Joi band founder dies

[LTsering]

Anglo-Bangladeshi band musician dies

by Lisa Tsering, India Abroad News Service

San Francisco, July 17 - Haroon Shamsher, the 33-year-old co-founder of
Joi, the Anglo-Bangladeshi band that was popular among Bangladeshi, Indian
and Pakistani communities, has died of a heart attack.

Shamsher's death occurred a few days before his performance at a major
Bangla concert in London. A statement from Shamsher's record company
Astralwerks said,"Although he had been ill for a week, his death was
totally unexpected."

Joi, which Shamsher founded with his brother, Farook, had just completed
its first American tour and had been gathering good reviews for their debut
album "One and One is One" on the Astralwerks/Real World label.

A statement from Astralwerks said, "Haroon Shamsher was a pioneering
figure in the U.K.'s Asian Underground scene, which launched the careers of
artistes such as Talvin Singh and Asian Dub Foundation. Together with his
brother Farook Shamsher, Haroon developed the Joi Bangla Sound System as
far back as 1983, playing at festivals and youth clubs for London's Indian
and Pakistani communities. His vibrant onstage persona and his deep love of
both techno breakbeats and traditional Asian music gave Joi a unique,
energetic edge."

____________________________________
Lisa Tsering
Arts reporter, India-West
933 MacArthur Blvd.
San Leandro, CA 94577 USA
ltse...@aol.com
(510) 383-1146 Tel
http://members.tripod.com/~LisaTsering
http://www.indiawest.com

[Richard Turner]

In article <19990718124043...@ng-cb1.aol.com>, LTsering
<ltse...@aol.com> writes

>San Francisco, July 17 - Haroon Shamsher, the 33-year-old co-founder of
>Joi, the Anglo-Bangladeshi band that was popular among Bangladeshi, Indian
>and Pakistani communities, has died of a heart attack.

Thanks for posting this, Lisa. A tragic loss to the Asian Underground.
Rest in peace, Haroon.
--
Richard Turner, with E.S.Y. (Spring Heel Jack mix) cranked up good and LOUD!