Viguen
| Vigen (ویگن) |
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|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Vigen Derderian |
| Also known as | Viguen, Vigen |
| Born |
November 23, 1929 Hamadan, Iran |
| Died | October 26, 2003 (aged 73) Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres |
Rock Pop Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Actor |
| Instruments | Vocals , Guitar |
| Years active | 1951–2001 |
| Labels | Avang Records, Caltex Records, Pars Video, Taraneh Enterprises Inc, |
Vigen or Viguen, born Vigen Derderian (Persian: ویگن دردریان, Vigen Derderyân; Armenian: Վիգեն Դէրդէրեան, Vigen Dērdērean; November 23, 1929 - October 26, 2003), known as "King of Iranian pop" and the "Sultan of Jazz", was an Iranian pop music singer and actor, well known throughout the Near East. Vigen sang both in Persian and Armenian.
Vigen was of Armenian ethnicity and during the golden age of Persian pop (early 1970s) until the 1979 Islamic Revolution, many Iranian performers and celebrities—among them Delkash, Pouran, and Elaheh—yearned to be associated with him.
Vigen's innovative and upbeat style of music had a great influence on paving the way for a new genre of Iranian music, influenced by Western European and Latin American styles. His musical and performing talents soon captured the attention of many prominent Iranian lyricists and composers such as Parveez Vakili and Kareem Fakkour, and together they created some of Iran's most memorable songs.
Vigen was born into an Armenian family of eight children in the western Iranian city of Hamedan. His father died due to complications to pneumonia when Vigen was only eight years old. He was raised by his older brother, Zaven and his mother after moving away from the family property because of a disagreement with her father. Karo Derderian, Vigen's older brother was a well known Iranian poet and wrote the lyrics for Vigen's signature song, "Lala'ee" (Lullaby). During World War II, the family moved to the northern city of Tabriz where local Azerbaijani nationalists declared the area a separatist republic, with the help of the occupying Soviet forces. This is where Vigen bought his first guitar from a Russian soldier and discovered his affinity for American, Italian and Spanish music and adopted many of those melodies for his songs with Persian lyrics that became some of Iran's most popular music to date.
In his mid teens, Vigen moved to Tehran and in 1951 he was hired to perform at the Café Shemiran, an upscale restaurant & bar on the northern outskirts of the capital city. One fateful day while picnicking by the sea with his family and friend-songwriter Nasser Rastegarenejad, he was discovered by a national radio network producer, Mr. Vahkili and his very first song, "Mahtab" (Moonlight), was broadcast on Tehran radio - and became an instant hit.
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Wikipedia