TUMKO DEKHA TOH YE KHAYAL AAYA RECORD AISA NA KISI NE BANAYA
Hi. My name is Jazzy Joe. I am a DJ, Music Educator, Influencer, Autograph collector and a Vinyl Collector. I have more than 2000 Autographed Record covers featuring singers, actors, actresses, music directors, lyricists and other prominent figures. I hold a Record in The Limca Book of Records for the maximum Autographed Record covers. I also have more than 1000 autographed photos, books, posters, t-shirts, FDCs, cricket bats and other items.
All the Philographists have a triggering
point that leads them to collect autographs and so do I.
I have been a DJ for 29 years and I have a collection of about 12000 LP records. LP records are big black music discs that were available long back much before CDs came into play. The cover size of an LP record is 12 by 12 inches. These records are difficult to find now.
An
LP record An LP Record cover of an old movie
When I started autograph collection in
2008, I had about 10,000 LP records with me. I owe my collection to this great
Indian artist - I am sure you know him, he was a great friend of mine, he was a
ghazal singer, he was - JAGJIT SINGH.
Whenever he had a concert in Delhi, I
would make sure that I attend it. Sometime in 2008 he had a concert at Sirifort
auditorium.
Just before this concert, I was casually
going through my records and I saw Jagjit ji’s record. A thought crossed my
head
“Why not just take his autograph on the cover of this
record…”
So when I met him, I asked him for an
autograph on that very record cover. This lit up his kind face. He took the
record cover in his hand and started telling me about all the people on the cover
picture. It was very nostalgic for him. He signed all the records I was
carrying.
I felt elated to see the joy on his face. I had made a person happy who made so many people happy all over the world!
This happiness compelled me to take
autographs of other celebrities on LP record covers, and the happiness on their
faces has kept me going ever since.
People often ask me about my favorite
autograph story. Well, it is difficult to pick one....
Let me tell you about my first meeting
with Pandit Jasraj. I have met him several times, but what happened in the
first meeting is nothing short of a film.
I had always wanted to meet Panditji, and then
I got to know about his show in Kamani auditorium in Delhi in 2013.
I reached before time and managed to get
to his green room. I peeped in and saw him rehearsing with a few musicians
before the concert. I waited for him to finish.
After sometime he came out and this is
when I approached him. He was a little surprised to see me, because with my
long hair and a hat, I know I don’t look like a typical classical music fan.
I touched his feet and he put his hand on
my head. I showed him my LP records with his pictures and requested for his
autograph.
He smiled looking at his pictures on the
records and said that he would surely sign them, but after the concert.
I ran towards the seating area while he walked
towards the stage. I watched his entire show and loved it. In fact, I was so
immersed in his performance that I forgot all about the autograph!
When the show ended and Panditji got up to
leave, I suddenly realized that I had to collect his autograph.
I rushed to the backstage but Pandit ji
had already left. I quickly made my way to the parking and at that very moment I
saw him closing the car door and leaving.
I had missed my chance!
I was really upset. Exactly at this moment
I saw a familiar face close by. I realized that this gentleman next to me was actually
sitting behind Panditji on the stage.
I ran to him, introduced myself and asked
his name. His name is Sanjay. I told him that I was a DJ and I was about to get
my LP records signed by Panditji but missed it. Sanjay told me that he was
about to head to the same place where Panditji had gone.
I asked him if he could get my records
signed. He readily agreed. He took my records and left in his car.
Relieved, I finally sat in my car when my
driver asked me the most important question of the evening.
I had handed over the records to Sanjay,
but how on earth was he supposed to contact me?
I just realized the second blunder I made in
the past 15 minutes!
I asked my driver to quickly follow Sanjay’s
car. My driver followed him. So we were following a car that was following
Pandit ji’s car.
After about a 35 minute drive, we reached
a farm house in Vasant Kunj. Pandit ji’s car and Sanjay’s car went inside the
farm house. It was already dark. I didn’t know what to do next. It wasn’t
appropriate to approach anyone so late.
So I sent my driver with my card. My
driver went inside and came back in a while.
What do you think happened next?
Well, nothing! Pandit ji’s staff had
received my card but there wasn’t any immediate response. I waited for some
time and then decided to head back home.
The next few days were spent in
anticipation of receiving an update about Pandit ji’s autograph, but to no
avail.
After about a week a got a call from Sanjay. He invited me to his house. I went there and he showed me the records. They were all autographed.
This article has been written by Pooja
Gupta.
She is a freelance writer, anchor and a former
Radio Jockey. Currently working on a web series, she has previously written
ads, articles, promos, short films, screenplays and dialogues. For work, she
can be contacted on pooja.gupta2178@yahoo.com.
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