Bhai Amar Singh Ji was born in 1938 in the city of Jhang Maghiana of undivided Punjab which is now in Pakistan. Both his father and older brother used to perform Kirtan. Besides their passion for Kirtan, they also manufactured kitchen utensils for their livelihood. Both of them used to perform Kirtan in Nanaksar during the times of Baba Nand Singh Ji and Baba Isher Singh Ji. Bhai Amar Singh Ji used to accompany them but he was very young at that time. His journey into music was initiated by his father from whom he learned Kirtan. Following the partition of Punjab in 1947, they moved to Jagadhri, Haryana. After settling in Jagadhri, Bhai Amar Singh Ji furthered his training in Shastri Sangeet under the guidance of Pandit Khoob Chand Ji, who belonged to the Gwalior Gharana. Pandit Khoob Chand Ji was trained by Madhav Moreshvar Kale, who was better known as Balasaheb Guruji in Gwalior. Balasaheb Guruji was a disciple of Ustad Haddu Khan of the Gwalior Gharana.
Bhai Amar Singh Ji was then brought to Delhi by Sant Sujan Singh Ji’s nephew, Prof. Kartar Singh Ji. He stayed with Sant Sujan Singh Ji for many years and continued to learn Kirtan from him. He was taught many Raags and old compositions. He accompanied Bhai Angad Singh Ji on the side harmonium for 7 years before forming his own jatha sometime between 1966-1968. He continued to live in Delhi and performed Kirtan with his jatha in various historical Gurdwaras in Delhi such as Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and Gurdwara Sees Ganj Sahib. Some of his well known ‘saathis’ include Bhai Hardev Singh from Amritsar and Bhai Santokh Singh Thawar. From 1997 onward, his only son, Bhai Amarjit Singh Raja joined him until his retirement in 2005. Bhai Amar Singh Ji made approximately 25 tours abroad to various countries including USA, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Iran, Australia and many more. It was his wish to perform Kirtan to the very end and in some ways that is what happened. Bhai Amar Singh Ji had just returned home after Kirtan one day and he sat down on his sofa. Shortly after sitting down, he suffered a stroke and became paraylsed. He then slipped into a coma for some time and passed away in 2007.
A special thanks to Bhai Amarjit Singh Raja for providing the information above. If anyone has more recordings of Bhai Amar Singh Ji, please contact us.
The first batch of recordings were contributed by Bhai Harbans Singh Suraj and feature Bhai Santokh Singh Thawar on the side harmonium and vocals. These are from Shepherd’s Bush Gurdwara Sahib and the recording was done by Sardar Manmohan Singh Sohanpal. He has been recording various Raagis visiting Shepherd’s Bush for the past few decades and deserves recognition for this great Sewa in preserving such treasures. Please ‘right click’ and ‘save link as’ to download audio files. Enjoy!
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 01 Saavan Aaya Hey Sakhi
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 02 Sabhe Ji Samaal
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 03 Har Jiyo Kirpa
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 04 Saavan Aaya Hey Sakhi
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 05 Oye Saajan
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 06 Naino Dekhat
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 07 Kar Jor Nanak
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 08 Mere Har Jiyo
The following Asa Ki Vaar is also from Shepherd’s Bush Gurdwara.
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Asa Ki Vaar Part 1
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Asa Ki Vaar Part 2
The following recordings are from Bhai Amar Singh Ji’s tour to USA and feature Bhai Hardev Singh (Amritsar) accompanying him on the side harmonium. These recordings were contributed by Sardar Nachatar Singh Sahota.
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Aas Piasi Main Firo (Raag Marva)
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Aavho Sikh Satgur Ke Piario
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Banaspat Mauli Charriya Basant
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Boley Tera Thaney Pavey
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Choji Mere Gobinda
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Gobind Sat Sangat Milaye
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Gur Gopal Gur Gobinda
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Har Har Tera Naam Hey (Inc.)
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Ik Til Prabhu Na Visre
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Jab Te Saran Tuhari Aaye
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Japea Prabh Ka Naam
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Jo Sukh Prabh Gobind Ke Sewa
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Jog Baniya Tera Kirtan Gayee (Inc.)
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Kahe Man Tu Dolta
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Main Banda Bai Khreed Sach Sahib Mera
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Main Banjaran Ram Ki
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Mango Daan
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Mera Mujh Meh Kich Nahi
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Mohan Ghar Aavo (Raag Jaunpuri)
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Mohe Na Bisaro Main Jan Tera
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Nam Japo Mere Gursikh Meeta
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Rakha Ek Hamara Sawami (Raag Tilang)
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – So Kiyo Manho Bisarea Jis Simirat Dukh Jaye
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Tere Kudrat Tuha Jane
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Tere Saran Payian Hau Jiva
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Tu Data Jiyan Sabhna Ka
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Tu Mera Rakha Sabhna Thayeen
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Tum Seh Mero Pritmo Har Ki Bhagat Kareho
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Visar Nahi Dataar
The following recordings were contributed by Bhai Dawinder Singh Shant.
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 01 Bin Simran Din Rain
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 02 Allah Ki Kar Bandgi
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 03 Jo Har Swami Tum Deho
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 04 Simran
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 05 Mere Preetam Piare
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 06 Ko Hai Mero Saajan Meet
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 07 Sagal Manorath Pooran Hove
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 08 Simran
Another batch of recordings below featuring Bhai Santokh Singh Thawar on the side harmonium.
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 01 Bhai Re Preet Karo
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 02 Ik Daate Ik Bhikharee
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 03 Asawanti Aas Gusayeen
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 04 Haun Vanjhan Kurban
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 05 Satgur Poore Naam Deeya
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 06 Poota Maata Ki Asees
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 07 Rain Dinas Gur Charan (Incomplete)
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 08 Naam Kahat Gobind Ka
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – 09 Mahima Sadhu Sang Ki
*New Recordings Added – 13th November 2021
Another batch of recordings from the collection of Sardar Manmohan Singh Sohanpal who recorded Bhai Amar Singh Ji in Shepherd’s Bush Gurdwara, London in 1988. These recordings are courtesy of Veer Gurpuran Singh Milkhu who operates his own channel on YouTube. Please visit his YouTube channel ‘Classic Puratan Kirtan’.
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Aao Ji Tu Aao Hamare
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Darshan Mango Deh Pyare
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Kya Jana Kya Hoyiga Ri Mayi
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Man Naa Rahey
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Oye Saajan Oye Meet Pyaare
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Raaji Hoye Rajaye Vich
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Ucha Agam Apaar Prabh
The following recordings were kindly contributed by Sardar Kuldeep Singh Sethi from the United States of America. He also has his own YouTube channel ‘dildeep13’. Please visit his channel for more recordings of Bhai Amar Singh Ji.
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Aise Gur Ko Bal Bal Jaaye
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Eh Tan Man Tera
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Ghar Mandar
Bhai Amar Singh (Delhi) – Japo Har Naam
I am delighted to see Bhai Amar Singh jee’s Gurbani Kirtan. I met him and heard his Kirtan when he visited United States in 1993. He obliged and visit our apartment in 1993-94. I have some of his recording, when he performed here. I will work on them and contribute here at your web site soon. Thanks for the great work.
Gurfateh Ji, You’re most welcome and I am very happy to hear that you recorded him at your residence. Would love to hear more of his Kirtan. It is quite difficult to come by recordings of his. Thank you for offering to share these treasures.
What is the name of his father and elder brother?
An elaborate account of his devotional journey to Kirtan Sewa. I adore his kirtan style. Good job done.