A tribute to Joseph Allan Goveas (24th July 1949 - 14th September 2017) by citizensarchive

A tribute to Joseph Allan Goveas (24th July 1949 - 14th September 2017)

Joseph Allan Goveas was a famous Pakistani musician and teacher, he had been part of many Karachi based bands such as The Young Ones and The Captivators.

He started his music career when he was 11 years old in the 1960s. He joined his first band in 1964 with other members from his church; Our Lady of Fatima Parish, called The Young Ones. They played for many festivals, at hotels and in their Church choir as well. He taught music at St.Patricks High School from 1970 to 1979, he then taught at Karachi Grammar School for 11 years, he then went back to teach at St.Patricks High School from 1993 till the end of his career. He not only taught music in schools but also helped youngsters in his community and outside to enhance their music skills, some of whom went on to form their own bands.

Mr.Goveas, was an active member of the Christian community and not only worked untiringly in own Church; Our Lady of Fatima Parish, but also in the other Catholic Churches in Karachi.

He was a highly talented, humble and hardworking individual and has left many happy memories behind in the hearts of the people he associated with, his students, colleagues, community members and all those who had the pleasure to listen to his music. A great loss indeed!

The Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP) had the privilege to interview Mr.Goveas in 2012 as part of our Oral History Project. In this podcast we have paid a tribute to him by sharing a few excerpts from his interview. He read out a short memoir of his life and career for us which he wrote for an online wordpress called Legendary Musicians of Karachi (https://lmkonline.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/all-that-i-am-by-j-allan-goveas/). We had the honour to hear him play at his house; a short musical piece and also play a song that he often taught his students called, “ Pakistan Forever.”