Khan was born in a family of musicians tracing back to Behram Khan, who was a singer of traditional Gwalior gharana gayaki. His father"s elder brother Bade Yusuf Khan and his father initially trained him. His father Chhote Yusuf Khan was his guru.
Apart from khayal, he performed dhrupad, dhamar and thumri. This was followed with extensive taleem from his family elders, like Chand Khan, Barkhudar Khan, Mahtab Khan who had imbibed the Gwalior Gayaki. He further developed this style suiting his own artistic sensitivity.
Khan"s traditional compositions have been recorded by the British Broadcasting Corporation and Iraq Radio.
Organizations like Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academi, Lucknow and International Trade Commission Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata have recorded and preserved many compositions. During the past several decades, he has been a regular performer on Akashvani and Doordarshan Lucknow.
Khan has participated in many national and regional conferences like Sadarang Conference, Godrej Conference, Lucknow Mahotsav, Dover Lance Conference, International Trade Commission Sangeet Sammelan, Prayag Sangeet Samiti Sangeet Sammelan all over India and has been felicited by Critics, fellow artists and many reputed recognized institutions like Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy, (1981), Banaras Hindu University (1993), Eastern Zone cultural center and Press club Kolkata. Khan composed several compositions and was also a prolific writer and poet under the pseudonym "Rasan Piya".
Many compositions (bandish) that he sung were his own creations.
He trained numerous students in his lifetime and became regarded as a "guru" at the International Trade Commission Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata. Khan died on 18 February 2016 at the age of 107.
International Trade Commission award (1994) Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2009) Kashi Swar Ganga Award (2003) Ras Sagar (title) Award (2004) Bhuwalka Award (2010) Padma Bhushan (2013) - the oldest person ever to be conferred a Padma award. Lifetime achievement award (2013) by Government of NCT of Delhi. He was a member of the All India Radio Audition Committee, New Delhi and was awarded with many titles by reputed organizations.
He was a member of the All India Radio Audition Committee, New Delhi and was awarded with many titles by reputed organizations.
