Bangladesh is a land of culture where every soul is deeply attached to music. No matter how upgraded we become, a core piece of our heart always takes us back to the old school. It is some evergreen songs that never let us turn back. After a long tiring day, when we crave to soothe our hearts by listening to some iconic songs like Amay Dekona, Agey Jodi Jantam, Ke Bashi Bajay Re, and Hridoy Amar, you might wonder, who is the magician behind all these soothing melodies that vanish your exhaustion just in some minutes. This musical magician is no one but Lucky Akhand.
This legendary maestro had showered his aura on the Bangla music industry for more than thirty years. He is also known as the soul of band music. Moreover, he was the first one to give a Spanish touch to Bangla music which increased the audience craze for his songs like never before. Abar Elo Je Shondha, Shadhinota Tomake Niye, Pahari Jhorna, Mamoniya, Ei Neel Monihar, Riti Niti Jani na, Porichoy Kobe Hobe, and the list goes on. These are some of the madly popular songs that even after decades, still are dominating thousands of hearts. So, without any delay, let’s dive deep down to the fascinating musical journey of this music legend.
Early Life & Background
Lucky Akhand was born on 7 June 1956 in Dhaka, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). He spent his childhood in Dhaka with his parents along with his brother Happy Akhand and sister Jesmin Akhand. He was very dear to his family as his family was the leading support in his music passion.
Though Lucky officially started his musical journey in his 20’s. But he stepped into music at a very early age. Luckily, Lucky Ahmed was actually lucky to have such a cheerful cultural background family. Though music has become like a vein of the nation, still during that time, music was not much appreciated. In such darkness, Lucky got his light to make his path through his father.
At the age of five, Lucky started to have music lessons from his father. After having a proper session with his father, he decided to appear publicly. During 1963 – 1967, he began to perform in music programs for children on both radio and television. Soon, his talent came to view the limelight as he got the opportunity to be enlisted as a music composer for HMV Pakistan. After two years, just at the age of 16, he became a musician for HMV India. In 1969, he won the first prize from the Pakistan Art Council in the “Modern Bangla Songs” category.
Contributions
The superstar of the 80’s, Lucky Akhand started his prominent career in 1984. He stepped into his musical journey through his solo album “Lucky Akhand”. Surprisingly, Lucky hit the limelight with his first album which made the audience crazy for his songs. His magical rock composition made his fans awestruck. Agey Jodi Jantam, Mamonia, Amay Dekona, Hridoy Amar, and Ei Neel Monihar are the most listened-to songs of the album. The record of the album was released under Sargam’s label. Later, he penned songs for his brother Happy Akhand’s album. This album also became another megahit for its popular songs “Ke Bashi Bajaire” and Abar Elo Je Shondha”. His song “Abar Elo Je Shondha” got insanely famous as it was used in his first film “Ghuddi” as a music director.
Both the brothers Lucky Akhand and Happy Akhand gradually uplifted down the stairs of success. But the dark cloud overwhelmed the duo as Lucky’s brother Happy left his last breath in such an unexpected death. That made Lucky dive down in such grief that he decided to leave music. He lost interest in everything. From 1987 to 1997, he completely disappeared from the music industry. Almost after a decade, his fans received super excitement as their idol decided for a comeback. In 1998, the music legend came back to hit the light. He returned with two albums “Bitrishna Jibone Amar” and “Porichoy Kobe Hobe”. The album “Porichoy Kobe Hobe” was a tribute to his late brother, Happy as this was a remake of his solo album. His other album “Bitrishna Jibone Amar” was a band mixed type. Six of the most notable singers of the time, Ayub Bacchu, James, Hasan, Tapan Chowdhury, Kumar Biswajit, and Samina Chowdhury collaborated on the album. The album became a madly hit megahit at that time. This huge popularity inspired him to go forward as he composed another duet album in the same year with the lyrics of Golam Morshed. The album titled “Ananda Chokh” was released under the banner of “Soundtrack”.
In 1999, Lucky composed a solo album of a prominent music personality, Samina Chowdhury titled “Amay Dekona”. In the same year, he composed another superhit song “Hridoyer Durdine Jacche Khora” for the famous rock band “Ark”. Ark released the song in its band mixed album “Tomar Oronne”. This album caught everyone’s attention as some of the most renowned artists such as Nipu, Bappa Majumder, and Fahmida Nnabi gave their magical touch with both folk fusion and contemporary rhythm. The album took its uniqueness to another level as Lucky gave his signature Spanish fusion in the songs. That’s how this eminent personality gained immense fame by creating more than a hundred songs in his triumphant musical journey.
