KEVIN

At the opening of an entertainment centre in Debe Main Road, Debe, the handsome Kevin Khan, 21, walked on stage and set himself behind the keyboard and rhythm machine. He skillfully ran his hands through the notes playing the popular tune “Tum Vinti Sunu” which was sung by his father, Nazimool Khan. It is amazing to know that all the music that was heard for this song and all the other songs of the night came from just two sets of instruments. The keyboards and the octapad machine provided the different sounds. Kevin’s eyes were intensely focussed on the keyboard at all times. He quickly wiped the sweat off his face to get his finger back on the notes.

On another day, he would rise early in the morning and head for his music room to perfect the notes for the new tunes that his father and his aunt Ruby Khan Gupta will be doing in future shows. He took time off his busy schedule to talk to Sunday Newsday about his life as a musician. “I was born in a home where song and music ruled. As a child growing up, my father was already an accomplished singer. So naturally I developed a love for the music, especially the music of the East,” he says. As a boy, Kevin attended the New Town Boys RC School and later the Tranquillity Government Secondary School. He majored in Business Studies and later worked as an accountant at Tile It Limited of Chaguanas. However, the demand for music was so overwhelming that he had to quit his job to get into the studio to accompany his father for many of the CDs produced in the 90’s. While he would like to further his studies in business, he is now heavily booked to perform in many local shows.

He started learning the keyboard when he was only eight years old. “I would be humming the music while my father sang the songs and this prompted him to send me to learn the keyboard at Trinity College, where there is London-based school of music,” he said. Kevin proved to be a quick learner and at age ten he was already playing music for his father. “One of the best investments my father made was purchasing a keyboard for me. I was able to spend a lot of time developing the notes and this really gave me a lot of fulfillment.”    Kevin also reached the grand finals of the show Children of Mastana. As a musician he had arrived. Promoters everywhere were knocking on his doors requesting his performance. Kevin’s accomplishment prompted his father to open the band called “The Dream Team.” He approached Xtra Foods for sponsorship and within a short time the band was ready to get on the road. It has been five years now that Kevin has been with The Dream Team. He has been playing for audiences in New York, Miami, Toronto and Florida. Recently he was able to provide music for his father’s latest release entitled “Gold.” The songs on this CD are slowly climbing the charts of the East Indian frequencies. “I sometimes have to pinch myself, because I cannot believe that I am actually hearing my music on the radio. It is really a dream come true and I am enjoying every bit of this accomplishment,” he smiled.

Like his father Kevin also has a wonderful voice. He learnt the song “Kita Pagal Dil Hai” and he was able to sing it just once. The crowd was very appreciative and this has encouraged him to learn even more songs. The only problem is he must stay behind the keyboard to provide the music. This, he says, is robbing him of singing the songs that he really likes. “Maybe some day I would be able to sing and record like my father,” he said. Responding to the question of whether he has a lot of female fans he laughed saying, “I am able to get their attention. This country does have a lot of beautiful girls and I am just taking it lightly until I meet the right girl who will understand my lifestyle.” Kevin will be working on some of the festive tunes that his father and aunt will be doing for the Christmas and Carnival seasons. He seems to be happy with the way life is unfolding. His only wish is to get more free time to explore life better.