Desert Rose was founded in 1999 by leading world music composer and director, Lynne Holmes-Ganief, producer of 7 highly successful world and meditation music albums. Together with co-lyricist, lead vocalist and life partner, Yusuf Ganief, the duo makes up the core of the performing group, Desert Rose. Since their partnership in 2005 they have produced and released 4 albums under their record label, Desert Rose Music.

Lynne was born in Cape Town, South Africa. From an early age, Lynne began studying piano. At the tender age of 6 she astounded critics with her first public performance. At the age of 13 she was chosen by the National Symphony Orchestra to perform a solo piano concerto for South African National Television. She graduated under the world renowned Professor Lamar Crowson in 1989 at the University of Cape Town.

One of her solo performance highlights was composing and performing for Mr Mandela in 1995. In 2000 she successfully released her first album Sands of Time through Passion Music in London. San Song remained on the radio 5 top 40 charts for 4 months reaching no.3. The album was published as one of South Africa's top twenty albums. In 2005 she released 2 healing world music albums, Deep Relaxation Music Volume 1 and Heavenly Music.

In 2005 she teamed up with her business and life partner, Yusuf Ganief. Since then she has produced and released the highly acclaimed spiritual world music albums, Spirit of Africa, The Prayer, Hymn of the Soul and The Awakening.

Spirit of Africa, released in October 2007, has been hailed as a masterpiece of African World Music by Archbishop Tutu for its musical tribute to Chief Albert Luthuli. The album features some of the most recognised traditional and indigenous artists in South Africa and Africa and the music is a classical rendition of African healing and meditation music. One of the tracks "Born Free" has been chosen as the theme song for a documentary on the making of the world renowned "Black Christ Painting" and will be screened in 2009 on SABC channels.

In 2008 Desert Rose launched Yusuf as the lead vocalist on their first spiritual world music album, The Prayer. The album is a world first in combining ancient Sufi chants with Classical World Music and has been acknowledged by Musica and International Music Distributors. Since its release the first track, Remembrance, has received numerous accolades from all quarters including Musica, International Peace University of South Africa, Voice of the Cape Radio, Odyssey Magazine and Capetalk Radio. Quote by Lynne Holmes-Ganief

"Throughout the history of mankind, music has inspired humanity to greater spiritual awareness, reminding us of our soul's longing to become one with the Creator, The music of Remembrance brings this message of spirituality, opening the heart and evoking a well of emotions. Out of sadness, comes a deep surrendering and acceptance of life; and out of acceptance, comes blissful freedom as we emancipate ourselves from all that which is transient and of this world." YUSUF GANIEF (Business Director, Lead Vocalist, Lyricist and Poet)

Yusuf was born in Cape Town and like many other South Africans experienced the hardship of forced removals and growing up as a young man during the most trying time of the Apartheid era. However, he was blessed with being introduced at an early age to the spiritual world and ancient practices of Sufism, brought to the shores of South Africa by his Javanese ancestors.

As a child of 10 he participated in weekly Sufi prayer meetings and within his first year he was asked by his Ustadt (Sufi Master) to perform and recite ancient Sufi prayers as a solo. This inspired him and for many years he honed his Arabic recital and chanting skills although he never performed on any professional level until Lynne discovered his unique vocal talents. During his teens his voice was widely acknowledged and sought after within the Sufi practicing communities.

"Yusuf's rich rooted voice singing praises to Creator and the accompanying music initiates soothing, rhythmical and soulful sounds that makes listening not only deeply relaxing but also spiritually evocative. This reminds us of our need and duty to seek tranquillity and harmony within ourselves and with the universe", says Dr Salie Abrahams, Rector of the International Peace University of South Africa.

Besides being a vocalist Yusuf also writes poems and assists as both Arabic and English lyricist for Desert Rose. Remembrance, the hit track from The Prayer was his first ever professional recording. Besides his role as vocalist, lyricist and poet he also manages the business affairs of Desert Rose.

Since 1999 Yusuf was employed as senior management within the corporate world and in 2007 he gave up his high profile job as CEO for the Cape Town Festival to pursue his dream of promoting religious tolerance and understanding, crossing cultural barriers and evoking spirituality through the international language of music.

"Music is one of the purest and most beautiful gifts bestowed on Mankind by the Almighty God who set the rhythm and tone of every sound in the universe. Is it not Man who chooses to uplift or destroy their soul with that which was received in its purest form? I pray the sounds of our music always echo the voice of healing and inspiration in the hearts of our listeners" comments Yusuf.