Seyyed Javad Zabihi: A Voice of Devotion and Tradition
Seyyed Javad Zabihi was born in 1920 in Shemiran, Tehran. His father, Seyyed Esmaeil Zabihi, was a renowned maddah (religious reciter) from the village of Darakeh, north of Tehran. From a young age, Zabihi immersed himself in religious gatherings, often seen wearing a fineh (a traditional religious headscarf). Despite lacking formal musical training, he developed a deep understanding of vocal techniques and became known for his mastery of religious recitations.
In 1936, Zabihi expanded his artistic reach by collaborating with Davoud Pirnia, the founder of Golha programs, as well as legendary musicians such as Hassan Kasaei, Reza Varzandeh, Jalil Shahnaz, Ahmad Ebadi, Morteza Mahjoubi, Ali Tajvidi, Parviz Yahaghi, Hossein Tehrani, Mehdi Khalidi, and Farhang Sharif. Although he did not perform with instruments, his unique style involved an initial instrumental improvisation, followed by his solo unaccompanied singing, and concluding with another instrumental section. This unconventional approach distinguished his performances and earned him a respected place in Iranian music.