Jalal Chandio

Jalal Chandio (Sindhi: جلال چانڊيو‎) was born in 1944, at village Harpal Jo Hat, near Phul Naushahro Feroze District. He was a great folk singer of Sindh. He died on 10 January 2001 due to kidney failure.

Jalal Chandio was born to Haji Faiz Muhammad Chandio, who owned large number of cattle. As a result of which, Jalal Chandio could not find the interest in academic education and remained a shepherd during his younger days.

Chandio was fond of singing since childhood but his parents instead sent him to village Nawan Jatoi to learn the profession of tailoring. Disheartened, he left tailoring to start singing. His teacher was Fakir Ali Gul Mahar, whom he accompanied to almost all the singing concerts. In 1973, Chandio began solo performance after receiving permission from his mentor.

He was an expert of YAQTARA & CHAPRI (musical instruments). His singing style made him popular among his fans. He promoted yaqtra & chapri in Pakistani folk music.

A film Jalal Chandio was made in his lifetime, in which, Chandio played his own character.

It is believed that Jalal Chandio released a thousand audio cassettes as well as ten thousand songs during his lifetime. Since, he was unschooled, he would often memorize his own songs. He was known as king of Sindhi singers because he promoted Sindhi songs almost in whole world when media was not common. He had possessed enormous qualities andmost importantly generosity. Because It was reported that he gave his buffalo to old lady whose buffalo was stolen.

Chandio was spiritual disciple of Mahdi Shah of Shahpur Jehanian. He used to sing on Urs of almost all the saints out of his fondness for them. He had affiliation with Shah Abdul Latif bhitai and therefore he performed on his many of his urs.

He received several awards in his country and beyond. In 1999, provincial Government of Sindh's Department of Culture and Tourism, recognized Jalal's contribution to the singing and awarded him the 'Lateef Award'. Among the many awards that Jalal received, one came from the local Sindhi music maestro Ustad Manzoor Ali Khan, for his dedication to the profession.

Legend Jalal Chandio died on 10 January 2001, due to the kidney failure.