Gholām-Hossein Banān ( fa, غلامحسين بنان; 5 May 1911 – 27 February 1986) was an

Iranian Iranian may refer to: * Iran, a sovereign state * Iranian peoples, the speakers of the Iranian languages. The term Iranic peoples is also used for this term to distinguish the pan ethnic term from Iranian, used for the people of Iran * Iranian lan ...

musician and singer. One of the most prominent

Iranian singers Iranian may refer to: * Iran, a sovereign state * Iranian peoples, the speakers of the Iranian languages. The term Iranic peoples is also used for this term to distinguish the pan ethnic term from Iranian, used for the people of Iran * Iranian lan ...

of the 20th century, he was renowned for the quality of his voice.

Biography

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 ...

, Banān descended from a prominent family "with a background in government service". His father, Karim Khan Banān ol-Dowleh (son of Mohammad-Taqi Mirza Fazlollah Khan Mostowfi Nuri) was an admirer of traditional music. His mother was related to the ruling

Qajar dynasty The Qajar dynasty (; fa, دودمان قاجار ', az, Qacarlar ) was an IranianAbbas Amanat, ''The Pivot of the Universe: Nasir Al-Din Shah Qajar and the Iranian Monarchy, 1831–1896'', I. B. Tauris, pp 2–3 royal dynasty of Turkic peoples ...

of Iran; she was the daughter of

Mohammad Taqi Mirza Rokn ed-Dowleh Mohammad Taqi Mirza Rokn ed-Dowleh was a Persian prince of Qajar dynasty. He was born in Tehran to King Mohammad Shah Qajar before 13 February 1842 (s/o a Zainab Khanum) and was created the title Rukn ud-Daula in 1868. He was governor of Tehran be ...

, a brother of

Naser al-Din Shah Qajar Naser al-Din Shah Qajar ( fa, ناصرالدین‌شاه قاجار; 16 July 1831 – 1 May 1896) was the fourth Shah of Qajar Iran from 5 September 1848 to 1 May 1896 when he was assassinated. He was the son of Mohammad Shah Qajar and Malek ...

(1848–1896). Margaret Caton notes that Banān grew up in an environment where artistic development was fostered; his father sang and played the

tar Tar is a dark brown or black viscous liquid of hydrocarbons and free carbon, obtained from a wide variety of organic materials through destructive distillation. Tar can be produced from coal, wood, petroleum, or peat. "a dark brown or black bit ...

, while his mother played piano. Banān's maternal aunt played the

ney The ''ney'' ( fa, Ney/نی, ar, Al-Nāy/الناي), is an end-blown flute that figures prominently in Persian music and Arabic music. In some of these musical traditions, it is the only wind instrument used. The ney has been played continually ...

, and his sisters studied the tar with

Morteza Neidavoud Morteza Neidavoud ( fa, مرتضی نی‌داوود) (1900–1990) was a prominent master of Persian classical music and a soloist of ''tar''. His 1927 Morq-e sahar (''Dawn bird'') is one of the most famous Persian songs which has been performe ...

. From the age of six Gholam-Hossein Banān began to take lessons in singing and playing the piano and organ through the encouragement of Morteza Neidavoud who was quick to recognize him as musically talented. Gholām-Hossein's first teachers were his parents. He subsequently studied with Mirzā Tāher Ziā oz-Zākerin Rasā'í and Nāser Seif.

Ali-Naqi Vaziri Ali-Naqi Vaziri, also transcribed as Ali Naghi Vaziri (Persian: علی نقی وزیری) (October 1, 1886 in Tehran, Persia – September 9, 1979) was a composer, thinker and a celebrated player of the tar. He is considered a revolutionary i ...

later introduced him to the acclaimed Rouhollah Khāleghi. Banān joined the Iranian National Music Association in 1942, and appeared on Iranian National Radio that same year. He then joined the orchestra of the distinguished pianist Javād Maroufi, becoming the lead vocalist. In 1957 or 1958, Banān became blind in his right eye following a car accident. Banān died 7:00 pm on Thursday 27 February 1986 in Iranmehr Hospital in

Gholhak Gholhak is a neighborhood located in District 3 of Tehran Municipality. It is bounded on the east by the Darrous neighborhood (Fakourian Street), on the west by the Gholhak River, on the north by the British Embassy Garden, and on the south by th ...

, Tehran. He is still remembered by lovers of traditional Persian music. Among his best-remembered songs are "

Ey Iran "Ey Irân" ( fa, ای ایران, , lit. ''O Iran!'') is an Iranian patriotic song that serves as the country's unofficial national anthem. The music was composed by Ruhollâh Xâleqi, and the lyrics were written by Hossein Gol-e-Golâb. Not ...

", "

Caravan Caravan or caravans may refer to: Transport and travel *Caravan (travellers), a group of travellers journeying together **Caravanserai, a place where a caravan could stop *Camel train, a convoy using camels as pack animals *Convoy, a group of veh ...

" and " Elahe-ye Naz".

References

Sources

External links

''Qolamhossein Banan''Rouhollah Khaleghi Artistic Center
.

* ttp://www.last.fm/music/Banan/+images/51560373 Picture of Banan following his automobile accident, blinding his right eye.
More info about Banan from Iranold.net
{{DEFAULTSORT:Banan, Gholam Hossein 1911 births 1986 deaths Iranian classical singers 20th-century Iranian male singers Singers from Tehran Burials at Emamzadeh Taher Qajar dynasty Caltex Records artists Taraneh Records artists Male singers on Golha