travelled extensively to Benaras, Lucknow, Gwalior, Pune, Calcutta and Delhi for music conferences. Bhai Sahib Ji was able to listen to and seek blessings from some of the finest names in Indian classical music. Bhai Balbir Singh Ragi was one of the last remaining links to the original Gurbāni Kīrtan Paramparā of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, where he sang for 36 years between 1955 and 1991.He was fortunate to learn Dhrupad from the legendary Pandit Nathu Ram, a student of Ustad Bhai Boota Singh and Ustad Baba Shardha Singh. Bhai Balbir Singh learnt Gurbāni Kīrtan from his elder uncle, Bhai Sohan Singh Ragi of Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple), Amritsar.He was also fortunate to study under the legendary Ustad Bhai Arjan Singh Tarangar, Pandit Krishnarao Pandit (Khayāl), Ustad Habibuddin Khan (Tabla) and Gyani Gyan Singh Almast (JalTarang). Bhai Sahib is additionally a talented Dilruba player, having studied from his father. He also considers Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustad Salamat Ali Khan and Pandit Dilip Chandra Vedi as his mentors. Bhai Balbir Singh remembers nearly three thousand Shabads and can sing in over two hundred ragas. In 2012, he received the Sangeet Natak Akademi award for his contributions in the field of Gurbāni Kīrtan.
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