LOS ANGELES: It was a spellbinding, nostalgic and memorable evening, as over 250 listeners were taken down memory lane by the mesmerizing voice of Avtar Chadda. Renowned for his Rafi-like style of singing, Chadda evoked memories as he presented the golden voice of Mohammed Rafi at a function held on September 22 at the Royal Delhi Palace in West Hills.

The function was sponsored by ASC Graphics.Each song sung by Avtar was testament to the versatility of this gifted Los Angeles based singer, who carried the evening with his boundless energy and perfect pitch.Accompanying him was Leena Benjamin, of the Caravan group, who supported him in duets that added color to the evening.

There is no doubt that Rafi's voice has captured the Indian audiences' hearts for decades even after the singer's death. Many artistes take pride in being able to sing like the legendary singer. Avtar Chadda, makes no lofty declarations. He claims that singing is just his hobby and that his focus is his profession as graphic artist. But his ability to enrapture a large audience for a whole evening speaks volumes for his skill and his showmanship.

Leena's voice was like a breath of fresh air; she carried her melodies with ease and accompanied Avtar with the harmonious balance of a trapeze artiste. Not widely exposed to the public, there is no doubt that she will go far in her appeal for Los Angeles music lovers.The song selection provided an evening of pure, unadulterated entertainment, with the recreation of the rich timbre of Rafi's voice, whether in soft, romantic songs or exuberant, soulful lyrics.

Selecting a handful of songs from the over 26,000 songs sung by Rafi, Avtar's selection captured the sadness, passion & joy of every lyric.Emcee Harbir Narang did a great job in holding the various numbers together.The Caravan Band provided a flawless accompaniment to the singers, offering a perfect blend of musical and vocal talent.Special guest singers including Sunny Naine, Gurdeep Grewal, Aslam and Amit.