Elahe’s musical education was shaped by some of the greatest figures in Iranian traditional music. She studied under Abdollah Davami, a master of classical Persian music, and Gholamhossein Banan, one of the most iconic singers of Iranian traditional music. These mentors helped refine her vocal technique and instilled in her a deep appreciation for the nuances of traditional Persian melodies. By the age of 27, Elahe’s extraordinary talent caught the attention of Davoud Pirnia, the producer of “Golha,” a seminal music program on Radio Iran dedicated to traditional Persian music.
Pirnia recognized Elahe’s potential and offered her the opportunity to perform on “Golha.” Her first official broadcast was under the stage name “Parichehr,” where she sang with the Tehran Radio Jazz Orchestra, also known as Radio Bisim, alongside Manouchehr Sakhaei. Her performance marked the beginning of a stellar career. In the same year, while acting in the film The Last Night, she met Majid Vafadar. This meeting led to a fruitful collaboration between the two artists, further solidifying Elahe’s place in the Iranian music scene.
Elahe also appeared in the 1955 film The Man Who Suffers, where she collaborated with Anoushirvan Rouhani. Initially using the stage name Parichehr, she soon transitioned to her now-iconic stage name, Elahe, under which she achieved widespread recognition. Her rise to fame was cemented with her performance of the song “The Shame of the Times,” a collaboration with lyricist Bahador Yeganeh and composer Homayoun Khorram. This song became a defining piece in Elahe’s repertoire and showcased her ability to convey deep emotion through her voice.