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Musicians

Balwinder Safri (Singer) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 28, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth15 December 1958

Age63 Years (at time of death)

BirthplaceKapurthala, Punjab, India

ProfessionSinger

NationalityIndian

SpouseNikki Davitt

FamilyFather: Gyan Singh; Brother: Avtar Singh Safri; Stepdaughter: Priya Kumari

Balwinder Safri (Singer) Biography

Balwinder Safri was a Punjabi singer known for his work with the Safri Boys and a string of popular Bhangra tracks and albums. Born in Kapurthala, Punjab,,

Early life and background

Balwinder Singh, professionally known as Balwinder Safri, was born on 15 December 1958 in Kapurthala, Punjab, India. He grew up in a household where his father recited Gurbani and performed Shabad Kirtan at gurdwaras, and those early experiences accompanying his father helped spark his interest in singing. He completed a degree in music after attending Randhir College in Kapurthala and received basic classical training from his guru Jaswant Bhawra.

Career

Safri emigrated in 1980 and by 1991 was based in Birmingham, Canada, where he balanced day work as a tailor with weekend performances alongside local music groups. He started his singing career performing with groups such as Azad Group and Ashoka Group, appearing on stages and at events for Punjabi communities.

His first television appearance came in 1985 with the song “Jad Lagiya Chotta Ishqiya Diya.” In 1990 he founded his own ensemble, the Safri Boys, a six-member group that went on to release a series of Punjabi songs and albums that found audiences in both India and Canada.

Safri's recorded debut came in 1995 with the album Safri Bomb The Tumbi Remix. Over the following decades he contributed to numerous albums, including Kar Shukar Khuda Da (1994), Another Level (1999), Inferno (2000), Get Real (2010), and Jadon Mann Dole Tera (2014). His repertoire included well-known tracks such as “O Chan Mere Makhna” (1998), “Tere Ishqe Ne” (1999), “Do Tikhiyaan Talwaran” (1997), “Tera Bhana” (2000), “Pao Bhangra” (2009), “Mere Dil Te Alana Paya” (2010) and “Rahe Rahe Jaan Waliye” (2010).

His stage presence and recordings made him a recognized name in Bhangra circles. He explained in an interview that the stage name Safri came from a school nickname given by a teacher; he later adapted that nickname as part of his professional identity.

Public profile

Safri was known in Punjabi music communities both in India and in the diaspora. In 2019 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Brit Asia TV, acknowledging his long-standing contributions to Punjabi music. During his career he remained identified with Sikhism and retained ties to his hometown of Kapurthala.

Personal life

Safri's father was Gyan Singh, described as a religious singer; he had a younger brother, Avtar Singh Safri, who is also a singer. At the time of his death he was married to his second wife, Nikki Davitt, and had a stepdaughter named Priya Kumari. He stood approximately 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) tall and had brown eyes and brown hair.

Health and death

In 2022 Safri underwent triple bypass surgery at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, England. Complications from the operation led to brain damage and a period in a coma. After about 86 days and some signs of improvement during treatment, he was discharged from hospital but did not recover and passed away on 26 July 2022 at the age of 63. His death was met with public condolences from figures in the Punjabi community, including former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

Latest updates

Balwinder Safri’s music catalog and legacy continue to be remembered by fans and fellow artists who noted his role in popularizing Bhangra and Punjabi songs across communities in India and abroad.
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Recent Work

Jadon Mann Dole Tera

Music album

2014
Get Real

Music album

2010
Inferno

Music album

2000
Another Level

Music album

1999
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Career Highlights

  1. Founded the Safri Boys music group in 1990
  2. Debut album: Safri Bomb The Tumbi Remix (1995)
  3. Popular songs include "O Chan Mere Makhna," "Tere Ishqe Ne," and "Pao Bhangra"
  4. Received the Brit Asia TV Lifetime Achievement Award (2019)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Balwinder Safri (Singer) born?

15 December 1958

What is Balwinder Safri (Singer) known for?

Singer

Who is Balwinder Safri (Singer) married to?

Nikki Davitt