Film Songs
Albums
Popular Songs of Lucky Akhand
Personal Life
Just like his distinguished professional life, Lucky Akhand was a man of great heart in real life as well. He was a shine of peace to both his family and co-artists. His humble behavior and generous gesture made him even closer to his loved ones.
The same Lucky Akhand was successful in the music world, he was the owner of a beautiful family as well. He was married to a graceful woman who always gave his shoulder to Lucky during his whole journey. The couple were blessed with a beautiful daughter named Mum Minti
Legacy
Lucky Akhand is not just a name. It’s an emotion to thousands who brought a shine to the Bangla music. Pop, Blues Rock, Adhunik, Soft Rock, in every genre he brought a new magic like never before. This music legend was also a master in instruments as well. Vocals, Bass guitar, or Keyboards, in every instrument, he was the eye of his co-artists and audiences.
Even having so much fame at such an early age, Lucky didn’t forget his motherland. During the toughest time in his homeland, he played a vital role without even caring for any menace. He supported and encouraged the freedom fighters throughout the whole war in 1971. During the Liberation War of Bangladesh, the radio broadcasting center of the Bangladesh Government formed “Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra” for the Liberation Struggle. Ignoring every threat, he determined to join as an artist and served his motherland till the end.
Unknown Facts
- Lucky Akhand was a member of the musical band “Happy Touch”.
- At the age of just 14, he was enlisted in HMV Pakistan as a music director.
- Lucky became a musician at 16 in HMV India.
- He was in service during the whole Liberation War as the music director of the national radio network, “Bangladesh Betar”.
- Lucky was widely recognized for his Spanish fusion in Bengali music.
- In 2017, he made his last performance on a stage show titled “Shilpir Pashe Amra Shobai”.
- After his death, a tribute song was conferred in remembrance of Lucky Akhand titled “Ekjon Lucky Akhand”. The song was published in the album “Hello Bangladesh” on 26 April 2017.
- On his 63rd birthday, 7 June 2019, he was honored with a Google Doodle.
Death
The triumphant journey of this music legend came to an end on 21 April 2017. The news made lost of words to all his diehard fans. He had been battling with grade-IV lung cancer since September 2015. Lucky had to go through surgery and chemotherapy sessions in Bangkok, Thailand. At a point, the prominent musician struggled financially to keep up his exorbitant medical treatment for his deadly ailment. During that dark period, all his co-artists and fans came forward to keep this music legend smiling again.
Lucky’s friends and fans organized several fundraising events for his medical expenses. Dhaka University Band Society also made arrangements for a two-day long concert titled “A Tribute to Lucky Akhand”. The concert was performed by a number of music star bands, Avoid Rafa, Tahsan and Band, Old School, Arbovirus, Shohojia, Ashes, Chatak, War Sight, Doorgo, Apekhik, Unspecific, Arjon, Orb of WInter, Hash, Aggyatonama, Manab and other bands.
His fans from abroad also tried their best to help their dear maestro. Artists from Toronto organized a musical evening on July 30 to collect funds. On August 30, Talented and Creative Optimiser set up another concert at the Oxford House, in London. Besides, several renowned music personalities such as Asif Iqbal, Obscure, Ayub Bacchu, Kumar Biswajit, Fahmida Nabi, Labu Rahman, Fuad Naser Babu, and many others came to lend a helping hand to him. While Lucky was undergoing medical treatment in Bangkok, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also provided 5 lac taka to smooth his expenses.
Fortunately, with the help and prayer of his well-wishers, he won the deadly battle and returned to his house in Armanitola after two and a half month long stay at Mitford Hospital in April 2017. Lucky recovered quite well and was feeling much better. He was even having a proper meal, meeting his loved ones, and listening to songs. He didn’t even have to go for any special medication. All his loved ones found immense relief seeing their precious one’s simile again. Things were going smoothly until Friday when suddenly he got severely ill. His family rushed him to Mitford Hospital. This time the beat of thousands of hearts had to fade as doctors declared him dead around 6:30 pm. On Saturday, he was honored with a state funeral and laid to rest in peace in Mirpur Martyred Intellectual Cemetery.
Conclusion
The prominent music legend, Lucky Akhand was a light of crore hearts. The way he created a distinctive combination of Bengali music and Spanish fusion made him insanely popular with his fans. Besides his noteworthy musical journey, the way he passed over all the threats to work for his motherland during the toughest time of the liberation war, made the nation greatly indebted to this eminent maestro. No matter how fast night changes, Lucky Akhand will always be reminded forever.