He is a singer, dancer, lyric writer, music composer and overall a very humble human being. He doesn't care what religion a person is because the biggest religion to Gurdas Ji is "Humanity." I personally believe in him and his music.He was born to, S.Gurdev Singh and Tej Kaur, in a village by the name of Giddarbaha, in distt. Faridkot in Punjab. His date of birth is 4th January, 1957, but as he says, "Dil Hona Chahida Jawan, Umaranch Ki Rakhiya....". He went through the normal drill of being educated in Malout. The one thing with him even in those days was his singing! After the basics were over, his parents thought it best to shift him to Patiala city for further studies. The National Sports Institute was there and Gurdas Maan joined up to finish his masters in physical education.

At the point he was all set to be a sports coach!!! He took part in many athletic events and won himself a couple of medals. He also happens to be a black belt holder in Judo. He got to show off his talents in plenty of youth festivals, that were organized by various universities. And talent indeed, because it was here that he started winning awards for his work in singing and acting. On completion of his masters degree, he started looking around for a job. But in the meanwhile, keeping the creativity channel in him open, he continued to write as well as do stage plays. Having arrived on the music scene more than two decades ago and still holding on to his seat, the credit of taking Punjabi music from a regional level to national and then on to the international level absolutely goes to Gurdas Maan!!

A Sufi fakir - daphli, choga, long beard and all - was a figure that changed hans raj hans' life forever, Fascinated by the fakir who used to do rounds in his native village in Punjab, Hans picked up the kalams they used to sing and soon he was the part of the troupe.
       He spent 12-15 years with his ustaad Puran Shah Koti Saheb, he travelled barefoot with him through the villages of Punjab, performing in Sufi darbars.
       His first Album which became popular was "Ashiqan Di Kadi Zindagi" in 1990. Other famous 

albums of him are "Tera Mera Pyar", "Lal Garara" and the recent "Chorni" which is currently on air. The most popular song in the album is "Dil Chori Sada Ho Gaya...."
      His latest venture is movies. Hans has done a number "Dil Tote Tote" with Shweta Shetty in Bobby Deol's "Bichhoo" which has struck the right note with youngsters.

Harbhajan Mann, a Capricorn born on 30th December in a small village in Punjab (India) has already created a niche in the international music market. He was the first contemporary artist to ever move back from abroad to India to compete in an already saturated market on a permanent basis and succeed. Harbhajan is one of India's top five Punjabi artists who has not one or two but six mega hit albums to his credit.  

His first performance was in Punjab in the year 1992 with the release of his debut album Chithiye Ni Chithiyee, which was a rage throughout Punjab. Harbhajan's previous albums are :

He is arguably one of the greatest stars of Bhangra music in the world today, the idol of all generations and holder of the unofficial title as the King of Bhangra. This Punjabi music icon has been catapulted from virtual obscurity in the early eighties to this, his overwhelming status as one of the pioneers of Bhangra music all within a short musical lifetime.Twenty-seven countries have already experienced the live Malkit Singh phenomenon and he has set foot on some of the biggest and most renowned stages world-wide. His songs are the heartbeat of Punjabi’s around the globe with his multitude of reminiscent gems etched in their minds forever. To put the icing on his own celebrated cake, he has most recently been awarded the Best Male Vocalist in the UK for the third year running, and his duet with Apache Indian has just debuted in the mainstream market. As his new album Akh Larr Gayee nestles at the higher regions of music charts everywhere, is Malkit Singh set to emblazon his name to places yet unknown to Bhangra?

-Best Band 1998, Asian Pop & Media Awards, Birmingham, UK

-Best International Singer 1997 and 1998, Movie Awards, London

-Best Punjabi Male Singer presented by former Indian Prime Minister, Mr I K Gujral, on behalf of the World Punjabi Organisation 1998, New Delhi

-Tootak Tootak (Hey Jamalo) awarded The Most Outstanding Track of the Bhangra Era in 1993.

