Four of a Kind

This work is typical of upbeat popular music associated with the Punjab region in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent as well as the Punjabi diaspora across Europe and North America. Sometimes described as Bhangra, the roots of modern bhangra music date back to at least the mid-20th century. Early examples of this pop music in the UK were the Bhujhangy Group, founded by brothers Balbir Singh Khanpur and Dalbir Singh Khanpur in Birmingham in 1967. Their first major hit was Bhabiye Akh Larr Gayee, released on Birmingham's Oriental Star Agencies label. This was the first song to combine traditional Asian music with modern western instruments. The commercial success and popularity of Bhangra music was to rise in Britain in the 1970s by Punjabi immigrants who took their native folk music and began experimenting and using instruments from their host country. The new genre quickly became popular, heavily influenced by the infusion of rock music and a need to move away from the simple and repetitive Punjabi folk music. The 1980s is commonly known as the golden age of bhangra music, which lasted roughly from 1985 to 1993. The primary emphasis during these times was on the melody or riff, played out usually on a synthesiser or a guitar. Folk instruments were rarely used. However, in the mid-1990s, many artists returned to the original, traditional folk beats, incorporating more dhol drum beats and tumbi. They were often aided by DJs who mixed hip hop samples with folk singing.