S. B. John

Sunny Benjamin John (born 1934), popularly known as S. B. John (Urdu: ایس بی جان‎), is a singer from Karachi, Pakistan.[1]

Career

He was born in 1934 in Karachi and he started his singing career from Radio Pakistan in 1950. His inspiration was his grandfather who was a singer. His first music teacher was Pandit Ram Chandar Mehdi.[2]

When television was introduced in Karachi in 1967, John began singing gospel music on Christmas Eve on Pakistan Television. He also performed in stage shows in Karachi.S. B. John rose to fame by recording popular Urdu poetry known as ghazals in his vocals and music.[1]

His best known song was for the 1959 film Savera (1959). The composer was Master Manzoor Hussain, and lyrics were written by a renowned poet of Pakistan, Fayyaz Hashmi.[3][4]

For four decades his songs have been as popular as they were when they were first released.[1]

On August 14, 2010 President Asif Ali Zardari on the occasion of Independence Day conferred various Civil Awards on Pakistani citizens for excellence in various fields. The President’s Award for Pride of Performance was awarded to S. B. John for his playback- singing.[5]

Today S. B. John leads a retired life in Karachi.[1]

Oral History Project, Citizens Archive of Pakistan

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Dharkan Fall 2006
  2. ↑ Interview 27 September 1974, S. B. John Interview on YouTube, Retrieved 27 Nov 2015
  3. ↑ Video on YouTube, Retrieved 27 Nov 2015
  4. ↑ , Soundtrack on IMDB website, Retrieved 27 Nov 2015
  5. ↑ Associated Press of Pakistan August 14, 2010, S. B. John listed as #81 recipient on the List, Associated Press of Pakistan Awards List, Retrieved 27 Nov 2015


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