Vocalist Feroz Dastoor passes away

Mumbai, May 10 (UNI) Noted vocalist Pandit Feroz Dastoor died here last night following a prolonged illness, according to family sources.

He was 89.

Pandit Feroz Dastur was the disciple of Sawai Gandharva, one of the greatest exponents of the Kirana Gharana, and also a disciple of the legendary Khansaheb Abdul Karim Khan.

Pandit Feroz Dastur's own disciples have made a mark for themselves in classical music and include Pandit Shrikant Deshpande, Sudha Divekar, Usha Gokarn, Girish Sanzeiri and Uttara Kelkar among others.

In a singing career that spanned almost six decades, Panditji enthralled audiences both in India and abroad.

In addition to performances at prestigious musical functions like the All India Music Conference, Sadarang, Sarba Bharatiya Surdas Sangeet Sammelan, Sur Singar Sansad and Tansen Music Festival, Panditji participated in every Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav since 1952.

Pandit Feroz Dastur was professor of Hindustani Classical Music at the Bombay University since the inception of its Department of Music in 1969.

He had received several honours and awards in his lifetime including the National Award by the Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi, The Tansen Award by the Madhya Pradesh Government, and the Jimmy and Shirin Guzder Trust Award by the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India. He was given an honorary doctorate by the South Gujarat University and was bestowed the Maharastra State Gaurav Puraskar by the Maharastra Government.

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