Vilayat Hussain Khan (1895-1962) was one of the greatest figures of Agra Gharana, who excelled both as singer and teacher. His father, Natthan Khan, was himself a legendary singer, and a noted guru. Vilayat Hussain Khan's elder brothers were also noted singers and taught him after their father's early death. Abdullah Khan was Natthan Khan's son who was several years senior to his brother Vilayat.
Vilayat Hussain Khan, the singer, is not to be confused with the famous and controversial sitar player Vilayat Khan. Vilayat Khan the singer had several disciples in Maharashtra, and the region owes its eminence in Hindustani music to the work of generous teachers like him, Balakrishnabuwa Ichalkaranjikar, Alladiya Khan, and Abdul Karim Khan. His most famous guru-shishya relationship was with Jagannathbuwa Purohit and each of them composed several bandishes dedicated to the other. Vilayat Khan's singing from his later years is available through commercial releases and private collectors.
Vilayat Hussain Khan composed bandishes in many ragas including some very rare ones under the nome de plume "Pran Piya".
Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan received his early training in hindustani classical music from his father Natthan Khan who was one of the pioneers of the Agra Gharana. After his father's death, he was trained by his uncles Kallan Khan and Mohammad Baksh. The total number of gurus of Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan sahib are estimated at around 42 which include aftab-e-mousiqi Ustad Faiyaz Khan. His most famous guru-shishya relationship was with Jagannathbuwa Purohit and each of them composed several bandishes dedicated to each other[1].
Some of his well known students include Mogubai Kurdikar, Pandit Yashpaul (Sagun Piya), Jagannathbuwa Purohit, Menaka Shirodkar (mother of Shobha Gurtu), Ratnakant Ramnathkar, Ram Marathe, Gajananrao Joshi and Girija Kelekar. His son Yunus Hussain Khan is a prominent name in Agra Gharana as well[2].