Muhammad Ayub - Founder of Oriental Star Agencies PDF

4/16/2019 Muhammad Ayub ~ Founder of Oriental Star Agencies
MUSIC & DANCE > MUSIC
Muhammad Ayub ~ Founder of Oriental

Star Agencies
Oriental Star Agencies has recorded for some of the biggest stars and well-loved singers that the world
has ever known. Founder, Muhammad Ayub is also responsible for introducing the likes of Nusrat Fateh
Ali Khan, Malkit Singh and Bhujhangy Group to the world.
Updated  August 1, 20
By AISHA FAROOQ
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ESIblitz is proud to zoom its spotlight ontoSCROLL 
TO Managing Director of Oriental Star Agencies
Founder and
https://www.desiblitz.com/content/muhammad-ayub-founder-oriental-star-agencies 1/14
"We realised there was a need for music company because this way
we can keep the next generation in touch with the music and
language.
D
Muhammad Ayub.
Mr Ayub can be credited as the pioneer behind introducing Punjabi and Qawwali music on
record for the first time in the UK.
The Oriental Star Agencies label is associated with some of the biggest and memorable hits produce
in the UK. The label is responsible for giving many UK artists and musicians the chance to establish
their musical careers and exposing talent from abroad to UK audiences.
Muhammad Ayub is a true inspiration of a man who got the balance right between business and arti
promotion.
Ayub formally began his record company, Oriental Star Agencies (OSA), in 1970. Initially, Ayub owne
a music store selling popular Asian tracks. His business was the first to import Asian music from Indi
and Pakistan and distribute it all over the UK.
It was while he was building and maintaining his music business that the idea of a record label was
finally conceived:
“In 1969, we were approached by a couple of young groups, Bhujhangy Group and Anari Sangeet
Party. They asked me if I could record their performances. I said, ‘Alright, we’ll find a studio’. We did
the first recordings Bhujhangy and Anari Sangeet Party. The first Anari Sangeet Party recording was
‘Mere Lus Lus Karde Ang Nee’, and you remember that was a mega hit song at that time,” Ayub says
 SCROLL TO 
Bhujhangy Group were the first popular Bhangra artists to record and perform songs in the 1970’s.
The group was made up of two main singers, Dalbir Singh Khanpur and his younger brother, Balbir
Singh Khanpur, as well as Tarlochan Bilga and K Biba:
“It was a big struggle for them but they had enthusiasm, the will to succeed,” says Ayub.
“They wrote some wonderful songs, which became very popular and they tried to incorporate the
modern beats. They used to listen to Western music as well. Then the influence from the Bollywood
music crept in. They created some wonderful music,” he adds.
Dalbir sadly passed away in November 2008. The group have recorded over 50 Bhangra albums sinc
they began. They also appear in the Guinness Book of World Records as the pioneers of Bhangra
music in the UK. They are still a popular performing group even today, a er 45 years in the business
It was through the Bhujhangy Group that Muhammad Ayub and his OSA team realised the dire need
for a credible recording label that catered specifically for Asian artists:
“We realised there was a need for music company because this way we can keep the next generation
in touch with the music and language. I was working for the BBC radio where there was a big request
for the local music produced from here because that was contemporary to the modern English musi
So we thought we should fill that gap,” says Ayub.
“I thought we must keep our culture alive. We must pass our traditions onto our next generation.
Living in this country, I am sure they would have been totally westernised listening to the Madonna’s
and Michael Jacksons. I felt that unless we do something, it will be very difficult to keep our language
alive and our culture alive,” he adds.
 SCROLL TO 
Of course, OSA is perhaps best known for introducing the
legendary Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan to the world. Nusrat
was a mega star of his time, a Pakistani Qawwali singer who
was renowned for his spectacular spontaneous live
performances. He is largely considered to be one of the
greatest singers to have ever come out of South Asia.
Muhammad Ayub came across Nusrat’s sound in 1977. A
friend of his, Mr. Hadayat brought over a recording of a new
Pakistani singer:
“I remember we were three people in that room. Me, my brother and Sam
Sagoo…and we put this reel on and all of a sudden everyone was
mesmerised when we heard that first take, “Haq Ali Ali”. That was Nusrat
first introduction to us and I thought this is a wonderful energy and voice
which we must introduce to the world. The world should benefit from this
great singer.”
And indeed, the world did. Nusrat’s success led him to create and produce 125 albums in his 25 yea
career. He was well-recognised on the international scene, and collaborated with many Western artis
and Eastern artists alike. OSA were responsible for sponsoring Nusrat’s tours all over the UK which
gave him the exposure to popularise qawwali. The effects of which are still seen even today.
Malkit Singh is another fantastic talent found by Ayub:
“When I heard Malkit’s voice for the first time. It was a very very
appealing voice and we thought that this is the pure folk punjabi
song. And that was a golden voice which we thought can become
very popular. So that’s how we started recording in 1987 and until
now we have recorded 21 albums. They have been mega hits
albums.”
The OSA catalogue of artists and performers is extensive and
varied. Ayub has sourced musicians from all parts of South Asian
and given them a platform to be heard:
“The catalogue is not only Bhangra artists, it’s qawwali. It’s classical music, folk music. There’s a vast
amount of catalogue and is very very popular. We have introduced not only Bhangra throughout the
world, qawwali as well,” Ayub explains.
“And qawwali not only became a worldwide phenomenon, it became a Bollywood hit and now most o
the films and the singers are copying Nusrat Saab’s tunes. Even today, a er he died in 1997, which is
15 years ago. Still people love his qawwalis,” he adds.
 SCROLL TO 
Ayub also encouraged new and upcoming Asian artists in the UK to
get their voices heard. From 1975 to 2001, he organised a National
Asian Contest in collaboration with local BBC radio stations across th
country. Budding singers would audition and the best 10 acts would
be invited to perform in front of judges. The contest was hugely
popular, receiving thousands of entries.
Organising live performances is undoubtedly what Muhammad Ayub
specialises in. He was the first to bring intimate concerts to audience
all over the UK and the effect it has had, he admits, is extraordinary.
Speaking about new star and Nusrat’s nephew, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
Ayub says:
“Rahat is one of the greatest superstars of this time. I’m sure this wil
carry on and people will keep coming to these concerts and listening
to their own music and be in touch with their own background and
culture,” Ayub says.
It is clear that the legacy Ayub has created in bringing new talent to these shores has really worked.
He is responsible for re-infusing early Asian communities in the UK with a love for their culture. And
great music has helped him do this.
From the likes of sweet folk Punjabi and energising Bhangra, to awe-inspiring qawwali and pseudo-
Bollywood tracks, Muhammad Ayub has truly established the credibility and status of great Asian
music in the UK and across the world.
Aisha Farooq
Aisha an English literature graduate, is a keen editorial writer. She adores reading, theatre, and anything
arts related. She is a creative soul and is always reinventing herself. Her motto is: “Life is too short, so
eat dessert first!”
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4/16/2019 Muhammad Ayub ~ Founder of Oriental Star Agencies

