Google is celebrating the 63rd birthday of Bangladeshi singer-composer Lucky Akhand with a doodle. Born on June 18, 1956, in Old Dhaka, then in East Pakistan, Akhand started his career as a musician in 1984 with the solo album'Lucky Akhand'. Google doodle shows the musician playing his guitar while singing. He continues to be remembered for his singing and the music he created. Akhand learned piano, accordion, harmonica and Spanish guitar at the age of five from his father. Akhand wrote his own songs as a child and appeared on children's TV and radio shows before the age of 10. He died at the age of 60 due to stage four lung cancer in 2017. Madhubala 86th Birthday Google Doodle: Search Giant Remembers 'Mughal-E-Azam' Actress.

On his 13th birthday, the Pakistan Art Council awarded him first prize for 'Modern Bangla Songs' in 1969. Following which, he was employed as a composer for HMV Pakistan and later as a musician for HMV India. Some of Lucky Akhand's notable songs include 'Abar Elo Je Sondha', 'Agey Jodi Jantam', 'Amay Dekona', 'Mamonia', 'Ei Neel Monihar' and 'Hridoy Amar'. He is known for helping launch the Bangla rock movement and thus shaping Bangladesh's cultural identity.

Lucky Akhand is known for supporting Bangladesh fight for its independence from Pakistan by singing patriotic songs on  Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. The free radio station boosted the moral during the conflict and he came to be known as a 'Freedom Fighter'. In 1984, he released his debut album Lucky Akhand which became quite popular. He has also written songs for other singers. One of his brother's hit song 'Abar Elo Je Shondha', which was featured in the Bangla film Ghuddi. He also went on to become director of the national radio network Bangladesh Betar.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 07, 2019 03:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).