Prakash Kaur, the immortal legend of Punjabi folk songs, was born on 19 September 1919 at Bishan Singh Ji’s house in Lahore. She was the elder sister of Punjabi singer Surinder Kaur.
In 1940, Kaur started singing for Indian radio. She rose to fame from Peshawar Radio, All India Radio Lahore. Kaur sang most of the songs with her sister, Surinder Kaur.
In 1943, Kaur accompanied her thirteen-year-old sister, Surinder Kaur, to the studio of All India Radio, Lahore. Surinder Kaur, who surprised everyone at the radio station, also passed the audition test.
After August 1943, Kaur, along with Surinder Kaur and Didar Singh Pardesian, started visiting the radio station. Most of the time, they sang duets, which became very popular. Buddha Singh Tan, who was then assistant to Jeevan Lal Mattu, the head of the music section of All India Radio Lahore, trained the two sisters in melodious singing.
In 1943, the two sisters recorded the song “Maawan te dheeyan ral baithiyan” for HMV, which is still popular among music lovers. The two sisters had lyrics for duets songs they recorded over the next 4 years “Dhol sipahiya weh kithe gayon dil laake, “Haaye naa vass oye na wass badla aje naa wass oye kaaliya and “Maawan te dheeyan ral baithiyan ni maaye”. All these duets became instant hits. Kaur also presented several religious “songs” on All India Radio Lahore. which became popular in the listening area of All India Radio Lahore.
After the partition of 47, his family came to India. Surinder Kaur moved from Ferozepur to Bombay. After staying in Amritsar for some time, Prakash Kaur moved to Delhi with her family.
Her most popular songs “Gori diyan jhanjran” and “Chan weh showkan mele di, “Mera patla maahi, “Aap mahi ne chug laiyan, “Ghut paani pilade ni sohniye gharha bharendiye naare, “Boohe te marangi jandre ve peke laavan gi dera, bajre da sitta, Kala Dooria and Sarke sarke jandiye.
In the 1950s, her third sister Narinder Kaur also managed to make her mark in the singing field through Indian Radio Delhi.
In 1952, Surinder Kaur came to Delhi with her family, there they performed the popular religious songs “Chum chum rkkho ni eh kalgi jujhar di, Kithe maata toreya Ajeet te Jujhar noo, Maachhi warhe wich baitha shehanshah jahan daa and hath wich khanda etc
During the 1950s – 1980s, the Kaur sisters were extremely popular among Punjabi music lovers. Prakash Kaur Kaur died on November 2, 1982 Her songs have created a distinct identity among the audience even today.
The year 1984 brought another time of desolation for her family when her house was set on fire during the riots that followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. His son survived these riots and later migrated to America.
During her singing career, Prakash Kaur recorded around 500 songs, most of which were extremely hit in the entire time.