-The Recognition of the City of Los Angeles for Services to the Indian Community, 1997

-Duet with Apache Indian on Independent Girl 'Sohniaye'

-Tootak (Hey Jamalo) shot by director Ken Ghosh (the man behind Alisha's Made In India)

Surjit Bindrakhia has arguably the most powerful voice among Bhangra singers today. Throaty, with a range that never fails to astound, he is possibly the most successful traditional artist doing the rounds of the bhangra scene at this time.
Surjit has been known in Punjab for many years, but his big break in the expatriate market came with Dupatta Tera Sat Rang Da a track that can only be called explosive. Since then there have been remixes of his older songs and a few new releases. Bindrakhia is a traditional bhangra singer, and since most of his work has been produced in India, it may at first appear unpolished. Certainly the music is more "rustic" than that found on many bhangra bands from the UK, but it that does nothing to reduce its impact. There are more sustained dhol beats in Bindrakhia's work than you would find elsewhere (actually Atul 

Sharma does the music on all his albums) and the style is traditional. There is no room for tiny motions when dancing to Bindrakhia, the beats demand large gestures and uninhibited movement. A note must be made of the high tone Bindrakhia sometimes uses, which sounds like a screech. You can find others trying such vocal pryotechnics, but few can pull it off as Bindrakhia does. His singing style works with the beat, so you will find him pausing along with the dhol and raising and shifting into different keys as the dhol does. All of this gives Bindrakhia the air of a child gone a little mad with his voice. Certainly he isn't serious, except in small doses, most of the songs are very light and fit in with his job (as he sees it) to entertain. He's exactly what the singers at the "mela" would be. He's exactly the sort of singer I would expect to entertain at a country fair.

Mukhra Vekh Ke (1999)
Dupatta Tera Sat Rang Da (1994) 
Jadon Yadh Teri Aundi (1994) 
Best of Bindrakhia (1995) 
Hai Darhuka (1995) 
Munde Aakhde Pataka (1995) 
Munda Ki Mangda (1995) 
Dil Watte Dil Mangda (1996) 
Sohni Naar (1996) 
Tauba Tauba Hussan (1996) 
Ghabru Gulab Varga () 
Mosam Mohabatan Da () 
Labh Kitton Bhabiye ()
Addi Utte Ghum ()
Sohni Naar ()
Hass Billo Hass()
Fullan Vangu Hasdiye Kuriye ()

      If there is an Asian band that has blended east with west in an exotic groove and has shown sheer innovation and musical talent in their rapid ascendancy to musical stardom it has to be THE SAHOTAS.
     THE SAHOTAS originally started performing Asian classical music called Ghazals. During their academic years together John Biddulph head of their schools music department soon realised the brothers musical potential. They entered The National Festival of Youth representing their secondary school Valley Park in Wolverhampton. This resulted in them winning the festival and being one of two acts chosen to perform at the school prom's in 1987 held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. 

     At this stage of their musical career their were only three member's, Surjit Sahota on vocals, Mukhtar Sahota on keyboards, Raj Sahota on Tabla. THE SAHOTAS recorded their first album, 'Gidda Pao' (which means Clap your hands) in their school holiday's.By the time three more members had joined the newly formed band, Prakash Sahota on Drums, Vijay Sahota on Keyboards and a friend Riley Daley on Bass Guitar. The band were now regularly performing at Bhangra shows across the country. A year later with the release of their second album, 'Sahota Beat' charted at number one in the Asian charts. They also toured England selling out at every venue. Then a third album called, 'Ajaa' (which means Cum on) was recorded which was the most successful of all the albums. It charted at number one in the Asian charts for five weeks and was awarded platinum and gold discs. The album sent a new groove to Asian dancefloors world wide. They recorded a fourth album called, 'Ishk' (which means Love). It was very successful and charted at number one and stayed in the top ten for five months in the Asian charts. 
     THE SAHOTAS have won awards for Up Coming Band by the Asian Pop Awards in 1991. The most recent award was for Innovation by the Bhangra Accolades in 1993.In 1992 THE SAHOTAS left Multitone Records due to financial problems and signed a recording agreement with I.R.S Records who want Bhangra to crossover into the Western Music Industry. 
     A crossover album "Right Time" followed breaking in to the mainstream top 100.Then followed "Suniye" which spent six weeks at the top of the Asian charts. Now "Decade", released to mark the band's tenth anniversary, is selling well all over the world and has received great critical acclaim. Finally the single "Maa da Pyar" is the sad ballad reflecting on the death of their mother in the summer of 1997. It has been released as a charity fundraiser.

