Mohammad Heydari, Iranian musician and songwriter, Died at 79

  Music, Writer

Mohammad Heydari was born in January 1937, and died on August 23, 2016.

He was a Persian santur player and songwriter.

Initially, Mohammad Heydari received santur lessons from Hossein Saba and Abolhassan Saba.

Mohammad Heydari also worked with Abdollah Davami and Haj Agha Mohammad Irani-Mojarrad.

During 1955, he played with Fine Arts Administrations Orchestra (conducted by Abolhassan Saba) in Tehran for one year and after that played with another ensemble in the administration that was led by Nosratollah Golpayegani.

At that time, he performed in Asia, Europe and the United States.

He taught at the Persian National Music Conservatory in Tehran from 1961 until 1978, shortly before the revolution and his departure from Persia.

He also was the leader of Navazandegaan Ensemble and performed several programs on Tehran Radio and TV.

Following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Mohammad Heydari left the country for Italy and a few years later moved to Los Angeles, where he continued his activities as a soloist and songwriter.

A selection of his nostalgic songs such as “Zahr-e Jodai” and “Bahar Bahar” (both performed by Hayedeh) became popular in the Persian community.

He also has written the melody of other Persian hit songs such as Bia Benevisim and Sobhet Bekheir Azizam.

Mohammad Heydari passed away at 79 years old.