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Ace guitarist Aamir Zaki passes away at 49

Ace guitarist Aamir Zaki passes away at 49

He will be remembered as one of the finest jazz, blues and rock'n'roll guitar players to have come out of Pakistan
Updated 02 Jun, 2017

Aamir Zaki, musician extraordinaire, passed away on Friday. He was 49.

Reports from family say that the cause of his death was heart failure.

Born in Saudi Arabia in 1968, Zaki started playing the guitar at age 14.

He was first discovered by musician Alamgir when he was aged 16. Zaki toured extensively with Alamgir, playing a 'Flying V' guitar that he built himself. Zaki was known to make his own guitars through his career.

Zaki also toured with Vital Signs, before being asked to leave the band.

He then launched into a solo career.

Aamir Zaki's debut album, Signature, was released in 1994 and it became quite a hit. He was awarded a Soundcraft Gold Disc for the album, which carried the mega-hit 'Mera Pyaar'.

The elusive Zaki spent much of his career collaborating with other musicians.

He will be remembered as one of the finest jazz, blues and rock'n'roll guitar players to have come out of Pakistan.

Musicians, celebrities and writers across the country took to Twitter to express their condolences.

The Express Tribune reports that his funeral will be held tomorrow (Saturday, June 3, 2017).

Comments

Faisal Jun 02, 2017 07:19pm
RIP
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Huma Jun 02, 2017 07:22pm
Inna lil lahay wainna ilahay rajaioon :( so sad. First JJ and now him:( life is too short
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Mohsin Jun 02, 2017 07:25pm
Unbelievable ! so young. Inna lill-lah he wa inna elayhe rageeoon.
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Muhammad Hussain Jun 02, 2017 07:30pm
Really sad.
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Fair opinions Jun 02, 2017 07:32pm
RIP. May God give enough courage to his family & friends to bear this loss.
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RIZ Jun 02, 2017 07:36pm
Sad news ..... RIP
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Sad paw Jun 02, 2017 07:40pm
RIP!
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Morning Star Jun 02, 2017 07:43pm
RIP. I still love his song Mera Piyar. Another star from our early 90s era has gone away.
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Mansoor Jun 02, 2017 07:45pm
So sad to hear about his sudden death. RIP Legend.
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vaqas Jun 02, 2017 07:46pm
That is shocking news. Rip amir Zaki. Will always love your sound.
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Shah Jun 02, 2017 08:07pm
RIP.
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Princess_of_DHUMP Jun 02, 2017 08:14pm
The best guitarist we ever produced. RIP Aamir
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Maarif sohail Jun 02, 2017 08:15pm
Inna lil lahay wainna ilahay rajaioon. RIP in AZ. You were a true phenomenon and we would miss you.
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RABIA shoaib Jun 02, 2017 08:16pm
Inna lillahe wa inna ilayhe raje'oon.... Thank you for touching our lives with your beautiful music. You will be sorely missed Aamir. May you be in the mercy of your Master forever. aamen and rest in peace.
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Alex Jun 02, 2017 08:18pm
RIP A genius who never did justice to his potential. His sister abida zaki also acted in few dramas and then disappeared from the scene like aamir
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anonymous Jun 02, 2017 08:23pm
One of the best musicians of our times ... will never forget 'Mera Piyaar' ever! Rest In Peace bro!
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Shahryar shirazI Jun 02, 2017 08:34pm
I cannot express my grief :(
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CURIOUS MIND Jun 02, 2017 08:40pm
R.I.P. The best Guitar player we knew in Pakistan.
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Ratti Jun 02, 2017 08:40pm
Unbelievable! I remember him vividly. He was from our age, when we were growing up and pop was the upcoming culture in Pakistan. He was from the generation of vital signs, hadiqa kiyani, Ali Azmat, when they were young and trying to make a mark in pop music. RIP genius. It's young to die at this age.
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afsheen Jun 02, 2017 08:40pm
One of greatest guitar player of Pakistan he will be greatly missed.may he rest in peace
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Muhammad Ali Dairywala Jun 02, 2017 08:44pm
Inna Lillah-e-wa-Inna Alaihe Rajaioon! Another blow to Pakistan's music industry. The songs sung and composed by Amir Zaki were fabulous. Sadly he passed away at an age when he had the potential to give even more good music to Pakistan. He will be surely missed. May his soul rest in peace - Ameen!
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Saad Zafar Jun 02, 2017 08:54pm
Terrible News. May he rest in peace.
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Nabidad Jun 02, 2017 08:54pm
GREAT AAMIR ZAKI 'RIP'
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Ashar Ahmed Jun 02, 2017 08:56pm
All good men going early. Never met him but his genuineness and humbleness shone through. Always was a fan and always will be! Inna lillahe wa inna ilaehe rajeoon!
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Johnpauljones Jun 02, 2017 09:03pm
Really gutted to hear this. He was trully an original with warmest of guitar tones. May Lord have mercy on his soul.
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farOoqjuly@gmail.com Jun 02, 2017 09:09pm
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh inna lillahe waina ilahi raajiun Big Loss of music
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Abdullah Masood Jun 02, 2017 09:19pm
Getting to know about him, for the very first time.
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Kamil Jun 02, 2017 09:26pm
RIP to Great Guitar Maestro ,Heard Mera Pyar solo when i was 4 and that sound used to be one of my favourite as a kid on PTV
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zak Jun 02, 2017 09:32pm
you were so talented and you made us so proud.
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asif Jun 02, 2017 10:00pm
Grew up listening to his music. Very sad. After JJ, I mean its hard. InnaLlilah.
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Yasir Jun 02, 2017 10:03pm
RIP. He was a great guitarist.
