KHALID  MAHMOOD

CBS-SONY PRESS RELEASE
reproduced below:

KHALID MAHMOOD – MUSICAL TREND SETTER OF HIS GENERATION ! 

Khalid Mahmood - First singer to introduce pop musical instrumentation and sound to ghazals way back in 1989 with his album ‘JUST FOR YOU’. This opened the door for the term POP GHAZAL and soon many were aping his style!

Khalid Mahmood - First singer to record complete pop ghazal album in New York, USA in 1991 with ex Bon Jovi member Dan Stykes, renowned music arranger John McDonough and recording engineer Ron Schrier!

Khalid Mahmood - First singer to use ‘double voice'  recording technique in India, in the ghazal LARZISH SI EK HUI JO FIZAON MEN SHAAM SE….  before him no other Indian singer had ever attempted this very commonly used American recording technique and style!

Khalid Mahmood - First singer for whom BBC London put aside protocol, for the first time ever, on the insistence of nearly 400,000 requests worldwide and played Khalid’s songs in their TALK ONLY show!

Khalid Mahmood - First singer to be signed to a 2 albums-per-year contract by CBS-SONY. All other singers of that time were on a standard one album per year contract!

Khalid Mahmood - First singer to get other Singer-Sons like Nitin Mukesh, Amit Kumar, Shahid Rafi to join him in an album ‘SINGING FATHERS SINGING SONS’, which had an introduction by the great Dilip Kumar. This is the first time anywhere in the world that all the singer sons have come together to work in one album together!

Khalid Mahmood

Yesterday.... Once More !

Khalid Mahmood has performed in many concerts around the world, singing his own hits as well as the hits of his evergreen father Talat Mahmood. Talat fans have enjoyed the all-time big hits of their favorite singer 'King of Ghazals' Talat Mahmood in the dulcet voice of his son Khalid Mahmood, accompanied by a full compliment of live orchestra, playing original melodies and scores. Khalid's shows dedicated to his father titled 'EK SHAAM TALAT MAHMOOD KE NAAM' are being talked about enthusiastically by music lovers, as listening to Talat hits from Talat's own flesh and blood is a completely different experience than listening to it from from some Tom, Dick or Harry trying to pathetically "imitate" or "copy" the great Talat Mahmood! Khalid has performed not just all over India but also in foreign countries like England, America, Middle East, Holland, Sri Lanka and Nigeria, to packed halls and extremely appreciative audiences!

Khalid’s interest in music began at a very young age, listening to his legendary father singing in the house whilst doing his daily ‘riyaaz’ or singing practice. Happy that his son was showing an interest in music, Talat bought him a guitar and this kicked off Khalid’s drive into the world of music. Also, from a young age Khalid enjoyed listening to his father’s huge collection of Western albums of Elvis Presley, Jim Reeves, Tom Jones, Cliff Richard and many others. Learning western chords on the guitar and imbibing Indian raags thru music heard at home, helped Khalid develop music abilities far beyond the comprehension of most of his contemporary collegues/singers. This combination of exposure to listening to the best of Indian music and best of western music instilled a creative drive in Khalid which would, later in his life, culminate in his recording in USA with ex Bon Jovi member Dan Stykes, making Khalid the first ever Indian singer to record in USA with a completely all white-American musicians.

Bestowed with a voice gifted in musical lineage and coupled with striking good looks, this trendy singer began his singing career in 1987 with the release of the chart topping hit 'THIS IS KHALID' and reached the forefront of the ghazal horizon in the 90's. Numerous press write-ups hailed his dynamic style of pop ghazal presentation and a whole new generation of pop ghazal lovers followed his style !

Very selective about choosing only the best ghazals of renowned ghazal stalwarts, Khalid has maintained the high standard of poetry set by his father, the legendary ‘Shahenshah e Ghazal’ Talat Mahmood. However, where composing and orchestration is concerned, Khalid has blazed his own trail. Gifted with a deep, soft and sensuous voice, this talented singer composes with a mix of Indian, American and Latin American sounds and rhythm patterns, in a complete deviation from previous ghazal trends and a creation which is all his own, a creation which has set female hearts a-flutter in countries like USA, England, Nigeria, Muscat, Holland, Canada, Dubai, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, where Khalid’s albums have recorded chart topping sales. He has also appeared on Talk Shows of BBC, Voice Of America, Radio Kuwait, Radio Mauritius etc. 

