Mohammad-Reza Shajarian (Persian:
محمدرضا شجريان) (born 23 September 1940 in Mashhad,Iran)
is an internationally and critically acclaimed Persian traditional singer,
composer and Ostad(master) of Persian Music. He has been called "Iran's
greatest living master of traditional Persian music." Shajarian is also
known for his skills inPersian calligraphy, and humanitarian activities.
Shajarian started singing at the 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 1960s with his distinct style of
singing. 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. When giving a lecture at
California State University, Sacramento on March 2, 2012, he was asked what
teacher was most influential to his development, and he cited legendary Iranian
tar musician Jalil Shahnaz, indicating that Shahnaz' playing style was what he
most tried to mimic with his own singing style.
Shajarian has collaborated withParviz Meshkatian, Mohammad Reza
Lotfi,Hossein Alizadeh and Faramarz Payvar. He is recognised as skilled singer
in the challenging traditional Dastgah(Modal) style. In 1999
UNESCo in France presented him with the Picaso
Award and in 2006 with the Unesco Mozart Medal.
Here are some of his tunes ,