Bhai Baldeep Singh

During 1987-2005, Bhai Baldeep conducted a comprehensive research mission across Punjab and Pakistan with the aim of gaining access to the Gurbani kirtan tradition by reaching out to the old ragis of the time and retrieving its links. He retrieved musical compositions of Gurbani Shabads left out and remaining at that time in oral tradition, revived intricacies in playing percussion instrument Pakhawaj Jori. He also succeeded in exposing the peacock based stringed instrument Taus which was in vogue for Gurbani singing initiated by Guru Hargobind. He was successful to approach Giani Harbhajan Singh an elderly luthier (1920–2005), who possessed profound knowledge of playing and making traditional string instruments like Taus, Saranda, Rabab , Dilruba etc. used for Gurbani Kirtan and Indian classical music and reviving his Luthiery techniques for learning and making these instruments himself. Giani Harbhajan Singh Mistry even handed over the reins of his young grandson Parminder Singh Bumrah to Baldeep Singh, who later became a major string instrument luthier and Mridangam Pakhavaj player.

Being a child of a family of well versed in Sikh musical traditions, he was initiated to learning kirtan since age 5 by his mother Sukhjit Kaur. Then learning of Tabla playing came from Air Force station gurdwara Granthi in 1976.All this was happening to him as he was great-grandchild of Bhai Narain Singh who was himself a kirataniya and elder brother of reputed Bhai Jawala Singh Ragi In turn Bhai Jawala Singh and Narain Singh were tenth generation of their ancestors Bhai Sadharan jee (who was architect at Baoli sahib Goindwal at times of Guru Amardas), after them came in lineage Bhai Sahib Singh (a Sikh of Guru Gobind Singh), Bhai Mehtab Singh his son Bhai Tehal Singh (a kirtaniya of panch shabdee Aasa ki Var bani since sunset to early morning sunrise), further his son Bhai Deva Singh (d 1894) father of Baba Jawala Singh (1872–1952) who had two sons as accomplished ragis Bhai Avtar Singh and Gurcharan Singh, grand uncles of Bhai Baldeep Singh, and other son of Deva Singh Bhai Narain singh (1856–1906) whose son Giani Bhagat Singh (1897–1906) grand father of Bhai Baldeep singh 13th generation exponent of great family was.

Bhai Baldeep Singh (born 1969) is a classical and Sikh music singer and musician. He is a researcher and revivalist for conventional string instruments like Dhrupadi Rabab, Saranda, Tambura (Tanpura), Dilruba used for Sikh music since Guru's Times. He is an accomplished Pakhawaj Mridang Jori player. He is the founder and chairman of Anad Foundation organisation dedicated to Sikh music. He was an unsuccessful candidate of Aam Aadami Party in 2014 general elections for Punjab state of India.

Bhai Baldeep was born to his parents Amarjeet Singh and Sukhjit Kaur in a respectable family of Sikh musicians at Chandigarh on 13 September 1969.He passed Fifth Standard from Airforce school Vadodara Gujrat and Matriculation from Goveronment Model High School, sector 32 Chandigarh in 1984.He was a leading cadet in NCC aero wing of school who took part in Republic Day Parade of 1987 at Delhi as one of three parade commanders and was even selected in SSB interview after matriculation. He was also adjudged as best aero modeller at Punjab (combined Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Chandigarh) directorate of NCC, Patiala