Biography:

Zubeen Garg (born Zubeen Borthakur (Assamese pronunciation: [zubin bɔɹtʰakuɹ]; 18 November 1972 – 19 September 2025) was an Indian musician who primarily worked and sang in the Assamese, Bengali and Hindi-language film and music industries.[6] He had also sung in 40 other languages and dialects, including Bishnupriya Manipuri, Adi, Boro, English, Goalpariya, Kannada, Karbi, Malayalam, Marathi, Mising, Nepali, Odia, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Tiwa.[7][8][9]

Garg was a multi-instrumentalist and played 12 instruments including anandalahari, dhol, dotara, drums, guitar, harmonica, harmonium, mandolin, keyboard, tabla and various percussion instruments.[10] He was regarded as one of the most influential musician in Assam, and was also the highest-paid singer.[11][12]

Early life

Garg was born into an Assamese Brahmin family in Tura, Meghalaya, to Mohini Mohon Borthakur and Late Ily Borthakur. He was named after the music composer Zubin Mehta[13][14] and used his gotra Garg as his surname.[15] His father, Mohini Borthakur, was a Magistrate,[16] and is a lyricist and a poet under the name Kapil Thakur[17] and his mother, Late Ily Borthakur, was a singer.[16][18]

Garg passed his matriculation exam in Tamulpur Higher Secondary School and pursued Higher Secondary from Karimganj College then pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in B. Borooah College[16] but dropped out to concentrate on his singing career.[19][20]

Garg’s younger sister, Jongki Borthakur, was an actress and singer who died in a car accident in February 2002 in Sonitpur district while travelling to perform stage show along with her co-artists.[17] He had released the album Xixhu in 2002, in the memory of Jonkey Borthakur.[18][17] His other sister is Dr. Palme Borthakur.[21]

Introduction to music

Garg started to sing from the age of three.[22] His first guru was his mother from whom he learnt to sing and he learnt playing the tabla from Pandit Robin Banerjee for 11 years.[16] Guru Ramani Rai introduced him to Assamese folk music.[23][24] Garg had been composing songs since his school days.[citation needed]

Singing career

Beginning of singing career (1992–1995)

Garg got his confidence to become a professional singer when he got gold medal for his western solo performance in youth festival held in 1992.[25] And after this he entered into professional music with his debut Assamese album Anamika, which was released in November 1992.[26][27][18] Garg’s first recorded songs were “Tumi Junu Pariba Hun”[28] and “Tumi Junaki Hubakh”[29] for the album Ritu but was released in 1993. He released many other albums such as Xapunor Xur (1992), Junaki Mon (1993), Maya (1994), Asha (1995) etc. Before he moved to Mumbai in 1995, he released his first bihu album Ujan Piriti which was a commercial success.[citation needed]

Credits: