[custom_adv] Mohammad-Reza Shajarian (born 23 September 1940) is an internationally and critically acclaimed classical singer, composer and Ostad (master) of Persian traditional music. He has been called "homeland's greatest living maestro of Persian classical music. [custom_adv] Shajarian is also known for his skills in Persian calligraphy, and humanitarian activities.Shajarian was born in Mashhad, and started singing at the age of five, under the supervision of his father. [custom_adv] At the age of twelve, he began studying the traditional classical repertoire known as the Radif.Shajarian started his singing career in 1959 at Radio Khorasan, rising to prominence in the 1960s with his distinct style of singing. [custom_adv] His main teachers were Ahmad Ebadi, Esmaeil Mehrtash, Abdollah Davami, and Nour-Ali Boroumand.He also learned the vocal styles of singers from previous generations, including Reza Gholi Mirza Zelli, Fariborz Manouchehri, Ghamar Molouk Vaziri, Eghbal Azar, and Taj Isfahani. [custom_adv] He has cited legendary persian tar musician Jalil Shahnaz as highly influential to his development, indicating that he has often tried to mimic Shahnaz's playing style in his singing. [custom_adv] Shajarian has collaborated with Parviz Meshkatian, Mohammad Reza Lotfi, Hossein Alizadeh, and Faramarz Payvar. He is recognised as skilled singer in the challenging traditional Dastgah style. [custom_adv] In 1999 UNESCO in France presented him with the Picasso Award and in 2006 with the UNESCO Mozart Medal.In March 2016, Shajarian revealed that he has had kidney cancer for the past fifteen years. [custom_adv] He appeared with shaved hair in his Nowrouz congratulation video, published on his YouTube account.Shajarian studied singing at the early age of five under the supervision of his father by recitation of the Quran. [custom_adv] At the age of twelve, he began studying the Persian traditional classical repertoire known as the Radif without his father's consent as studying and performing music was against his father's religious beliefs. [custom_adv] Shajarian started his singing career in 1959 at Radio Khorasan, rising to prominence in the 1960s with his distinct style of singing. [custom_adv] Shajarian has not always been in music groups, but he currently does the vocals for the Masters of Persian Music with his son Homayoun Shajarian, as well as two other ostads, Kayhan Kalhor and Hossein Alizadeh. [custom_adv] He also performs with his daughter Mozhgan Shajarian.In 2008, he toured the world with the Ava Ensemble, composed of his son Homayoun (tombak and vocals), Hossein Behroozinia (barbat), Majid Derakhshani (tar), Hossain Rezaeenia (daf), and Saeed Farajpouri (kamanche). [custom_adv] in 2012, he toured with the Shahnaz Ensemble with his daughter Mojgan Shajarian and other band members. The ensemble is named after master tar musician Jalil Shahnaz, with a percentage of the proceeds going towards supporting his health care needs. [custom_adv] Shajarian is considered as one of the most celebrated world music artists. His singing is widely believed to be technically flawless, powerful, and strongly emotional. [custom_adv] In Persian classical Dastgah music, singing is the most difficult art to master and Shajarian is the embodiment of the perfect singer and a major source of inspiration. [custom_adv] In 1999 UNESCO in France presented him with the prestigious Picasso Award, one of Europe’s highest honors. [custom_adv] Since then his career has included teaching at University's Department of Fine Arts, working at National Radio and Television, researching persian music, and making numerous recordings. [custom_adv] Shajarian's Bidaad album was recorded after a three-year hiatus from commercial recording. The lyrics of the album speak of a wonderful place having been reduced to shambles and bloodshed, in which he sings in sadness "what happened?". [custom_adv] When giving a lecture at California State University, Sacramento on 2 March 2012, he was asked what the lyrics of this song meant. His response made it clear that he chose these lyrics based on what happened to the Iranian regime in the aftermath of the revolution – a once beautiful country being reduced to shambles. [custom_adv] This is widely considered his first commercial recording meant to represent the voice of an oppressed people in Iran.Shajarian has indicated support for Iranians protesting against the 12 June 2009 Iranian presidential election results. [custom_adv] When Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad referred to the protesters as "dust and trash", Shajarian told a BBC Persian channel telephone interviewer that he (Shajarian) considered himself the voice of dust and trash: "It is the voice of dust and trash and it will always remain the voice of dust and trash. [custom_adv] " He also asked IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) to stop broadcasting his songs. He mentioned that his famous song "Iran, Ey Saraye Omid" (Iran, the land of Hope), has no relation with the current situation of his country. [custom_adv] Shajarian transferred to hospital on 27 January 2020 and had a successful surgery. He was released from hospital on 25 August but was hospitalizated again on 5 October. Shajarian died on 8 October 2020 at the age of 80 at intensive care unit of Jam Hospital in Tehran.
