Ebi is a Persian Singer-songwriter

Singer-songwriter

Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...

 and performer currently living in Marbella

Marbella

Marbella is a town in Andalusia, Spain. It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea, in the province of Málaga, beneath the La Concha mountain. In 2000 the city had 98,823 inhabitants, in 2004, 116,234, in 2010 approximately 135,000....

, Spain

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

. He has combined musical influences from traditional Persian music, western pop and sometimes Latino style rhythms and is a major name in Persian music

Persian pop music

Persian pop music refers to pop music with songs in the Persian language or other regional languages of Iran and Afghanistan...

. He has also expressed particular liking for Farhad Mehrad

Farhad Mehrad

Farhad Mehrad , widely known in Iran as Farhad was an award winning Persian legendary Rock singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist and icon. He rose to prominence among Iranian Rock and Folk musicians before the Islamic Revolution, but after the revolution he was banned from singing for several...

, Genesis

Genesis (band)

Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...

, Jim Morrisson, and Coldplay

Coldplay

Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...

.

Exiled from Iran

Iran

Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...

 since the islamic revolution

Iranian Revolution

The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...

 he has taken an active political stand against the Iranian regime., but has also performed his Iranian nationalistic song "Persian Gulf" that makes reference to the Iranian stand in the Persian Gulf naming dispute

Persian Gulf naming dispute

The name of the body of water separating the Arabian Peninsula from the Iranian plateau, historically and internationally known as the Persian Gulf after the land of Persia , has been disputed by some Arab countries since the 1960s...

. Among other "politically charged" songs, "Tasmim" critically addressed the 2009 presidential election

Iranian presidential election, 2009

Iran's tenth presidential election was held on 12 June 2009, with incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad running against three challengers. The next morning the Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran's official news agency, announced that with two-thirds of the votes counted, Ahmadinejad had won the election...

.

Early life and career

Ebi was born in Iran

Iran

Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...

 as the oldest son to a and received early musical schooling. He was discovered by the Ministry of Art and Culture. Declining an offer of further classical schooling as an opera soloist in Italy, Ebi instead turned towards popular music as a member in the group "Sun Boys". In the community of musicians of Tehrani 70s Ebi met Shahram

Shahram Shabpareh

Shahram Shabpareh , is a famous Iranian pop singer, songwriter. His career spans more than 4 decades, he has had countless hits and sold many albums worldwide. -Career:...

 and Shahbal Shabpareh.

Ebi eventually left "Sun Boys" to join "Black Cats" a group created by Shahbal Shabpareh. Together with Farhad Mehrad

Farhad Mehrad

Farhad Mehrad , widely known in Iran as Farhad was an award winning Persian legendary Rock singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist and icon. He rose to prominence among Iranian Rock and Folk musicians before the Islamic Revolution, but after the revolution he was banned from singing for several...

, guitar player Amir and keyboardist Jamhoor Esfahani (father of the well-known Iranian-born harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani

Mahan Esfahani

Mahan Esfahani is an Iranian-American keyboardist; he is the first harpsichordist named as a BBC New Generation Artist. As a concerto soloist, recitalist, and collaborative musician, he has gained an international reputation on a variety of early keyboards.- Biography :Born in 1984 in Tehran,...

) Ebi performed with the "Black Cats" at the Kochini club, which was one of the most famous night clubs in Tehran in the years before the revolution. A major breakthrough was Ebi's performance of the song "Nights" at Fereydoun Farrokhzad's

Fereydoun Farrokhzad

Fereydoun Farrokhzad PhD. was an Iranian singer, actor, poet, TV and radio host, writer, and political opposition activist. He was the younger brother of the acclaimed Persian poet Forough Farrokhzad....

 TV-show "Mikhake Noghreyi". Ebi has said that he owes his success to Fereydoun Farrokhzad

Fereydoun Farrokhzad

Fereydoun Farrokhzad PhD. was an Iranian singer, actor, poet, TV and radio host, writer, and political opposition activist. He was the younger brother of the acclaimed Persian poet Forough Farrokhzad....

.

Now recognised as a solo artist, Ebi released several hit singles and soundtracks for Iranian films. He also won several prizes and awards around the world. It was during a series of planned concerts in the USA that Ebi, due to the events preceding the revolution of 1979

Iranian Revolution

The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...

