Viguen (born Viguen Derderian, fa, ویگن دردریان, ''Viguen Derderyân''; hy, Վիգէն Տէրտէրեան, ''Vigen Tērtērian''; 23 November 1929 – 26 October 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
The ''Near East''; he, המזרח הקרוב; arc, ܕܢܚܐ ܩܪܒ; fa, خاور نزدیک, Xāvar-e nazdik; tr, Yakın Doğu is a geographical term which roughly encompasses a transcontinental region in Western Asia, that was once the hist ...
.
Viguen sang both in Persian and Armenian.
Viguen was of
Iranian-Armenian
Iranian-Armenians ( hy, իրանահայեր ''iranahayer''), also known as Persian-Armenians ( hy, պարսկահայեր ''parskahayer''), are Iranians of Armenian ethnicity who may speak Armenian as their first language. Estimates of thei ...
ethnicity and during the golden age of Persian pop (the early 1970s) until the
1979 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 dynas ...
, many Iranian performers and celebrities—among them
Delkash
Esmat Bagherpour Baboli ( fa, عصمت باقرپور بابلی ; 26 February 1925 – 1 September 2004), better known as Delkash ( fa, دلکش ), was an Iranian diva singer and occasional actress with a rare and unique voice.
Biography
Delka ...
, Pouran, and
Elaheh
Elaheh ( fa, الهه; born Bahar Gholamhosseini ( fa, بهار غلامحسینی) 1934 – 15 August 2007) was an Iranian singer. Iranian musicians she worked with include Parviz Yahaghi, Viguen and Homayun Khorram. She was one of the main singe ...
—yearned to be associated with him.
Viguen'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.
Early life
Viguen was born into an
Iranian-Armenian
Iranian-Armenians ( hy, իրանահայեր ''iranahayer''), also known as Persian-Armenians ( hy, պարսկահայեր ''parskahayer''), are Iranians of Armenian ethnicity who may speak Armenian as their first language. Estimates of thei ...
family of eight children in the western Iranian city of
Hamadan
Hamadan () or Hamedan ( fa, همدان, ''Hamedān'') ( Old Persian: Haŋgmetana, Ecbatana) is the capital city of Hamadan Province of Iran. At the 2019 census, its population was 783,300 in 230,775 families. The majority of people living in Ha ...
.
His father died of complications related to pneumonia when Viguen was only eight years old.
His mother and older brother Zaven raised him after moving away from the family property due to a family disagreement. His older brother Karo was a well-known Iranian poet and wrote the lyrics for Viguen's signature song, "Lala'ee" (Lullaby).
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, the family moved to the northern city of
Tabriz
Tabriz ( fa, تبریز ; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It is the List of largest cities of Iran, sixth-most-populous city in Iran. In the Quri Chay, Quru River valley in Iran's historic Aze ...
where local Azerbaijani nationalists declared the area a separatist republic, with the help of the occupying Soviet forces.
This is where Viguen 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.
Artistic rising
In his mid teens, Viguen 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.
Equated to Elvis Presley by some fans in Iran, Viguen's debonair looks and his tall and athletic physique added to his appeal as Iran's first male pop star – particularly among young Iranian women at a time when ideas of emancipation and liberalism were taking hold in the 1950s and 60s. He was also one of the first Iranian entertainers to perform with a guitar.
Later works
Viguen moved to the United States in 1971 and settled in California. He would return to Iran yearly to do concerts and perform in Vegas-styled nightclubs. After the
Islamic Revolution of 1979
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 dynas ...
, he was exiled to the United States because pop music was no longer allowed in Iran. He celebrated the 50th anniversary of his career at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles in February 2001.
Some of his most notable songs are "Baroon Barooneh" (It's Raining), "Asb-e Ablagh" (Thoroughbred Horse), "Mahtab" (Moonlight), Lala'ee (Lullaby), "Gol-e Sorkh" (Red Rose), "Ragheeb" (Rival), "Simin-bari", "Awazekhan" (The Singer) and "Del-e Divaneh" (Crazy Heart). More than 600 songs were recorded during his long career.