Khalid Mahmood's hit pop ghazal album 'Heartbeats' was recorded on 32 tracks and digital sound at Skylab Recording Studio, New York. Working with Dan Stykes ( ex-member of the popular pop group Bon Jovi ), renowned music arranger John McDonough and recording engineer Ron Schrier, Khalid has made extensive use of sequencers, sampler sounds, synthesizers and rhythm machines to create a pop ghazal album that made the popular women's magazine FEMINA write, "HEARTBEATS  has foot-tapping music that can set your soul on fire!" Khalid thus has the honor and distinction of being the first ever Indian singer to record a complete pop ghazal album in New York, USA in 1991 with an all-white American crew!

Another first to Khalid's credit is bringing together the sons of his father's other singer colleagues Mohd Rafi, Mukesh, Kishore Kumar and himself together on one album for the first time ever. Khalid Mahmood, Shahid Rafi, Nitin Mukesh and Amit Kumar appeared on "Singing Fathers, Singing Sons" which was presented by none other than the great Dilip Kumar himself. It was for the first time that this mega star had ever spoken for anyone on a music album. The album obviously became the talk of town! The release news of this album made front page headlines in Bombay's top selling paper MID-DAY !

Khalid also ventured onto the horizons of Bengali music by releasing the hit album ‘Bhalobasha Pele Shobi Pawa Jaye’ All the songs on this album were written by the renowned and respected Bengali lyricist Mukul Dutt and composed by Khalid in the same racy pop style. The album became an instant hit and the top selling “Shanonda Magazine” of Bengal wrote about Khalid likening him to an old saying – ‘Race horse ka beta, kuch nahi, to bhi thoda thoda!’ Meaning that Khalid's pedigree being what it is, that is, the son of such a huge singing legend as Talat Mahmood, even if he is has a miniscule talent, he will still soar over the heads of his other contemporary singers! High praise, indeed!!!

Signed up to an exclusive 2 album per year contract by CBS-SONY Music Company, Khalid has released a string of hits like 'Just for You', 'This is is Khalid Mahmood', 'King Of Hearts', 'Bhalobasa Pele Shobi Pava Jae' (Bengali), 'Heartbeats', 'Singing Fathers Singing Sons', 'Hits of Talat Mahmood sung by Khalid’    

Another feather in Khalid’s cap is that he is the first singer son to start a website in honor and memory his legendary father titled www.talatmahmood.net   With over 700 rare photographs, fact file, press clips, complete songs list and tons of nostalgic memorabilia, all from the personal collection of the 'King Of Ghazals' himself, this website is a treasure trove for all Talat Mahmood and Khalid Mahmood fans ! With over 50,000,000 page requests every month from fans all around the world, this is easily one of the most popular websites since 1996 on the internet today. So take a walk down memory lane with the ‘Shahenshah E Ghazal’ Talat Mahmood at www.talatmahmood.net

                   
   PRESS RAVES ABOUT KHALID's ALBUM "Heartbeats"

"Music lovers coveting excitement would find Khalid Mahmood's pop ghazal album 'HEARTBEATS'a whole new experience !"   INDIAN EXPRESS

"Sit back and tap your feet to many a favorite in 'HEARTBEATS' !"   INDIA TODAY

"The heady combination of pop and ghazals in 'HEARTBEATS' is both pleasant and entertaining. Decidedly unique!"   CINE BLITZ

" 'HEARTBEATS' has foot-tapping hummable numbers that can set your soul on fire !"   FEMINA

" 'HEARTBEATS' - old wine in a new glass !"   MID-DAY

" 'HEARTBEATS' is a commendable effort on Khalid's part !"   SCREEN

"The ghazals in 'HEARTBEATS' are fast paced, more rhythm based, with a full compliment of pop orchestra for back-up !"   SUNDAY MAIL

"It is not only the novelty but also the rhythm and melody that has made 'HEARTBEATS' zoom to the top slot !"   FREE PRESS JOURNAL

"Khalid has issued this years most melodic releases in any genre appropriately titled
'HEARTBEATS' !"   THE DAILY

"A 'beat' away from success !"   THE SUNDAY OBSERVER

"The foot-tapping numbers in 'HEARTBEATS' give ghazals a new twist !"   SAVVY

" 'HEARTBEATS' - Among the best !"   SUNDAY CHRONICLE

"The numbers in 'HEARTBEATS' is certain to quicken the heartbeats of music aficionados !" 
THE WEEK

"Pop goes the ghazal !"   SUNDAY

"At a time when ghazal singers are flooding the market, Khalid Mahmood is a ghazal singer with a difference !"   TINSEL TOWN

" 'HEARTBEATS' is better than listening to ghazals with only one tabla backing !"   UPBEAT

"The result is indeed pleasing to the ear. The foot-tapping and lively music invites the listener to participate in the music and brings forth ghazals into a new dimension !"   THE AFTERNOON