Abida Parveen was born on 20th February, 1954 in Larkana, Sindh Pakistan. She inherited the love of music from her father Ustad Ghulam Haider who ran a music school.
She received her early music training from her father and formal training of classical music from Ustad Salamat Ali Khan. She is also a painter and entrepreneur.
She is one of the highest paid singers of Pakistan. She is known as “Queen of Sufi Music”. She started her singing career in 1973.
Abida Parveen has a command over several genre of music like ghazal, kafi and qawwali. Her training in classical music has given her complete control over the notes and her powerful voice resonant voice spellbinds the listeners.
Sindh is the land of Sufi saints; people are deeply devoted to them and often visit their shrines. Abida’s family was also devoted to the Sufis and so mysticism has a deep impact on her music. She sings the kalam (poetry) of the Sufis with such ease and communicates their message of divinity, love and peace to the listeners.
She creates a trance with her singing that even those who do not understand her words, are deeply moved and impressed. From the shrines of the Sufis to the concert halls the world over; Abida has performed everywhere and has left a trail of fans behind her. Abida can sing in Persian, Urdu, Punjabi, Seraiki and Urdu.
Abida has also sung ghazals; her rendition of Fayez Ahmed Fayez has won accolades from many. Humble and humane the Queen of Mysticism has won many awards including the Pride of Performance award from the government of Pakistan in 1984, Latif Award (twice), Sitara-e-Imtiaz by President Pervez Mushraf, Hilal-e-Imtiaz by President Asif Ali Zardari, PISA Lifetime Achievement Award – 2020.
