Born on June 18, 1956, Lucky showed interest in music from a very young age and took music lessons from his father and later went on to perform in music programs on television and radio.
The musical prodigy worked for HMV Pakistan as a music composer at the of 14 and was enlisted by HMV India as a musician two years later. The freedom fighter artiste also served the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro during the turbulent period of the liberation war.
With his pioneering rock composition and a promising vocal performance, Akhand became a star in the 80s, when he hit the limelight as a singer, lyricist, composer and music director all at the same time. He spent his entire life in this industry.
The iconic musician started his career with a solo album titled, Lucky Akhand in 1984. The record was released under Sargam’s label. Some of his notable songs from the album include “Agey jodi jantam,” “Amay dekona,” “Mamonia,” “Ei neel monihar” and “Hridoy amar.” He also wrote songs for his brother’s album Happy Akhand, in which “Abar elo je shondha” and “Ke bashi bajaire” were sung by Lucky. The song “Abar elo je shondha” gained huge mainstream popularity when it was used in the film, Ghuddi in 1988.
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CourtesyAkhand stopped putting out music after the death of his younger brother, Happy Akhand in 1987. He returned after a decade with two albums titled Porichoy Kobe Hobe and Bitrishna Jibone Amar in 1998. Porichoy Kobe Hobe was a remake of his brother Happy Akhand’s solo album.
Bitrishna Jibone Amar was a band mixed album, collaborated by the six of the most prominent singers of the time, including James, Ayub Bachchu, Hasan, Kumar Biswajit, Tapan Chowdhury, and Samina Chowdhury. He went on to compose a duet album titled Ananda Chokh with the lyrics of Golam Morshed and under the banner of Soundtrack in the same year.
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Mahmud Hossain OpuAs a composer, Akhand composed a solo album of Samina Chowdhury named Amay Dekona in 1999. IN the same year he also composed a song titled Hridoyer durdine jacche khora for the famed rock band Ark, who released the song in the band mixed album Dekha Hobe Bondhu. After 2000, he composed another mixed album named Tomar Oronne. Contributed by Bappy Majumder, Nipu, Fahmida Nabi and himslef, Lucky used contemporary rhythm, folk fusion and his signature Spanish fusion in the album.
Things were going smooth for the artist until September last year, when he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Akhand went through a surgery and a series of chemotherapy sessions abroad. The acclaimed musician struggled with financial crisis to keep up with the costly treatment for his deadly ailment. Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina provided 5 lac taka while he was undergoing treatment in Bangkok.
Fans and friends of Lucky Akhand arranged a number of fund raising events to aid his treatment. Dhaka University Band Society has arranged a two day long concert at the TSC Auditorium, University of Dhaka, titled “A tribute to Lucky Akhand,” performed by Tahsan and band, Avoid Rafa, Arbovirus, Old School, Ashes, Shohojia, Chatak, Doorgo, War Sight, Unspecified, Apekhik, Arjon, Hash, Orb of Winter, Manab, Aggyatonama, and several other bands.
Artists from Toronto also tried to collect funds for Lucky. They organised a musical evening on July 30, through which they tried to collect funds for the singer. Talented and Creative Optimiser arranged another concert at the Oxford House, London, on August 30.
Apart from the concerts many prominent artists also extended their help for the legendary musician, including Obscure, Asif Iqbal (lyricist), Kumar Bishwajit, Ayub Bachchu, Fuad Naser Babu, Fahmida Nabi, and Labu Rahman among many other.
After a two and a half month-long stay at the hospital, Lucky Akhand returned to his house in Armanitola last week. According to his family, Akhand was feeling better than before. The singer was regularly taking his meals, listening to songs and was not on any special medication before suddenly falling ill again on Friday and was rushed to Mitford Hospital as his condition deteriorated on Friday afternoon. Doctors there declared him dead around 6:30pm.
Lucky Akhand’s has influenced legions of artists in Bangladesh and continues to be a leading figure in modern Bangla music. Musicians from across genres have expressed grief in his passing. He was was given a state funeral and laid to rest in Mirpur Martyred Intellectual Cemetery on Saturday.
Photo: CourtesyAkhand stopped putting out music after the death of his younger brother, Happy Akhand in 1987. He returned after a decade with two albums titled Porichoy Kobe Hobe and Bitrishna Jibone Amar in 1998. Porichoy Kobe Hobe was a remake of his brother Happy Akhand’s solo album.
Bitrishna Jibone Amar was a band mixed album, collaborated by the six of the most prominent singers of the time, including James, Ayub Bachchu, Hasan, Kumar Biswajit, Tapan Chowdhury, and Samina Chowdhury. He went on to compose a duet album titled Ananda Chokh with the lyrics of Golam Morshed and under the banner of Soundtrack in the same year.
Photo: Mahmud Hossain OpuAs a composer, Akhand composed a solo album of Samina Chowdhury named Amay Dekona in 1999. IN the same year he also composed a song titled Hridoyer durdine jacche khora for the famed rock band Ark, who released the song in the band mixed album Dekha Hobe Bondhu. After 2000, he composed another mixed album named Tomar Oronne. Contributed by Bappy Majumder, Nipu, Fahmida Nabi and himslef, Lucky used contemporary rhythm, folk fusion and his signature Spanish fusion in the album.
Things were going smooth for the artist until September last year, when he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Akhand went through a surgery and a series of chemotherapy sessions abroad. The acclaimed musician struggled with financial crisis to keep up with the costly treatment for his deadly ailment. Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina provided 5 lac taka while he was undergoing treatment in Bangkok.
Fans and friends of Lucky Akhand arranged a number of fund raising events to aid his treatment. Dhaka University Band Society has arranged a two day long concert at the TSC Auditorium, University of Dhaka, titled “A tribute to Lucky Akhand,” performed by Tahsan and band, Avoid Rafa, Arbovirus, Old School, Ashes, Shohojia, Chatak, Doorgo, War Sight, Unspecified, Apekhik, Arjon, Hash, Orb of Winter, Manab, Aggyatonama, and several other bands.
Artists from Toronto also tried to collect funds for Lucky. They organised a musical evening on July 30, through which they tried to collect funds for the singer. Talented and Creative Optimiser arranged another concert at the Oxford House, London, on August 30.
Apart from the concerts many prominent artists also extended their help for the legendary musician, including Obscure, Asif Iqbal (lyricist), Kumar Bishwajit, Ayub Bachchu, Fuad Naser Babu, Fahmida Nabi, and Labu Rahman among many other.
After a two and a half month-long stay at the hospital, Lucky Akhand returned to his house in Armanitola last week. According to his family, Akhand was feeling better than before. The singer was regularly taking his meals, listening to songs and was not on any special medication before suddenly falling ill again on Friday and was rushed to Mitford Hospital as his condition deteriorated on Friday afternoon. Doctors there declared him dead around 6:30pm.
Lucky Akhand’s has influenced legions of artists in Bangladesh and continues to be a leading figure in modern Bangla music. Musicians from across genres have expressed grief in his passing. He was was given a state funeral and laid to rest in Mirpur Martyred Intellectual Cemetery on Saturday.