First Pakistani to Perform at Sydney Opera House

It will be a proud moment for Pakistan when Mahmood Khan becomes the first Pakistani singer/songwriter to perform original songs at the Sydney Opera House on March 14.

Mahmood Khan represents an exclusive rare breed of singer/songwriters to emerge out of Asia who amongst extreme difficulties kept their Art alive and dedicated a lifetime to celebrate the resilience and adaptability of the human spirit. An experienced sound engineer, producer, writer, lyricist and performer, he has pioneered the fusion sound and has continually brought hope to his niche listeners around the world with his spiritual pop oriented songwriting and philosophy.
Born in Pakistan to parents who migrated from India after the 1947 partition, he wrote songs at an early age. He moved to Los Angeles and started off as an assistant sound engineer in at a company that was a hub for R&B, Rap, Hip Hop and Funk genres. Jam power productions led by visionary Tom Berry was based in Northridge, California and was home to producers Chuckii Booker, Livio Harris, Damon Thomas, Budd Ford and Ronni Van among many others. His first break in LA came when his song won the Los Angeles Songwriters Showcase song competition setting him up with a gig with veteran music producer George Tobin.
In the South Asian region where original singer/ songwriters are extremely rare Mahmood's love for original songs was kept alive and inspired by writers such as Barry Gibb, Michael Omartian, Paul Simon, Aziz Mian Qawal, John Denver, Stevie Wonder, David Foster and Arif Mardin. Many singers all over the world have recorded his songs notably Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan who collaborated on album 'Only one' Internationally released in 1997. Recently 30 Australian independent artists recorded his composition for a charity song for Red Cross. He was also commissioned by the Government of Pakistan to compose for the 9th SAF (South Asian Games) games opening and closing ceremonies
A master musician he can develop different sounds for his songs by fusing exotic instruments while keeping the American Funk song formation as the foundation, original melodies and lyrics as the soul and South American inspired gypsy guitars as the bed.

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