Lal Chand Yamla Jatt (BIOGRAPHY)

Lal Chand Yamla Jatt

Lal Chand Yamla Jatt (Punjabi: ਲਾਲ ਚੰਦ ਯਮਲਾ ਜੱਟ), best known simply as Yamla Jatt, was a noted folk singer from Punjab. His trademark was his soft strumming of the tumbi and his turban tying style known traditionally as "Turla". Many consider him to be the pinnacle of the Punjabi music and an artist who arguably laid the foundation of contemporary music in East Punjab.

Early life

He was born to Khera Ram and Harnam Kaur. His birthplace was Chakk no. 384 in Lyallpur district in Pakistan and after partition of India in 1947 he relocated to the Jawahar Nagar area, Ludhiana in India. He was from chamar community. He was trained in vocal singing by Pandit Dyall and Chaudhry Majid and his writing skills were honed by Sundar Das Aasi. He was married to Ram Rakhi in 1930, with whom he had two daughters and five sons. His eldest son is Kartar Chand and younger one is Jasdev Chand. His relatives all are from vohra's family which are situated now in Amritsar. Out of which Ruchika Vohra recently get love married with Rajat Arora who is basically from Chandigarh and now working in Amritsar in the Hotel Swarn House.

Career

His most famous songs were "Das Main Ki Pyar Wichon Khatya" and "Satgur Nanak Teri Leela Nyaari Ae" and "Whisky Di Botal Wargi". He recorded duet songs with Mohinderjit Kaur Sekhon, who was a recording artist with AIR, Jalandhar. He also popularized singing of Dulla Bhatti, Shahni Kaulan and Puran Bhagat. His first recording was with HMV in 1952 and till last he remained with HMV. He performed all over the world and many times performed with the late great Alam Lohar, they were also good friends. He also popularized the Tumbi, a traditional North Indian instrument. His music has been sampled by Panjabi MC on his best-selling bhangra album Legalised.

Awards

He was awarded the Gold Medal By Indian Prime minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956. He was awarded a lifetime contribution award in 1989 by National Academy of Dance, Drama and Music, Delhi, India.

Death

He slipped on the floor of his home resulting in a hip fracture and which also resulted in gangrene formation in his hurt foot (owing to his diabetec condition)- further deteriorating his health. The day he died, his leg was to be amputated in Mohan Devi Oswal Hospital, Ludhiana.

Discography

• Khedan De Din Chaar
• Jawani Meri Rangli
• Das Main Ki Pyar Wichon Khatya
• Satguru Nanak Teri Leela Neyaari