Jazzy B, aka Jasbinder Bains, is one of the most popular Bhangra singers in the world. He has had a meteoric rise to fame following the huge success of his debut folk album Ghugian Da Jorra in 1994. Now five years later he is regularly compared to Malkit Singh and Daler Mehndi as he continues to challenge them for the Bhangra crown. 
Although he was born in India, Jazzy spent most of his life in Canada growing up in the Asian areas of Vancouver. He was heavily influenced by Punjabi folk vocalists from India including Kuldeep Manak, Surinder Shinda and Gurdas Mann. 
With his love for music and his potent voice it was only a matter of time before he started to record his own songs. As a teenager Jazzy B released his first album, which despite doing well in America, was turned down by most of the British Bhangra labels. But a small retailer in Birmingham bought the rights and the release sold out within days!

The retailer became one of the biggest Asian record labels in the UK and Jazzy B became a household name. He followed up with numerous hit albums and songs including Londona Patola and the Jazzy Boliyan. His latest album is All Eyez On Me, accumulating the heavy percussive and traditional sound that Jazzy has made his own.
His latest Album 'Surma' is out now in India. Its a really big hit!! He gets a warm homecoming with an encouraging response to his new album Surma. This is his second album released in India.

There is a place. A mythic place where dreams become reality and stars are born. That place is B21 in Birmingham, England from where a galaxy of top Asian stars have emerged. Apache Indian, Safri Boys and DCS among many. However, the most explosive talent from this place has just emerged - their name? B21.
        B21 comprise of singer Jassi Sidhu 21, and hit making producer brothers Bally Jagpal 25, and Bhota Jagpal 26. Bhota Jagpal is renowned as being the 'man behind Safri' - having produced all his greatest hits such as Legends, Bomb The Tumbi, 

Another Fine Mess and 24/7 as well as producing other albums such as Sardara Gills 'Pure Magic'. B21 shot to fame with their first album, The Sounds Of B21 in 1996 which featured the classic Put Sardara Deh and showcased them as a premier new talent throughout the summer of 96. The Sounds Of B21 remained the number one album for over six weeks and the trio performed together at various melas and gigs during the remainder of the year, amazed by the ecstatic response of the media and the public to their debut album.
         In between the two B21 projects Bally Jagpal produced the best seller of 1997 with his debut solo album Live & Direct. As a product to this day Live & Direct continues to surprise the industry with it's phenomenal success. Overnight Bally Jagpal has become a household name.
         The talented trio are inspired by both East & West music in particular artists such as Busta Rhymes, Horace Brown and the controversial folk singer Amar Singh Chamkila. B21 aim to create music which is lyrically strong and musically youthful.

       As well as being an excellent vocalist Jassi has also written a number of B21 tracks and this is an area he intends to develop further in the future. Their latest second album By Public Demand is a tribute to their fans which stayed in the charts at number one for over 22 weeks and received numerous awards for their efforts at the Asian Pop and Media Awards 1998 held at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham which included the categories of Best Newcomers, Best Upcoming and Best Song (Bally Jagpal's :- Nakhre Bin Soni Temi) and recently won the Best Album (By Public Demand) and again Best Newcomers at the Student Poll Awards held in Leicester 1998.
        B21 say that their fans have put us where we are today and all the songs we have chosen and style of the music is what is current on the street.