MUSIC & DANCE > MUSIC

Muhammad Ayub ~ Founder of Oriental

record for the ﬁrst time in the UK.

their musical careers and exposing talent from abroad to UK audiences.

and Pakistan and distribute it all over the UK.

Singh Khanpur, as well as Tarlochan Bilga and K Biba:

music crept in. They created some wonderful music,” he adds.

So we thought we should ﬁll that gap,” says Ayub.

alive and our culture alive,” he adds.

Of course, OSA is perhaps best known for introducing the

legendary Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan to the world. Nusrat

was a mega star of his time, a Pakistani Qawwali singer who

was renowned for his spectacular spontaneous live

performances. He is largely considered to be one of the

greatest singers to have ever come out of South Asia.

Muhammad Ayub came across Nusrat’s sound in 1977. A

friend of his, Mr. Hadayat brought over a recording of a new

Malkit Singh is another fantastic talent found by Ayub:

very popular. So that’s how we started recording in 1987 and until

now we have recorded 21 albums. They have been mega hits

The OSA catalogue of artists and performers is extensive and

and given them a platform to be heard:

world, qawwali as well,” Ayub explains.

15 years ago. Still people love his qawwalis,” he adds.

Ayub also encouraged new and upcoming Asian artists in the UK to

get their voices heard. From 1975 to 2001, he organised a National

Asian Contest in collaboration with local BBC radio stations across th

be invited to perform in front of judges. The contest was hugely

popular, receiving thousands of entries.

Organising live performances is undoubtedly what Muhammad Ayub

specialises in. He was the ﬁrst to bring intimate concerts to audience

culture,” Ayub says.

great music has helped him do this.

music in the UK and across the world.

where diversity in recruitment matters

Customer Service Apprenticeship – Smart Centre of Excellence – E.ON – Bolton

Apprentice Smart Energy Expert – Centrica – London

Apprentice Smart Energy Expert – Centrica – Oxfordshire

a er 27 weeks. Once fully ﬂedged your salary will rise to £24,961.

Previous Article Next Article

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2019 Charity Show

7-Year-Old US Indian Girl sings 'Surrender' to

Midwife Narinder Kaur talks Live Asia 2019 Charity

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Ranveer Singh launches 'IncInk' Independent

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PIA Air Hostess ﬂees with Boyfriend a er Landing

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Amitabh Bachchan reveals Changes a er

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