Renowned Mappilappattu singer Peer Muhammad passed away due to ailments related to age on Tuesday morning. He breathed his last at his residence at Muzhappilangad near Kannur.
The 75-year-old was the first singer to have performed a Mappilappattu in Doordarshan when he presented a Mappilappattu programme from the Chennai station of Doordarshan in 1976, he was also one of the most popular singers of his generation.
He has sung many popular songs like Ottakangal Varivariyayi and Qaf mala kanda poonkatte, through which he found a place in the hearts of Mappilappattu fans. He has also sung some film songs under the composition of legends like K Raghavan and AT Ummer.
Born on January 8, 1945 at Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, he had come to Thalasserry as his father returned to his birthplace along with the family in 1949. He started singing at the age of 8 and began performing for Janatha Sangeetha Sabha, Thalasserry from a really young age.
Peer Muhammad became a popular singer through the stage programmes of Janatha and he performed widely across North Malabar. It was in 1975 he turned his focus to Mappilappattu and it changed the fortunes forever for Peer Muhammad as he emerged as one of the most sought after singers of his generation.
He composed around 4000 songs and the songs which he composed and sung in 80s and 90s became instant hits.