Film
Viguen's cinematic debut came in 1955 when he was discovered by the prominent Armenian-Iranian director
Samuel Khachikian
Samuel Khachikian ( hy, Սամուէլ Խաչիկեան ; fa, ساموئل خاچیکیان; October 21, 1923 – October 22, 2001) was an Demographics of Iran, Iranian film director, screenwriter, author, and film editor of Armenians, Armenian ...
for a role in his film "Chaharrah-e Havades" (Crossroads of Incidents). In later years, he played roles in many other motion pictures by Khachikian and other producers, among them "Zalembala" (1956, Siamak Yasami), "Tappeh-eh Eshgh" (1959, Khachikian), "Arshin Malalan" and "Cheshmeh Oshagh" (1960, Samad Sabahi),"Atash Khakestar" (1961, Khosro Parizi), "Arooseh Darya" (1965, Arman). He later on founded "Viguen Film" to produce his own movies but did not pursue the enterprise.'
Filmography
Personal life
His first wife was named Olga and they had three daughters together, including actress Aylin (also known as Eileen or Ailen), Aylin's fraternal twin sister, singer Jaklin Munns (also known as Jacqueline), and Katrin. His second wife was named Nadia and they had one daughter named, Evelyn, and one son named Edwin Derderian.
His third wife was Karen Holston Derderian (1951–2015) and he had a step-daughter, Robin Navonne Brakefield.
Death
Viguen died at home on 26 October 2003 from cancer and was buried at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Cemetery in
Westlake Village, California
Westlake Village is a city in Los Angeles County on its western border with Ventura County. The City of Westlake Village incorporated in 1981 becoming the 82nd municipality of Los Angeles County.Baker, Pam (2002). ''Thousand Oaks Westlake Vill ...
.
At the time of his death he had recorded more than six hundred songs, starred in six motion pictures and made guest appearances on various popular TV shows including ''
The Bob Hope Specials'', ''
The Jack Benny Show
''The Jack Benny Program'', starring Jack Benny, is a radio-TV comedy series that ran for more than three decades and is generally regarded as a high-water mark in 20th century American comedy. He played one role throughout his radio and televis ...
'' and the TV series ''
Mission Impossible
''Mission: Impossible'' is a multimedia franchise based on a fictional secret espionage agency known as the Impossible Missions Force (IMF). The 1966 TV series ran for seven seasons and was revived in 1988 for two seasons. It inspired a serie ...
''.
See also
*
List of Iranian musicians
This is a list of Iranian (Persian) musicians and musical groups.
Classical
Persian classical/traditional
*Moein
* Homayoun Shajarian
* Mohammad-Reza Shajarian
* Hossein Khajeh Amiri (Iraj)
* Shahram Nazeri
* Iraj Bastami
* Anoushiravan ...
*
Music of Iran
The music of Iran encompasses music that is produced by Iranian artists. In addition to the traditional folk and classical genres, it also includes pop and internationally celebrated styles such as jazz, rock, and hip hop.
Iranian music infl ...
*
Persian pop music
Iranian pop music or Persian pop music ( fa, موسیقی پاپ ایرانی) refers to pop music originated in Iran, with songs mainly in Persian and other regional Persian dialects of the country and region.
History Early Iranian popular music ...
*
List of Iranian Armenians
''This is a list of famous Iranians of Armenian descent.''
; Key
People who were born outside of Iran but worked or lived in Iran highlighted in boldface
Art
Literature
Politics
Religion
Dancer
Sciences
Sports
Others
A ...
*
List of Iranian Americans
This is a list of notable Iranian-Americans of all Iranian ethnic backgrounds, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants.
''To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia ...
*
Rock and alternative music in Iran
Iranian rock (also known as Rocka red) refers to rock music produced by Iranian artists. Rock music has been popular in Iran since the late forties, with the emergence of singers such as Kourosh Yaghmaei, Farhad Mehrad, Fereydoon Forooghi, Fereyd ...
Notes
References
Further reading
*
External links
Vigen Death in BBC Vigen Biography on BBC PersianVigen Bio on Iranian ChamberSheet Music of songs by Viguen
{{Authority control
1929 births
2003 deaths
Iranian composers
Iranian Christians
Iranian guitarists
Iranian pop singers
People from Hamadan
Iranian male singers
Male singers on Golha
Iranian pop musicians
Caltex Records artists
Taraneh Records artists
Persian-language singers
Iranian male film actors
Ethnic Armenian musicians
Armenian-language singers
American male pop singers
Iranian singer-songwriters
Ethnic Armenian male singers
Deaths from cancer in California
20th-century Iranian male singers
Iranian people of Armenian descent
20th-century American male singers
American people of Armenian descent
Burials at Valley Oaks Memorial Park
Iranian emigrants to the United States
Exiles of the Iranian Revolution in the United States