Habibollah Badiei Information

Habibollah Badiei (born March 24, 1933, in Azandeh, Savadkuh – died October 19, 1992, in Tehran) was an Iranian musician and violinist.

He began his career as a soloist in the Army Music Program in 1950 and officially joined Ibrahim Mansouri’s orchestra the following year. In 1952, Habibollah Badiei accompanied Ghamari and Shams on violin in the film “Vulgardi.” From 1954 to 1955, he formed a small orchestra with Shams as the vocalist. Their artistic collaboration eventually led to their marriage, which ended in divorce amid much controversy.

The orchestra performed a weekly radio program until the end of 1957. The following year, they joined the “Golha” program and collaborated with singers such as Marzieh, Elaheh, Pouran, Delkash, Roohi, and Shams. Badiei composed about 200 songs, with one of the most famous being “Ka’be-ye Delha” sung by Elaheh.

Habibollah Badiei was born on April 4, 1933, in the village of Azandeh, Savadkuh County. At the age of two, his father moved from Savadkuh to Sari, where he engaged in farming and trading. When he was eight years old, he moved with his family to Tehran, where he settled.

In Sari, Habib’s older brother provided him with a violin and he began learning to play from an Armenian musician named Jingoozian. However, after two years of practice, he became tired of the instrument. During this time, Habib occasionally, without his brother’s permission, secretly played the violin and produced pleasant melodies. When his brother noticed his keen interest in music, he gifted him a violin.

His parents closely supervised his education, and he successfully completed all stages of education up to obtaining a bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Sciences.

In 1947, Habib, as a teenager, began studying under Lotfollah Majmudar. Majmudar, a former student of Abolhasan Saba, was one of the main contributors to the notation and editing of Saba’s works. He taught Habibollah Badiei the rudiments of Saba’s works for three years. Habib made such progress in music that in 1950, after four years of playing, he became a soloist in the Army Radio Program. In 1952, he went to Abolhasan Saba’s class and completed his supplementary vocal course in two years. During the same period of study with Saba, he also studied for two years with an Armenian classical music teacher named Jingoozian.

Habibollah Badiei had remarkable skills in playing various musical instruments and vocal styles. In 1953, he led a small orchestra that was later renamed Orchestra No. 6 according to the reorganization of the radio orchestras. In 1957, at the invitation of Davood Pirnia, he became the head of the “Golha” program, where he collaborated with various singers. From 1964 to 1969, he served as the head of the Music Department at Radio Tehran and then as its deputy head. From 1972 to 1979, he was a member of the Unified Music Council, which included Morteza Hananeh, Ali Tajvidi, and Hossein Ali Mollah. During this time, he led orchestras No. 2, 4, and 6 and conducted the Barbad Orchestra for six years.

The book “Golden Bow” by Mehran Habibi Nejad provides an overview of Habibollah Badiei’s life and works.

Habibollah Badiei traveled to various countries such as Afghanistan, Germany, the United States, Belgium, and England to promote traditional and authentic Iranian music. During these travels, he collaborated with artists such as Jahangir Malek, Farhang Sharif, Majid Najahi, Mahmoudi Khansari, Jamal Vafaii, and Koors Serhangzadeh.

On October 19, 1992, at the age of 59, Habibollah Badiei passed away due to a heart condition at Toos Hospital in Tehran. His body was buried in Imamzadeh Taher (Karaj).

In addition to solo performances, Habibollah Badiei composed numerous songs, most of which were well-received. He composed around 150 pieces, including “Ka’be-ye Delha,” “Faryad az In Del,” “Efsaneh-e Eshgh,” “Del-e Bi Gonaah,” “Elahi Bemooni,” “Efsaneh-ye Zendegi,” “Javdaneh,” “Raftam Boodam,” “Efsaneh Kamtar,” “Sholeh Sarkesh,” “Dar Atasham,” “Mehrabane Sho,” “Sang-e Saboor,” and “Zendegi Man.”