About this Artist
MALKIT SINGH was born in the village Husainpur near Jalandhar. He is the oldest child of five. He started singing at the age of four and attended a local school in his village where is talent was recognised. He then carried his talent through to college where he participated in competitions and won many awards. And now has taken his music from the Punjabi vernacular to cross-cultural experiments with various types of music such as rap, house, dance, Bollywood film screens and so fourth. As a result, traditional Punjabi folk music has gone from the relative obscurity of a Punjabi village to the heady heights of a world stage. As the music spreads its wings across the globe, Malkit Singh encompasses audience of all ages and backgrounds. With this, Malkit Singh has received numerous awards and accolades for his musical talents in that his contributions to Bhangra music and the Indian community have been greatly noted.
In 1981, Malkit Singh won his third Punjabi collegiate competition award and was marked with a 'golden star' pendant, which went on to found his world renowned 'Golden Star' band. He officially began his career in the UK in 1986 and is still releasing albums and touring the world to this very day.Since then he has toured in over thirty-six countries as well as having released twenty-one albums, recorded numerous music videos and received endless awards and accolades.
Malkit Singh has largely contributed to the Indian communities around the world, not only in India, but those outside India such as the United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Kenya, Australia, New Zealand and many more. Also in countries in which there are low numbers of Indian people, for example Spain, Morocco, Greece etc. He has also contributed at numerous charity events, for example, charity concerts held in aid of the Gujurat Earthquake 2001, and the South East Asia Earthquake in 2004. By doing this Malkit has helped raise money in order to support the victims of these disasters.
Music has many languages, and Malkit Singh has been able to utilise his music in order to bring different communities together, not only Indian communities but also communities in which Bhangra music was never before heard. As an international recording and touring artiste, performances at internationally acclaimed venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, The Lincoln Centre, and The Andheri Sports Complex Rockefeller Club, have further cemented his dominance of music genius. Astonishingly, over thirty-two countries have already witnessed the live performances of Malkit Singh. Entertaining millions all over the world with his singing, Malkit has captivated fans and followers of his music from different generations, races and nationalities. Malkit’s music echoes in every city, country and continent he visits.
In April 2006, Captain Amrinder Singh, the Chief Minister of Punjab presented Malkit with an award honouring his recognition and contribution to Punjabi music worldwide. Malkit was given recognition from the city of Los Angeles for services to the Indian community in 1997. In 1998, former Indian Premier Mr. I.K. Gujral presented Malkit Singh with a Punjabi cultural award for his services to music. Guru Nanak University, in Amritsar, credited Malkit with gold medal award doctorate for his services to the Punjabi culture and music.
Some of Malkit’s songs have also featured on the big screen. For example, his hit songs ‘Jind Mahi’ featured in the film ‘Bend It Like Beckham,’ and ‘Gurh Nalon Ishq Mitha’ featured in the film Monsoon Wedding. Also his trademark anthem, 'Tutak Tutak Toothiyan,' is the bestest selling Bhangra song to this very day. With this, Malkit Singh received a platinum disc for the album 'Up Front' which featured this song. It was also mentioned on BBC news for the fastest selling Bhangra song in the world. Malkit Singh has been recognized in the Millenium Edition of the Guinness Book of World Records as the 'Best Selling Bhangra Solo Artist in the World. Also in 2008, Malkit received an MBE from the Queen for his Services to Punjabi Music making him the only Asian artist to have received this honour.
Malkit Singh has been hailed the ‘King of Bhangra,’ and is one of the few Punjabi icons around in today’s Bhangra industry. Punjabi’s all around the world look up to Malkit’s original style, melodious voice and unique music as he represents the true traditional Punjabi culture to worldwide audiences. His fan base keeps on growing from strength to strength. He encompasses an audience of all ages, from old to young. He has maintained his true Punjabi image throughout his career, which people have respected and feel they can look up to him as a role model. His popular music and videos have won over today’s generation of youngsters as well as keeping his die-hard fans happy, and will continue to do so in years to come.