With an inherited allegiance to the Naalan gharana of qawwali, Akbar Ali’s initiation to music was at the hands of his father Bashir Ahmad Khan sahib. Recognizing the nuanced sensitivity in Akbar’s voice, his uncle, late Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan, who followed a blood lineage to the Sham Churasi gharana of khayal gayeki, as well as a spiritual linkage to Ustad Amir Khan of the Indore gharana took him under his able wings.
His diversified tutoring is ably demonstrated in his performance which fulfills all the requirements of raga badhat, taan tayyari and laykari with great skill. He has been performing to much acclaim in both India and Pakistan.