Mohammad Reza Shajarian born September 23, 1940 in Mashhad, Iran) is a Persian traditional singer and undisputed Master (Ostad) of Persian music. Shajarian is one of the most well known Iranian artists and probably the greatest singer in the history of the recorded Persian traditional music.

His best works has been in collaboration with Parviz Meshkatian, Mohammad Reza Lotfi, Hossein Alizadeh, and Faramarz Payvar. His singing is technically flawless, powerful, and strongly emotional. 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.

Early work
He studied singing at the early age of five under the supervision of his father, and 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 1960's with his distinct style of singing. Since then, he has had an illustrious career that includes teaching at Tehran University's Department of Fine Arts (among other places), working at National Radio and Television, researching Iranian music, and making numerous important recordings.

Music Groups
Shajarian has not always been in music groups, but currently he does the vocals for the Masters of Persian Music with his son Homayoun Shajarian, and two other masters Keyhan Kalhor and Hossein Alizadeh.

 

Significant Works

• Raast-Panjgaah concert with Mohammad Reza Lotfi in Raast-panjgaah (1976).

• Be yaad e Aaref with Mohammad Reza Lotfi in Bayaat e Turk (1986).

• Sepideh with Mohammad Reza Lotfi and the Sheydaa Ensemble in Dashti.

• Bidaad with Parviz Meshkatian and the Aref Ensemble in Homaayoun (1985).

• Aastaan e Jaanaan with Parviz Meshkatian and Naaser Farhangfar in Shur (1982).

• Nava - Morakkab Khani with Parviz Meshkatian and the Aref Ensemble in Navaa, Se-gaah and Dashti (1986).

• Dastaan with Parviz Meshkatian and the Aref Ensemble in Chahaar-Gah (1987).

• Cheshmeye Noush with Mohammad Reza Lotfi in Raast-panjgaah.

• Shab,Sokoot,Kavir with Keyhan Kalhor based on the folk music of Khorasan (2000).

• Without you with the Masters Ensemble in Navaa and Bayaat e Turk (?).

• Faryaad with the Masters Ensemble in Raast-panjgaah (2003).

• Eshgh Daanad with Mohammad Reza Lotfi in Aboo Ataa (1981).

• Chehre be Chehre with Mohammad Reza Lotfi (1977).

Work eras
It can be said that Shajarian has had different distinct eras in his artistic carrier of almost 40 years.

The first era was the time he started working in Iran's radio mainly with radio orchestra and mainly with Faramarz Payvar.

Masters
He studied with the great masters Esmaeil Mehrtash and Ahmad Ebadi, and learned the vocal styles of singers from previous generations, including Reza Gholi Mirza Zelli, Ghamar Molouk Vaziri, Eghbal Azar , and Taj. He started playing the Santour under the instruction of Jalal Akhbari in order to better understand and perform the traditional repertoire, and in 1960, he became the pupil of Faramarz Payvar. He deployed inspired by the late master vocalist Gholam Hussein Banan. He studied under the guidance of master Abdollah Davami, from whom he learned the most ancient (songs). Abdollah Davami also passed on to Shajarian his own interpretation of the Radif.

Awards and distinctions
In 2004, he was nominated for a Grammy award in Best World Music. In 1999, UNESCO in France presented him with the prestigious Picasso Award.

In 2006, MR Shajarian was nominated again for a Grammy award in Best World Music.

Special thanks to: wikipedia.org