Nazia, as a kid she used to sing around the house with her brother. She was gifted with this incredible nasally voice that was plain yet intriguing. Music was simply a hobby for her and she had never considered singing as a career choice. She didn’t arrive at the crossroads of her musical journey until she met Biddu, a British-Indian composer. He was really impressed by the nasally quality of her voice. After discussing his thoughts with Feroz Khan the director and star of Qurbani, Nazia was asked to sing what would become her history-making song, ‘Aap jaisa koi.’ And that was it, her crossroads, and she chose the path that began her musical adventure.

Nazia was 35 when she passed away. It seems that it was only yesterday with her fresh, innocent looks and melodious voice sang the hit song Aap Jaisa Koi Meri Zindagi Mein Aaye, capturing the hearts of millions all over the world. Recorded in England by a 13-year-old Pakistani schoolgirl Nazia Hassan, the song was an upbeat blend of the East and the West. After achieving fame followed by a short stint as a political analyst for the United Nations in America, she had just begun to relish life when disaster struck. She was diagnosed as having cancer of the lungs. The illness ultimately took her life.

Rarely has anyone so young been so widely celebrated for her contribution to music. Nazia has been called Pakistan’s first pop diva, whose three major albums sold millions of copies and whose celebrity status spanned over the whole world. Nazia, who had no formal training in music except for a few music lessons under the guidance of Sohail Rana in Kalyon ki mala, later joined hands with younger brother Zoheb. Nazia and Zoheb's three pop albums changed the tide, showing confidence in indigenous lyrics and rhythm and presenting a new fusion of the East and West in pop music.

It was followed by another hit, Disco Deewanee, released in 1981. The album made history by achieving gold status on the day of its release. Nazia and Zohaib, then traveled to Pakistan in early 1980s and released their first album Young Tarang, containing famous songs like Dum Dum Dee Dee Dum Dum. It was followed by a few more, which made their popularity soar. The two were called the trendsetters of disco music in Pakistan. Their last volume Camera Camera, released in the early 90s, consisted of popular songs. Nazia's suffering is over. The pain is gone. She is no more but she will always live in the hearts of those who love her.

Article from http://www.guardian.co.uk/

Nazia Hassan, who has died of lung cancer at the age of 35, revolutionised Asian pop music. A singer of rare expressiveness, she pioneered the disco revolution in Indian film music in the 1980s.

If Someone Like You Comes Into My Life, the song she sang - as a 15-year-old schoolgirl - in Qurbani (Sacrifice, 1980), was one of the biggest hits in Bollywood film music. Young Asians in the sub-continent and Britain took to the dance floors to its tune.

Born into a well-to-do Karachi family, Nazia came as a teenager to London, where the song was recorded after she had met Bollywood filmmaker Feroz Khan at a party. She was not a trained singer, but Feroz, and the London-based composer Biddu, liked the nasal quality of her voice.

Nazia's association with Biddu brought her into the limelight on the British Asian pop scene. Together, they brought out the immensely successful album, Disco Deewane (1981), which, with its racy songs and harmonious blend of eastern rhythms and western beats, was number one for more than a year. Overnight, Nazia became the queen of Asian pop.

Later, she and her brother, Zohaib Hassan, sang in another Bollywood film, Star. They returned to Pakistan in the early 1980s and released their first album, Young Tarang. Another album, Hotline, followed in 1987. Nazia's last solo album, Camera Camera, came out in London in 1992. Though some of these later albums lacked Nazia's early expressiveness, they still revealed her joie de vivre.

Nazia, who had a London University law degree, lived most of her life in Britain, but always returned to her roots in Pakistan. She was independent, and was never afraid to speak her mind. A lot of her money was given to charity; she also set up an organisation to help the poor, and - even at the peak of her popularity - made special appearances on television shows for children. She spent a lot of time with young people, educating them about the dangers of drugs.

She is survived by her husband and son.

• Nazia Hassan, singer, born April 3 1965; died August 13 2000

Jai Kumar Wednesday August 23, 2000
The Guardian