Mohd Rafi's son to launch music academy in father's honour

Mumbai, July 29 (IANS) Legendary singer Mohammed Rafi's son Shahid Rafi will Saturday launch a music academy Saturday in his father's name as a tribute on his 30th death anniversary.

'There are so many fans of my father who used to repeatedly ask me to start something like this. So finally I got together with some people and decided to launch this academy,' Shahid Rafi told IANS.

Apart from Shahid Rafi and his wife Firdaus Shahid Rafi, the academy will have people belonging to the families of legends from the Indian music industry like Raju Naushad (Naushad's son), Andalib Majrooh Sultanpuri (Majrooh Sultanpuri's son) and Ruhan Mahendra Kapoor (Mahendra Kapoor's son) as part of the academy's governing body.

Manek Premchand, Raashid Zaffar, Qamaal Mustafa Sikander, Kaka J.P., Javed Shakeel Badayuni, Shirish Kulkarni will be the other members.

'Dad is a legend and I want his name to be remembered as long as music is part of our lives.

'I thought this is a good day for the launch while we all remember him and what better venue than Mumbai since this is the place where dad had his memorable journey of music,' he added.

Apart from providing courses for singers, the academy will display exclusive pictures, videos and musical instruments of the great singer.