Four-time National Film Award-winning music director and singer S I Tutul has launched a new band, AB King, with its first stage performance held in Houston, US, on September 19 as part of a fundraising event organised by Sonar Bangla Foundation.

The band made its debut at the Noyna Center Auditorium during the event, which raised 1.5 crore taka from Bangladeshi expatriates in Houston for the foundation’s projects.

Sonar Bangla Foundation is a California-based nonprofit organisation founded in 2009 that works on healthcare, education and biomedical engineering initiatives in Bangladesh. Its projects include affordable dialysis services for kidney patients, disease screening, laboratory services, and training and research in biomedical engineering. Tutul serves as the foundation’s global brand ambassador.

Speaking about AB King, Tutul said he wanted to create a platform that could continue even after his death. He also clarified that the band is not a replacement for LRB, but a separate entity.

According to Tutul, AB King will honour his mentor Ayub Bachchu and perform songs by legendary Bangladeshi musicians alongside its own original music.

At the debut show, the band performed songs by LRB, Ferdous Wahid and Tutul. Ifti also performed an English cover song.

Tutul invited Ayub Bachchu’s younger brother, Mohammad Zakaria Liton, to the stage, where Liton wished the new band success.

The current lineup features S I Tutul on vocals and keyboards, Ifti on guitar, Akash on bass and Nafiz on drums. Ishtiaq A Siddiqui serves as the band manager, while Kolahol Communication will handle the band’s digital consultancy.

AB King is expected to perform in several cities across the US and Europe this year.