LAHORE – Renowned Pakistani musician and tabla virtuoso Altaf Hussain, popularly known as Tafu Khan, has passed away after a long illness in Lahore.
At 80 years old, Tafu Khan was a dominant force in Pakistan’s music scene for nearly six decades. His creative talent greatly influenced the country’s film industry.
In addition to his mastery of the tabla, he was proficient in 14 other musical instruments and composed many beautiful melodies throughout his career. Tafu was also a mentor to the iconic Noor Jehan and studied under the esteemed Qadir Bakhsh Pakhawaji, who guided numerous prominent tabla players in the subcontinent.
He began his journey in the music industry in 1970 with the direction of a film song titled "Sunn wey balori akkh waaliya," which was performed by Noor Jehan for the movie Anwara.