http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.61302&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rssBy some estimates, Mohammed Rafi has sung upwards of 26,000 songs, surpassed only by the great Lata Mangeshkar, with whom he shared the world record for many years. Born on December 24, 1924, in what is now Pakistani Punjab, legend has it that the young Rafi was entranced by a local fakir, or holy man, and learned to sing at his knee against his father's wishes. It is known that by the age of seven, Rafi was learning Hindustani classical music with Ustad Bade Gulam Ali Khan and Vahida Khan. When he was 17, he sang his first playback song in the Punjabi film <i>Gul Baloch</i> and moved to Bombay not long after to try his hand in Hindi films. Rafi was illiterate and had to memorize the lyrics to a song before he could record it. It is said, however, that he remembered a melody after hearing it only once and could immediately suggest improvements. While Rafi's early years were scrappy as he vied for attention with singers and actors like Hemant Kumar, Mukesh, Talat Mahmoud, and Manna Dey, he quickly rose to the top of the heap, rivaled only by Kishore Kumar. Movies such as <i>Baiju Bawra</i> and <i>Dulari</i> were watershed events for Rafi, and they initiated the long and fruitful partnerships he enjoyed with composers like Naushad. Unlike Kishore Kumar, Rafi rarely appeared in films himself. He was the voice for all of the cinema greats, including Shammi Kapoor and Sunil Dutt, and he is revered to this day as a singer of uncommon depth and ability. Rafi died in 1980 of a heart attack. - Sarah BardeenBollywooden720Thu, 7 Jan 2010 11:49:19 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.61302&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rss By some estimates, Mohammed Rafi has sung upwards of 26,000 songs, surpassed only by the great Lata Mangeshkar, with whom he shared the world record for many years. Born on December 24, 1924, in what is now Pakistani Punjab, legend has it that the young Rafi was entranced by a local fakir, or holy man, and learned to sing at his knee against his father's wishes. It is known that by the age of seven, Rafi was learning Hindustani classical music with Ustad Bade Gulam Ali Khan and Vahida Khan. When he was 17, he sang his first playback song in the Punjabi film <i>Gul Baloch</i> and moved to Bombay not long after to try his hand in Hindi films. Rafi was illiterate and had to memorize the lyrics to a song before he could record it. It is said, however, that he remembered a melody after hearing it only once and could immediately suggest improvements. While Rafi's early years were scrappy as he vied for attention with singers and actors like Hemant Kumar, Mukesh, Talat Mahmoud, and Manna Dey, he quickly rose to the top of the heap, rivaled only by Kishore Kumar. Movies such as <i>Baiju Bawra</i> and <i>Dulari</i> were watershed events for Rafi, and they initiated the long and fruitful partnerships he enjoyed with composers like Naushad. Unlike Kishore Kumar, Rafi rarely appeared in films himself. He was the voice for all of the cinema greats, including Shammi Kapoor and Sunil Dutt, and he is revered to this day as a singer of uncommon depth and ability. Rafi died in 1980 of a heart attack. - Sarah Bardeen http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.18933041&variant=play&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rss Bollywood Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Mohammed Rafi Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.18933041 alb.18933041 Mohammed Rafi art.61302 8.99 Instrumental Hits Of Mohammed Rafi alb.18933041 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/6/7/6/1196761_170x170.jpg 2008-02-26 00:00:00.0 2007-06-01 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.18933041&variant=play&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.18933041&variant=data&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.11852803&variant=play&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rss Bollywood Tue, 19 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Mohammed Rafi Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.11852803 alb.11852803 Mohammed Rafi art.61302 0.0 Aajo Madhuro Banshori Baaje A Compilation Of Kazi Nazrul Islam's Songs alb.11852803 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/6/2/1/911260_170x170.jpg 2006-09-19 00:00:00.0 null true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.11852803&variant=play&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.11852803&variant=data&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.11571501&variant=play&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rss Bollywood Tue, 19 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Mohammed Rafi Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.11571501 alb.11571501 Mohammed Rafi art.61302 7.99 Hari Ka Dhyan Laga Man Mere alb.11571501 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/0/0/1/1671005_170x170.jpg 2006-09-19 00:00:00.0 2006-09-19 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.11571501&variant=play&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.11571501&variant=data&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.11897854&variant=play&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rss Bollywood Tue, 17 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 Mohammed Rafi Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.11897854 alb.11897854 Mohammed Rafi art.61302 0.0 The Last Journey of Mohammed Rafi alb.11897854 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/7/5/4/914572_170x170.jpg 2006-01-17 00:00:00.0 2006-01-17 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.11897854&variant=play&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.11897854&variant=data&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.26333863&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rss Bollywood Sun, 31 Dec 1967 00:00:00 -0800 Mohammed Rafi Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.26333863 alb.26333863 Mohammed Rafi art.61302 0.0 Raaz alb.26333863 1967-12-31 00:00:00.0 null false false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.26333863&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.26333863&variant=data&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.26333609&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rss Bollywood Sun, 30 Dec 1962 00:00:00 -0800 Mohammed Rafi Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.26333609 alb.26333609 Mohammed Rafi art.61302 0.0 Rakhi alb.26333609 1962-12-30 00:00:00.0 null false false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.26333609&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.26333609&variant=data&rws=%2Fmohammed-rafi%2Fdiscography.rss