Bally Jagpal, the man who rose to overnight stardom in 1997 and created mass hysteria on the desi streets and dancefloors across the globe with his debut album "Live & Direct" is back with "Dark & Dangerous". In between working on these albums, he has been busy helping produce B21’s second hit album (By Public Demand) and touring up down the country with Jassi Singh and Bhota Jagpal, the other two members of B21. "Dark & Dangerous" is the next big chapter in Bally’s career; he has achieved much as we all know in short span of time. This album has a totally different sound from "Live & Direct" or any other current release, it is more mature and it develves into musical territory which is rarely trodden on by any Asian producer. It is full of hard core thumping beats, mad sound effects and groove cuts derived from both Eastern and Western musical cultures. The vocals on this 

album are by two virtual unknown stars: Amar Arshi from India and Shazia Manzoor from Pakistan. The recording was carried out in England as well as in Pakistan and India, making this album another cross border success. The album begins with "Aaja Sohneya" probably the best track recorded ever, this is an opinion shared by many people I have come across who have experienced the magical effect of this track. It has beautiful lyrics, a brilliant blend of beats, vocals by Shazia Manzoor which are just mind blowing. "Kuri Kede Pind De" features Amar Arshi singing along to a sound which can only be described as being manic, it has funky fast and furious beats, which are reminiscent of the Prodigy’s "Firestarter". This track takes a bit of getting used to, you need to give it a few spins to really appreciate it and enjoy it. "Viah Karvake Ve" a classic Punjabi track by the late controversial Amar Singh Chamkila and Amarjyot has been brilliantly rendered by Amar and Shazia. Bally’s older brother Bhota provides some wicked dhol beats for this track and the production is first class. "Gunman" by Amar is on a more of a folkier up tempo vibe compared to the other tracks, the guns shot sound effects are tops as well Bally’s use of the flute, tumbi and all the other ingredients he’s used to produce this track. Amar appropriately sounds all moody and serious whilst singing "Dil-De-Jani", samples of the intro of Virasat’s "Tare Hain Baraati Hain" and "Boom Boom" from the film Diljale are used nicely. "Baas Ve" starts off with a voicemail message, in which a girl drops her man, the whole track has Amar singing from the girl’s point of view, Amar also sings a snippet of Chamkila's "Akhiyan Dee Marr Borei". Loads of phat dhol beats and slamming tumbi vibes are used throughout the track. There is something for every lover of Punjabi music on this album, you got some hardcore beats for the remix fans, loads of dhol for the all out bhangra lovers, brilliant Punjabi lyrics, top vocals from Shazia Manzoor and Amar Arshi. Nevertheless this album is nothing short of a masterpiece; we have a pure genius in the Asian music industry. One can only wait and see what this wonder has in store for us in the future. It took him over two years to come out with this release; we may have to wait even longer to get an album, which suppresses this release in quality. He is currently working with his band on their third album, so you can expect an album from Jassi, Bally and Bhota before the end of 1999.  5/5 - 101% Dark & Dangerous.

       He belongs to Punjab (Khant) and have done his M.A. in Urdu and History. He is quite a simple and God-fearing person, though a little ambitious too. But what he has always cherished the most is the constant support of his family and friends in whatever he has done. He has learnt music from books and not from any Pandit or Guru. He can play the Guitar and Harmonium.
       He making his debut with the album "Tu Meri Miss India". He is not new to singing. He has done a lot of stage shows all over Northern India which have been extremely popular. Normally, singers release an album first and then do shows. But in his case he has got all the practical experience first, been appreciated, and then gone for recording an album. He think, this is the reason the final product has turned out to be a very polished one.
       He admires Gurdas Maanji for that matter because he has been able to maintain his position at the top right from when he started. As for him, he has just made a beginning and have a long way to go before he rests. 

