Written by: Muhammad Suhayb
Posted on: June 08, 2021 | 
S.B. John Singing for a PTV Live Performance
Some fifty years ago, during a conference concerning minorities in Pakistan, veteran singer SB John placed a harmonium on the rostrum and prepped to sing for the crowd. He was set to perform in front of the then-Prime Minister Zulfikaar Ali Bhutto and his religious minister Maulana Kausar Niazi. When John started the proceedings with ‘Ae Arzz E Watan Tu Hi Bata Teri Sada Per, Kia Hum Ne Kabhi Farz Se Inkaar Kia Hai’, there was thunderous applause from the crowd. Penned by Saqi Javed and composed by S.B. John himself, the song was a question to a nation which had doubts about the loyalty of its minorities. Bhutto was stunned at the response, and he dragged the rostrum towards his table. During the break time, the Prime Minister requested SB John to sing it again.
An accomplished ghazal singer with a soothing voice, Sunny Benjamin John was born in 1930s Karachi to a Christian family. Trained by Pandit Ram Chandar Trivedi, John learnt the basics of singing by the time he turned 17. At the young age of 20, he made his debut at the Radio Pakistan as he was inspired by his grandfather’s passion for singing, and was spotted by the producer/singer Mehdi Zaheer.
S.B. John as a Young Man
This was a time when the Lahore film industry was having difficulties in terms of getting resources and funding for film production. John stayed with Radio Pakistan, Karachi and joined a bank as an air conditioning engineer.
By the late 50s, film production began in Karachi as well, and S.B. John got a chance to sing for a film. Master Manzoor Ashraf gave him the opportunity to sing ‘Tu Jo Naheen Hai To Kuch Bhi Nahin Hai’, penned by Fayyaz Hashmi for the film Savera (1959), and the song became an instant hit even across the border. It made S.B. John famous overnight, even though the best Nigar Award for playback singer went to Noor Jehan that year.
S.B. John Performing 'Tu Jo Naheen
After the immense success of the song and the film, John went to Lahore to try his luck in a more established film industry there. A family man with children, he was happy with his job in Karachi, and was more concerned about the future of his children rather than his own career. But despite this, he became popular for singing romantic songs that appealed to the young generation, and did not associate himself with a gharana (a social organization or order linking musicians and dancers by lineage or apprenticeship) during a period in history when musical gharanas were the mainstream.
Singer Saleem Raza, also from the Christian community, was at the peak of his career, while Mehdi Hassan, the greatest ghazal singer to have been born in Indian sub-continent, was still years away from success. However, Ahmed Rushdi was just beginning to dethrone Saleem Raza, and it is interesting to note that Rushdi got his big break singing beside S.B. John.
In an interview which took place a few years ago, John once recalled how he supported Ahmed Rushdi in his initial days. Rushdi had just migrated with his family from Hyderabad Deccan and was residing in Landhi while working in a factory. It was after Rushdi’s audition at Radio Pakistan that both of them met one evening at the house of Radio Producer Sharif Inayatullah.
A Young Ahmed Rushie
As a fan of Talat Mehmood’s, Hemant Kumar and Muhammad Rafi, John used to sing their songs at different venues. That night, he started with Talat Mehmood’s famous ‘Main Pagal Mera Manwa Pagal’ from the film Aashiyana (1952). When Rushdi was asked to perform, he could not play the harmonium, so John played for him and Rushdi started where John left off.
Their friendship began shortly after, and S.B. John started to promote the young up-and-coming Rushdi in Karachi. Because John was already something of an established singer, Rushdi could make connections and get the exposure needed to become the talented and prolific singer that he became. Events often started with S.B. John singing, and ended with him facilitating the music for Rushdi, who wielded the microphone.
S.B. John in the Later Years of His Life
A trained singer and a musician, John was capable of singing in all genres, yet his claim to fame was ghazal singing. He immortalized Ibn-e-insha ghazal ‘Kal Chaudhvin Ki Raat Thi’, which became as popular as his iconic ‘Tu Jo Naheen Hai’.
With the advent of Pakistan Television in the 1960s, S.B. John used to regularly appear on Christmas Eve with his choir to sing Christmas carols. He was joined by two of his sons, Robin John and Donald John, who also became musicians. Robin was associated with Alamgir and other singers in the 80’s, and now resides in the USA. His son Glenn John, is an accomplished singer and continues his father’s tradition.
Glen John
For his services in the field music, S.B. John was awarded Presidential Pride of Performance in 2011. He died on 5th June 2021 in Karachi at the age of 87, after a prolonged illness. As a writer, I had a few discussions with him on the telephone, and was taken aback by how easy it was to speak to him and charismatic personality shone through even on the phone. He recalled life in Karachi of yore when it was considered the City of Lights, as well as the creative and exciting evenings at Eastern Studios, and interacting there with some of the greatest singers and producers of our music industry. His death has seen the passing of an era, and Karachi has lost one of its most talented sons.
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