, decided not to return to Iran.

Fame

He continued his career in Los Angeles with nearly no support but still managed to release many successful albums. Ebi sang many songs related to Iran, many of them with political messages. One of these songs was the famous controversial song, "Khalije Fars" (Persian Gulf) and Beshkan (literally meaning break this was possibly a message towards the revolution). During a concert in Dubai he once refused to sing the popular 'Persian Gulf', despite requests from his audience. Ebi was being sensitive to his Arab hosts and did not want to jeopardize his contract with them. Since then, many Iranians boycotted his concerts and he lost popularity amongst some Iranians for a short period of time. In an attempt to water down the accusations mounted against him, Ebi sings "Persian Gulf" in nearly all of his concerts to show his support for Iran and the Iranians. He occasionlly Sings Beshkan at select concerts only. Ebi's success in the past has sold out international arenas such as: Universal Amphitheatre, Shrine Auditorium

Shrine Auditorium

The Shrine Auditorium is a landmark large-event venue, in Los Angeles, California, USA. It is also the headquarters of the Al Malaikah Temple, a division of the Shriners.-History:...

, Greek Theatre

Greek Theatre (Los Angeles)

The Greek Theatre is a 5,700-seat amphitheater, located at Griffith Park, in Los Angeles, California. It was built in 1929, opening on September 29 of that year...

, Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...

, Air Canada Centre

Air Canada Centre

The Air Canada Centre is a multi-purpose indoor sporting arena located on Bay Street in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada.The arena is popularly known as the ACC or the Hangar ....

, Great Western Forum, and the Royal Albert Hall

Royal Albert Hall

The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....

.

Awards

1974: Best singer in Turkey festival with the song Shekar.

2010: Testimonial awarded by the British M.S. (Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...

) Society in respect of his voluntary performance at the Royal Albert Hall

Royal Albert Hall

The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....

 in benefit of the M.S. patients....

New Way In Iranian Market

Ebi continues to release successful albums. His latest Album, Hasrateh Parvaz, was another success on his career report card. He has performed at his sold-out concerts for more than three decades. Apparently Ebi has begun his retirement focusing on his family life with a few occasions where he performs around the world. At these performances recently, he is collaborating with new Persian artists as a means for their introduction into the Persian community. Arash

Arash (artist)

Arash Labaf is an Iranian-Swedish singer, dancer, entertainer and producer.- Early life :Arash Labaf was born in Tehran, Iran. At age ten, he and his family moved to Sweden, where he still resides. In an interview with BBC Persian Television, he has mentioned that his mother and father are from...

 as well as Navid & Omid and recently Kamran & Hooman are examples of artists Ebi has already introduced.

Personal life

Ebi was a resident of Los Angeles for many years and continues to spend time there due to his career. However, due to personal preference, he now resides in Spain

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

 with his second wife and travels throughout various other European countries. He speaks English

English language

English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

, Spanish

Spanish language

Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...

, and his native Persian

Persian language

Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...

. He has three daughters, Khatoun, Sayeh and Assal from his first marriage. His second wife's name is Mahshid and his stepson's name is Farshid.

Discography

• Tapesh (1973)
• Nazi Naz Kon (1975)
• Shab Zadeh (1976)
• Kouh-e-Yakh (1984)
• Gharibeh (1987)
• Ba To (1988)
• Pir (Before 1990)
• Khalij Fars (1990)
• Noon O Panir O Sabzi [Collab. album with Dariush Eghbali
  Dariush Eghbali
  Dariush Eghbali better known by his stage name Dariush is a famous Iranian pop singer best known for his warm and plaintive bass voice heard in both ballads and political songs. He is also a social activist who directs a recovery center.-Early life:...
  
  ] (1992)
• Setareye Donbaleh Dar (1993)
• Moallem-e-Bad (1993)
• Atal Matal (1994)
• Setarehaye Sorbi (1995)
• Atr-e-To (1996)
• Taje Taraneh (1997)
• Tolue Kon (1998)
• Khorshid Khanom (2000)
• Shab-e-Niloufari (2003)
• Hasrat-e-Parvaz (2006)
• Hesse Tanhaei (2011)

External links

• Ebi's official website
• Official Site Fan EBI
• [ Ebi] at Allmusic