KOCHI: Music director A J Joseph, 70, famous for his devotional songs, passed away at his home at Eerayilkadavu in Kottayam on Wednesday. Immortalised by the Christmas carol ‘Yahoodiyaayile Oru Gramathil,’ which has been a huge hit since 1987 when it was first released, Joseph began his career as a guitarist in the theatre group of the late N N Pillai.
All the songs written and composed by Joseph for the album ‘Snehapratheekam’, released by Tharangini Music Company, were instant hits. Of them, Yahoodiyaayile Oru Gramathil crossed language barriers, and was well received in Tamil and Kannada. During his stint as film song composer, though very brief, Joseph produced many memorable songs, including ‘Ore Swaram Ore Niram’. The song fetched K S Chitra her first state award in the best female playback singer category in 1985 Joseph started a western musical school in Kottayam, and was the choir master at Lourdes Church there.
Joseph will be laid to rest at Lourdes Forane Church, Kottayam, at 4 pm on Thursday. He is survived by wife Ponnamma, son Tony Joseph and daughter Diana. His son Danny Johns Joseph had died in an accident.