Channi Singh

Channi Singh is a British-Indian bhangra musician who is the co-founder, lead singer, producer, and director of Alaap. He gradually started the popularity of Punjabi music among the Punjabi youth in the UK, forming the Alaap group in 1977 with Harjeet Gandhi, Randhir Sahota and Inder Kalsi. By using both Western and Punjabi folk instruments, the group produced a new and more modern style in Punjabi music, later known as UK Bhangra. Amongst the many awards Channi Singh has received is the Lifetime Achievement for Punjabi music from the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Mary Draycott, at the 13th anniversary celebrations of BBC Radio's Punjabi Programme. He was the first singer ever to be given the lifetime achievement award by BBC. Channi Singh was the first British Asian to be appointed as an honorary Senior Lecturer of Music at Liverpool University. He has composed music for Feroz Khan's films and Bollywood films such as Yalgaar, Shaktimaan, Janasheen and Top less.

Born in: Malerkotla, Punjab, India