Dariush Eghbali ( fa, داریوش اقبالی ), known mononymously as Dariush (), is an Iranian singer.
Biography
Childhood and Youth
Dariush was born in
Tehran
Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...
to parents from
Mianeh on 4 February 1951. He spent his early years in Mianeh,
Karaj
Karaj ( fa, کرج, ) is the capital of Alborz Province, Iran, and effectively a satellite city of Tehran. Although the county hosts a population around 1.97 million, as recorded in the 2016 census, most of the county is rugged mountain. The urb ...
and his musical talent was first recognized at age nine when he appeared on stage at his school. Hassan Khayatbashi introduced him to the public at age 20 through Iranian national television. He gained popularity for his song "Don't Tell Me You Love Me". (
Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
: به من نگو دوست دارم )
Before the Islamic Revolution
Before the
Islamic Revolution
The Iranian Revolution ( fa, انقلاب ایران, Enqelâb-e Irân, ), also known as the Islamic Revolution ( fa, انقلاب اسلامی, Enqelâb-e Eslâmī), was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dyna ...
in Iran, Dariush was named the most popular singer in Iran by a youth magazine in 1977. Dariush also worked with many famous pre-revolution songwriters in Iran.
Imprisonment
During the rule of
Shah Mohammadreza Pahlavi, Darisuh was arrested and sentenced to prison many several times because he sang political songs. Such songs include Jangal, Bonbast, and Booye Gandom. During his first sentence,
Parvis Sabeti said that after an officer of the crown arrested him, he was kept in
solitary confinement
Solitary confinement is a form of imprisonment in which the inmate lives in a single cell with little or no meaningful contact with other people. A prison may enforce stricter measures to control contraband on a solitary prisoner and use additi ...
for 6 months. He was then released after a total of 9 months in prison. In total, he was in prison for 26 months during the
Mohammadreza Pahlavi era.
After the Islamic Revolution
After the
Islamic Revolution
The Iranian Revolution ( fa, انقلاب ایران, Enqelâb-e Irân, ), also known as the Islamic Revolution ( fa, انقلاب اسلامی, Enqelâb-e Eslâmī), was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dyna ...
, Dariush left Iran in 1978 and became a part of the diasporic music scene in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
.
His work consists of over 208 songs in over 27 albums. He has also performed in two Iranian movies. Dariush's song "Dastaye To (Your Hands)" was named as the most enduring song in Iranian music history by
Manoto TV.
Ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology is the study of music from the cultural and social aspects of the people who make it. It encompasses distinct theoretical and methodical approaches that emphasize cultural, social, material, cognitive, biological, and other dim ...
Professor Farzaneh Hemmasi has described Dariush as "the best-loved popular musician of his generation" alongside
Googoosh
Faegheh Atashin ( fa, فائقه آتشین; born 5 May 1950), known professionally as Googoosh ( fa, گوگوش, ), is an Iranian singer and
former actress. One of the most popular and prolific entertainers in Iran, her career has spanned over ...
.
His new songs protested Iran's new political system, which caused his popularity to grow even more, making him one of the most well known Iranian singers. Also, while staying in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
, he supported all Iranians who sought asylum.
Addiction
Dariush suffered through a
heroin
Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is a potent opioid mainly used as a recreational drug for its euphoric effects. Medical grade diamorphine is used as a pure hydrochloride salt. Various white and brow ...
addiction ever since his first imprisonment. In the year 2000 Dariush quit heroin, and sang a song titled ''Silent Miracle'' (
Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
: ''معجزه خاموش''). The song references a turning point in his life, where he is through with being addicted. Dariush launched his recovery site, https://www.ayeneh.org/, (ayeneh translates to mirror in
Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
) which marked history as the first ever website to help Iranian addicts and their families. Then, he started his Ayeneh foundation (mirror foundation in
Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
) to help Iranian addicts. His foundation has helped 40,000 Iranians quit addiction so far.
Philanthropy
The Ayeneh (Mirror) Foundation was established by Dariush aimed at helping addicts recover. The Ayeneh foundation broadcasts radio and television programs to help addicts and their families. They also set up various seminars to help families.
Dariush is a member of
Amnesty International
Amnesty International (also referred to as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization focused on human rights, with its headquarters in the United Kingdom. The organization says it has more than ten million members and sup ...
. Dariush helps Amnesty International by focusing efforts on Iranian asylum seekers, as well as saving working children.
Personal life
He is married to Venus Eghbali.
See also
*
Shahyar Ghanbari
Shahyar Ghanbari ( fa, شهیار قنبری also spelled wrongly as Shahryar Ghanbari , born 28 July 1950 in Tehran) is an Iranian poet, writer, lyricist, songwriter, and singer of Persian pop music. He is also a film director & radio-TV produce ...
*
Leila Kasra
Leila Kasra ( fa, لیلا کسری) also known as Hedieh ( fa, هدیه), (March 27, 1939 – May 16, 1989) was a prominent Iranian contemporary poet and lyricist who has written lyrics for notable artists including Ebi, Dariush, Sattar, Vigen ...
*
Mina Assadi
Mina Assadi ( fa, مینا اسدی; born March 12, 1943) is an Iranian-born poet, author, journalist and songwriter who lives in exile in Stockholm, Sweden.
Author
She is known for writing about controversial and provocative subjects, especiall ...
*
Farid Zoland
Farid Zoland ( fa, فرید زلاند), also romanized as Zaland) (born 1 September 1951 in Kabul) is an Afghan songwriter and composer. Throughout his career he has collaborated with many musicians from other countries, most notably from Ira ...
*
Ebi
Ebrahim Hamedi ( fa, اِبراهیم حامدی, also Romanized as "Ebrāhim Hāmedi"; born 1949), better known by his stage name Ebi (Persian: ), is an Iranian pop singer who first started his career in Tehran, gaining fame as part of a ban ...
*
Iraj Janati Ataei
*
Googoosh
Faegheh Atashin ( fa, فائقه آتشین; born 5 May 1950), known professionally as Googoosh ( fa, گوگوش, ), is an Iranian singer and
former actress. One of the most popular and prolific entertainers in Iran, her career has spanned over ...
References
External links
Official Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dariush
1951 births
Living people
Iranian exiles
Iranian bloggers
Iranian activists
People from Tehran
People from Mianeh
Acid attack victims
Iranian pop singers
Singers from Tehran
Iranian male singers
Iranian rock singers
Iranian Azerbaijanis
Iranian Shia Muslims
Musicians from Tehran
Caltex Records artists
Taraneh Records artists
Persian-language singers
Iranian singer-songwriters
Azerbaijani-language singers
Iranian prisoners and detainees
Prisoners and detainees of Iran
20th-century Iranian male singers
American people of Azerbaijani descent