Pammi Bai

Paramjit Singh Sidhu, professionally known as Pami Bai, is an Indian singer, songwriter and Bhangra dancer from Patiala.[1]

Pami Bai
Birth nameParamjit Singh Sidhu
Also known asBhangre Da Sher
BornJakhepal, Sangrur, Punjab, India
GenresPunjabi
Bhangra
Folk
Occupation(s)Singer
musician
choreographer – bhangra
Years active1980–present
LabelsFolk Studio
Websitehttp://www.pammibai.com

He is considered one of the most notable figures in the world of Punjabi music specialising in the traditional folk dance of Punjab; Bhangra.[2] Since 1987, he gained national attention with the song "Ashke." Since then, he has gone on to record 12 albums,[3] and has performed internationally with his band.[4][5] He was given the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award on 4 October 2016 by President Pranab Mukheerjee at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi for his contribution to the world of Punjabi folk music.[6]

Early life

He was born in Jakhepal in the district of Sangrur, Punjab, India to Sardar Partap Singh Baghi. During his childhood days his inclination towards Bhangra, the folk dance of Punjab, increased and started participating in various school functions. Later during his college days he participated in Inter-University functions, and pursued it to become the Dance Director of Bhangra.[7] While he was doing his M.A. he started singing amateurishly. In 1982 he recorded his first song Nachdi Jawani. In coming years, he went over to 20 countries to perform as a bhangra dancer and folk singer.[4][8] He was also involved in Theatre acts and performed on Ram Lilla stages as comedy artists during free time.

Music career

He recorded his first audio cassette in 1987, along with the late Narinder Biba. Then he recorded an audio cassette with Surinder Kaur, a renowned TV and radio artist. One of his songs was recorded by Jagjit Singh in his audio cassette released in 1991. Two of his songs were recorded by Music Today. He has worked with music directors like Surinder Bachan, Charanjit Ahuja, Kuljit singh, Pandit Jawala Parshad and Ved Sethi. However the real break for him came with music director Kuljit Singh the release of "Ji ne jan nu karda" and "Rangli Dunia Ton", His album Nach Pauni Dhamal was released in 2005, followed by the Aman Hayer produced Punjaban in 2009. The title song from the album Punjabian Di Balle Balle featured a video that originated in the Punjab[9] He has since released the album Jugni and Diamond Sohniye (2015).[1]

Tours

In 1989, he organised his first cultural performance on the Indian Independence day, and in subsequent years he visited many European countries.[10] In 2004 at Cultural Presentation in the World Punjabi Conference held at Lahore, Pakistan he was one of the few delegates who had gone to represent India.[8][11] Later in 2007 he went on to the tour of USA, for various cultural shows.[4] After working as chief judge in the World Punjabi Folk Dances Competitions held at Toronto during the year 2009, he was invited again to perform in 2014.[12]

Music style and instruments

Pami Bai is an adept of Punjabi folk music and his songs include the traditional music instruments of toomba, algoza, toombi, sarangi, wanjli, bugdu, been, dhadd, dholki, dhol, ghara, chimta, dafli and dhoru.[7][13] His songs include various Bhangra forms like Jhoomar, Malwai, Giddha, Dhandas. He is widely known to be a guardian of old Punjabi culture, and mother tongue Punjabi where in this time the Punjabi music industry is influenced by western culture.[13]

Discography
Year Album Record label Info Music
1987 Ankhi Sher Punjab De Simran Video Tracks 8 Ved Sethi
1989 Amrit Baaja Wale Da Simran Video Tracks 8 Jwala Prasad
1993 Jawani Awaazaan Maardi Cattrack Chandigarh Tracks 8 Varinder Bachan
1994 Majje Malwe Duabe Saga Delhi Tracks 8 Charanjit Ahuja
2000 Dance With Pammi Bai HMV Tracks 8 Charanjit Ahuja
2002 Nach Nach Pauni Dhammal HMV Tracks 8 Kuljit Singh
2003 Giddha Malwaian Da T-Series Tracks 8 Kuljit Singh
2005 Nachde Punjabi FineTouch Tracks 8 Kuljit Singh
2006 Putt Punjabi – Son of Punjab[14] Frankfinn Tracks 10 Kuljit Singh
2007 Dhol Te Dhamaalan[15] FrankFinn Tracks 10 Kuljit Singh
2009 Punjaban T-Series Tracks 8 Aman Hayer
2011 Punjabiyan Di Balle Balle Vajhali Records Tracks 8 Kuljit Singh /Harjeet Guddu
2013 Jugni Live Folk Studio Tracks 10 Popsy/Kuljit Singh /Harjeet Guddu
2015 Diamond Sohniye Jass Records Tracks 11 Gurmeet Singh
2017 The 37th Chapter Of Pammi Bai T-Series Tracks 12 Gurmeet Singh, Aman Hayer, Jaidev Kumar & Rupin Kahlon

References
  1. "Desi Beats". The Indian Express. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  2. Singh, Jasmine (2012). "Singer of the soil". The Tribune. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  3. "Revival of boliyan". Hindustan Times. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  4. Chaudhry, Amrita (5 June 2007). "Singer Pammi Bai recently returned from a tour of 14 American cities". Express India. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  5. "Pammi Bai-Bhangre da Sher". pammibai.com. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  6. "Singer Pammi Bai conferred Sangeet Natak Akademi Award".
  7. "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – The Tribune Lifestyle". The Tribune. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  8. "World Punjabi Conference from today". sikhmatrimonials.com. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  9. "Gravesham mayor in Punjabi pop video". BBC News. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  10. "Punjab Online: Discussions: Bhangra". punjabonline.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  11. "Delegates leave for World Punjabi Conference in Lahore". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  12. "Pammi Bai Live in Surrey, Canada on 5th July 2014". singh.com.au. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  13. "Punjab Day special: 'People should love, respect their mother tongue'". hindustantimes.com/. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  14. "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Ludhiana Stories". The Tribune. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  15. "Dhol Te Dhamaalan". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
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