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Woodside Times, Feature >>
Hit rock singer from Pakistan has gig in boro
BY NATHAN DUKE
Pakistani rock 'n' roll superstar Salman Ahmad was scheduled to face two of the world's most diverse audiences this week - the United Nations General Assem bly and the student body of Long Island City's LaGuardia Community College.
Ahmad, 42, who was born in Pakistan, but moved to Rockland County with his family at an early age, has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide during his years with Junoon Pakistan's top-sell ing rock 'n' roll act and as a solo artist. The musician, whose music is a mixture of qawwali Sufi devotional singing and Led Zeppelin-styled classic rock, has also been the focus of a VH-1 documentary, acted as a commentator on a number of prominent news programs, appeared in two documentaries focusing on Islam and post-Sept. 11 issues and is a United Nations goodwill ambassador for HIV/AIDS.
In 2001, Ahmad and Junoon became the first rock 'n' roll outfit to perform for the United Nations General Assembly in 2001. On June L, he was scheduled for a sec ond performance in front of the assembly and was scheduled to perform at 8 p.m. Sat urday at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center.
Ahmad said his music has recently been noticed more in western cultures. "Post 9/11, there is a great interest in music coming from the Muslim world," he said. "Being a Muslim-American, I find myself caught in the crossfire of debate in the war on terror. What I am trying to do, through music, is create a really good feel ing and engage people from different back grounds and religions."
For nearly 20 years, Ahmad has been world-renowned rock star, selling millions
Continued on Page 16
06/01/06
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