Vilayat Hussain Khan was one of the greatest figures of Agra Gharana, who excelled both as singer and teacher. His father, Natthan Khan, was himself a legendary singer, and a noted guru. Vilayat Hussain Khan's elder brothers were also noted singers and taught him after their father's early death. Abdullah Khan was Natthan Khan's son who was several years senior to his brother Vilayat.

Vilayat Hussain Khan, the singer, is not to be confused with the famous and controversial sitar player Vilayat Khan

Vilayat Khan

Ustad Vilayat Khan was one of India's well known sitar maestros, born in Gauripur in Mymensingh, Bengal...

. Vilayat Khan the singer had several disciples in Maharashtra, and the region owes its eminence in Hindustani music to the work of generous teachers like him, Balakrishnabuwa Ichalkaranjikar

Balakrishnabuwa Ichalkaranjikar

Balakrishnabuwa Ichalkaranjikar was an Indian vocalist of khayal singing.-Early life and background:Balakrishnabuwa Ichalkaranjikar was born in Maharashtra....

, Alladiya Khan, and Abdul Karim Khan

Abdul Karim Khan

Ustad Abdul Karim Khan , was an Indian classical singer of the Kairana gharana .-Early life and background:...

. His most famous guru-shishya relationship was with Jagannathbuwa Purohit

Jagannathbuwa Purohit

Jagannath buwa Purohit was a singer and teacher of Hindustani classical music. He learnt under various gurus, the chief being Vilayat Hussein Khan of Agra Gharana...

 and each of them composed several bandishes dedicated to the other. Vilayat Khan's singing from his later years is available through commercial releases and private collectors.

Vilayat Hussain Khan composed bandishes in many ragas including some very rare ones under the nome de plume "Pran Piya".

Gurus

Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan received his early training in hindustani classical music from his father Natthan Khan who was one of the pioneers of the Agra Gharana. After his father's death, he was trained by his uncles Kallan Khan and Mohammad Baksh. The total number of gurus of Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan sahib are estimated at around 42 which include aftab-e-mousiqi Ustad Faiyaz Khan

Faiyaz Khan

Ustad Faiyaz Khan is so far the best known exponent of Agra Gharana in Hindustani classical music. He was the master khayal vocalist of his time. Born at Sikandara near Agra in 1886 , he was the son of Shabr Hussain, who died three months before his birth...

. His most famous guru-shishya relationship was with Jagannathbuwa Purohit

Jagannathbuwa Purohit

Jagannath buwa Purohit was a singer and teacher of Hindustani classical music. He learnt under various gurus, the chief being Vilayat Hussein Khan of Agra Gharana...

 and each of them composed several bandishes dedicated to each other.

Students

Some of his well known students include Mogubai Kurdikar

Mogubai Kurdikar

Mogubai Kurdikar was a renowned Hindustani classical music vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana.-Early years and background:...

, Pandit Yashpaul

Pandit Yashpaul

Pandit Yashpaul is a performing artiste of the Agra gharana of Hindustani Classical Music. He has made significant contributions towards the preservation of the heritage of the classical vocal music of India’s north western region. He received his music training under the gurus Pt...

 (Sagun Piya), Jagannathbuwa Purohit

Jagannathbuwa Purohit

Jagannath buwa Purohit was a singer and teacher of Hindustani classical music. He learnt under various gurus, the chief being Vilayat Hussein Khan of Agra Gharana...

, Menaka Shirodkar (mother of Shobha Gurtu), Ratnakant Ramnathkar, Ram Marathe, Gajananrao Joshi

Gajananrao Joshi

Gajanan Anant Joshi was a vocalist and violinist in Hindustani music.-Early life and background:Joshi came from a family of musicians...

 and Girija Kelekar. His son Yunus Hussain Khan is a prominent name in Agra Gharana

Agra gharana

Agra Gharana is a tradition of Hindustani Classical Vocal Music descended from the Nauhar Bani. So far, Nauhar Bani has been traced back to around 1300 AD, during the reign of Emperor Allauddin Khilji of Delhi....

as well.

External references