About his Album
       The album starts with a sentimental and touching song "Neendran" which is about the pangs of love and separation. This one is an out-and-out winner and sets the listener's mood for the other songs. 
       Next in the line is the peppy title track. A contrast from the first number, "Tu Meri Miss India" has the singer wooing his girl by flattering her with praises galore. This is a fast-paced number, apt for the dance floors. 
       The third track "Sun Jaaniya" is one of the most melodious numbers in the album. Sung in a high-pitched voice, it has some hard-hitting drum beats. 
       The next song "Tupka-Tupka" is about getting tipsy at a party. Sung with a lot of gusto, it also has impressive interludes of rap. 
       The flip side begins with the soothing "Pind Pehra Lagda". This song is about a  

village girl stopping her lover from coming to meet her at night as she's scared they'll get caught. 
       Then, "Sahmne Chubare Wali" is all about the boy flirting with the girl next door. Its a racy track which will appeal to the youth a lot. 
       "Kudian-Kudian" is a melodious number about girls seeking the attention of guys all the time.  The album ends with the foot-tapping "Rumaal De Gaya" which deals with the fond memories of the beloved. 
       Apart from doing a fantastic job with the vocals, Babbu Maan has also written thought-provoking lyrics for the album. All in all, with the kind of variety this album provides, 'Tu Meri Miss India' is a must-buy for all lovers music of good Punjabi songs.

       Chamkila was born "Dunni Ram" on July 21st 1961 in Dugri, Ludhiana. Chamkila was from a poor family and lived in great poverty. He had one brother and two sisters whom were older than him. His mother, Kartar Kaur, passed away when Chamkila was a young child, and his older sisters and father used to take care of him. 
       Chamkila had always wanted to become an electrician but due to family difficulties he had to leave his education and work in Ludhiana in a cloth mill. Chamkila had one of his first songs sang by "Narinder Biba and Surinder Sharma" by the age of 10. The majority of Chamkila's earlier songs had lyrics to do with electricity such as shock and connection etc, due to the fact he wanted to become an electrician.
       The name Chamkila comes from the name Rangila, who used to be a folk singer that Chamkila admired greatly. Chamkila comes from the word "Chamak" (shine) as he wanted to shine forever in the world of music. Chamkila began to play the dholki and vaja for Surinder Shinda regularly. It was here that Chamkila began to make his stage career as he would perform on Shinda's stage during intervals.

       Chamkila soon went solo leaving Shinda. When Chamkila left, he took Surinder Sonia, and much of Shinda's band and stage comedian. Chamkila and Surinder Sonia released their first record in 1979. Punjabi Folk fans grew fond of Chamkila's style quickly as he had a very charismatic personality. In addition to singing his own songs he continued to write and sell his songs to other artists. 
       Chamkila left Sonia in 1980 and began singing with Miss Usha, which was only a stage arrangement. By late 1980 he heard of a famous female singer called Amarjyot who sang with Kuldip Manak.. She soon became his permanent singing partner.
       At the time of joining with Amarjyot, Chamkila was married. This partnership with Amarjyot lead to a break up of his marriage in December of 1982. Their first LP record together was "Lack Mera Kach Varga" which included a song written by Pali Dethawalia entitled "Chack Lo Drivero". 
       Chamkila continued to get more and more hate mail but Chamkila always said "this is my music this is what I sing if you don't like it, then don't buy my records and don't call me to your functions". In HMV's recording history, 3 of Chamkila's LP records are still the highest selling records that were ever produced by a Punjabi singer. 
       By late 1985 Chamkila stopped singing his more offensive songs. The public was still unhappy and wanted Chamkila to stop singing altogether. Chamkila started to write and sing songs which were of a very serious nature. 
       Chamkila was killed in a show in "Mesumpur" as he stepped out of his car. Amarjyot was pregnant at the time and was shot in the Tu chest and Chamkila was killed with 4 bullets in the chest alongside Gill 

Surjit and the dholki player Raja. The other members such as kham escaped. The blame was put on terrorists. A Curfew order took place when Chamkila was killed and riots between gangs broke out. 
       Chamkila died on the 8th March 1988. The reasoning behind his death is not fully known. Many people have speculated that Chamkila was killed because of jealousy of other singers. It is said that the others singers grouped together and got him killed. But then again their were many other popular singers, Why Chamkila?