Father and son concert, Iraj will sing in Tehran after 16 years

TEHRAN.(Iranart) -The acclaimed traditional Persian singer Hossein Khajeh Amiri, 84, better known as Iraj, will sing at a joint concert with his pop singer son, Ehsan, in Tehran, August 14-15.

To be held at the Ministry of Interior auditorium, the concert marks the first time Iraj is performing in Tehran after 16 years, Honaronline reported.

The veteran singer resumed his live performances last year and has so far sung for fans in Bandar Abbas, Kish Island and Qazvin.

Now in his eighties, Iraj still has a sonorous voice and has surprised his fans with impressive performances both at concerts And in his recent albums.

Two performances are slated for father and son each night, one at 6:30 pm and the other at 10:30.

A poster of the concert is adorned with Iraj and Ehsan’s photo. Posting it on his Instagram feed, Ehsan, 32, has called it a “special night”. He says, “it is a peculiar feeling as I am to go on stage with my father for the first time in my life”.

Born in Kashan, Iraj began his musical career at the age of 6 by practicing traditional Persian singing (avaz) under his father’s tutelage. His grandfather was also a special singer for Naser al-Din Shah (1831-1896), a king of the Qajar dynasty.

Iraj’s professional career started when master composer Abolhassn Saba (1902-1957) introduced him to the national radio station at the age of 14.

Singing for traditional Persian music radio program ‘Golha’ (flowers), Iraj worked with renowned musicians including Ali Tajvidi (1919-2006), Parviz Yahaghi (1936-2007), Jalil Shahnaz (1921-2013), Ruhollah Khaleghi (1906-1965), Farhang Sharif (1931-2016) and Asadollah Malek, 75.

Iraj has sung close to 2000 songs in 80 years. His songs have been broadcast from 10 radio programs, accompanied 100 films and were included in 10 albums.

In His Father’s Footsteps

Born in a family of musicians, Ehsan started learning music at the age of 5. When he was 12 years old, he composed for a children’s show on national TV. Later he began his professional career as a musician and worked with his father in one of his albums.

His debut as a singer came when he was 17 in the album ‘Me and My Dad’ in which he co-sang a piece with his father for the first time.

Since 2001 Ehsan has released eight albums, all among bestsellers of the time. He has also released many singles and sung for films and TV serials and held several concerts in and outside Iran.