Sharafat was a child prodigy, who rose meteorically after his adoption by Faiyyaz Khan. As a result of incessant riyaz, Sharafat Hussain gained a deep insight into music and his voice gained a rich timber. During this time he used to accompany Ustad Faiyaz Khan on the Tanpura in many concerts and gained valuable experience in gauging the pulse of the listeners and creating the right atmosphere towards the commencement of a Mehfil. At the age of eight, he made a stunning debut at the influential Matunga Music Circle in Mumbai. This triggered off invitations to perform at the All India Music Conference at Allahabad and the All Bengal Conference in Kolkata. When he was eleven, he was hailed as the `Rising Sun` of vocalism at the Gaya Conference. By the time he was twelve, he had made his first disc with HMV/ EMI, and topped the prestigious Baroda State Music Competition.

Sharafat was only 20, when Faiyyaz Khan died. Thereafter, he started studying with his maternal uncle, Ustad Ata Hussain Khan of the allied Atrauli - Rangile lineage. Soon thereafter, he acquired a third guide - his scholarly father - in - law, Vilayat Hussain Khan of the Agra Lineage. Thus, like his foster - father, Sharafat Hussain came to represent a magnificent confluence of three intimately connected lineages - Agra, Atrauli, and Rangile.

While still in his 30s, Sharafat became amongst the busiest vocalists in India, and enjoyed a continuous run of success for two decades (1965 - 1985). Along with popularity came the honours. He was made an Honorary Fellow of the Performing Arts Academy of Uttar Pradesh (Northern Provinces) and decorated with the Padma Shri by the President of India. He also got a Tansen Award.

During the latter years of his life, Sharafat Hussain settled down in Atrauli. He preferred its quiet atmosphere and the surrounding countryside to the glamour of the big cities. There are some artists who receive appreciation and monetary gain in abundance and there are others whose merits have never been fully recognized. Sharafat Hussain belonged to the latter category.

In 1985, Sangeet Natak Akademi held a special ceremony to honour him shortly before he succumbed to lung cancer on July 7, 1985, at the age of 55.