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Ilu Jun 02, 2017 10:29pm
Good thing that he died in ramadan. The best month.
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AXH Jun 02, 2017 10:37pm
RIP. He was one of the finest from my generation.
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global citizen Jun 02, 2017 10:41pm
rest in peace dear sir. another gem gone.
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papa Johns Jun 02, 2017 11:15pm
RIP.. Music Maestro. Jimi Hendrix of Pakistan
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Changez Khan Jun 02, 2017 11:31pm
age 49 is too young to die ... sad ... RIP
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Saira Jun 02, 2017 11:45pm
Shocked to hear about his sudden death. A huge loss. Inna-lilahe-wa inna-alehe-rajohon. So short so sudden. Rest in peace beautiful soul.
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Assad Khan Jun 03, 2017 12:16am
So sad to here the news. RIP amir zaki.
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Danish Jun 03, 2017 02:03am
@papa Johns exactly what i thought.
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Khan Jun 03, 2017 02:07am
Great guitarist ! I loved his album ! RIP !
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jawwad Jun 03, 2017 02:10am
His best work will always be the guitar he played for Zara Chehra by Zohaib Hassan in Coke Studio. RIP Zakl You will be missed.
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Ayub Jun 03, 2017 02:59am
RIP
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mumtaz shah Jun 03, 2017 03:08am
RIP, a mega talent
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hassaan Jun 03, 2017 03:08am
I've been playing guitar for 12 years and he was a big inspiration to me. I still enjoy his signature album and even covered mera pyar. Gone too soon. R.I.P.
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Ali Jun 03, 2017 03:53am
Rip Amir my childhood hero guitarist amazing feel ...
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JAHANZAIB BAloch Jun 03, 2017 04:38am
RIP, absolutely a legend. :(
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Tundra Thakur Jun 03, 2017 04:49am
Rip. We lost a legend today.
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Puthomadre, karachi Jun 03, 2017 04:55am
People in the entertainment, especially music industries don't have a long life, everybody knows why.
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Arun Jun 03, 2017 05:48am
Why be quiet about the cause?
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Arisha G Jun 03, 2017 06:27am
Saddened beyond words. More disturbing and heart breaking was to find out about his personal struggles in another news paper article. Tragic. Condolences to his family and dear ones especially his mom. How can we collectively fail to reach out to those that are most in need? Even when they are 'silently' crying for help. Surely that is a deafening sound, if one pays attention.
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Faakhir Jun 03, 2017 06:32am
Really saddened by his passing away especially amid extremely unpleasant financial situation he found himself in of late. I met him couple of times few weeks ago and tried to help a little, alas- I wish I had taken out more time to help him with his struggles. Still remember the foreign tours with him during Awaz days . An introvert but a genius to say the least. RIP
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Faakhir Jun 03, 2017 06:49am
Really saddened by his passing away especially amid extremely unpleasant financial situation he found himself in of late. I met him couple of times few weeks ago and tried to help a little, alas- I wish I had taken out more time to help him with his struggles. Still remember the foreign tours with him during Awaz days . An introvert but a genius to say the least! RIP
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Desh bandhu Chopra Jun 03, 2017 08:30am
Why do god-gifted men leave us so early?
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Ateeq Ahmed Jun 03, 2017 08:50am
RIP my dear friend, shocking for me. We were class mates. Gem of a person.
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Ahmad Jun 03, 2017 10:03am
RIP. You will be remembered forever in the hearts of the people
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D.K. PAMNANI Jun 03, 2017 10:33am
Inna lil lahay wainna ilahay rajaioon :(RIP)
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Mohsin Jun 03, 2017 10:36am
A great talent truly. He will be sorely missed.
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Nazim Karachi Jun 03, 2017 10:40am
I am sad, RIP Aamir Zaki. You are just great.
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Mustafa Jun 03, 2017 11:07am
Rest in peace Aamir bhai.
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sAAR dEEPAK Jun 03, 2017 11:12am
RIP, but never heard of this so called legend..
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Listlesslimbs Jun 03, 2017 11:15am
@Princess_of_DHUMP ..... certainly..was the best!
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Listlesslimbs Jun 03, 2017 11:16am
@Princess_of_DHUMP ...but mera payyar was the epic... Legends live forever!
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M Ali Jun 03, 2017 11:17am
Rip, man He will be dearly missed. Such a brilliant musician.
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Mahmood Jun 03, 2017 11:50am
I Was I am And I will Be Big Fun Of Him As sadly I heard and saw the news i couldn't believe that is true . but what whatever god wants we must accept that ..RIP RIP RIP
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Jun 03, 2017 01:33pm
INNA LILLA HAY WAA INNA ILLEHEY RAJAYOON.
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Salman Jun 03, 2017 02:07pm
Inna Lillah e wainna Elaiyheh Rajay'yoon. Amir Zaki RIP. What a great guitarist he is! Appreciate his guitar playing. Musical genius and an extremely hard worker.
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Rabbia Jun 03, 2017 02:30pm
I still remember my very first childhood liking , when it was played in VJ"mera tmhara wo ghar pyaara"RIP#Amir Zaki
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Ghouri Jun 04, 2017 01:01pm
Probably the worst month of my life. Lost some closed ones and a few other things too and now YOU. RIP Zaki! You will always have a place in my heart.
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Abdullah Jun 04, 2017 08:03pm
Carlos Santana of Pakistan.....RIP bro...God Bless U...
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