Shohreh (singer)
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شهره صولتی Shohreh Solati | |
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| Birth name | Shohreh Solati |
| Born | January 4, 1957 Tehran, Iran |
| Genres | Pop Dance Persian |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Labels | Caltex Records Avang Records Nava Media Taraneh Records Power Records |
| Website | Official Site |
Shohreh Solati (Persian: شهره صولتی) (born Fatemeh Solati in Tehran, Iran) is a well-known and popular Iranian singer. She has vast artistic skills in singing and performing. She has had one of the most consistently active and prolific careers among contemporary, women Iranian singers. Since the Islamic Revolution in Iran, she has continued her music career in exile and achieved acclaim for her contribution to Iranian music.
Biography
Born in Tehran on January 4, 1957 to a well-to-do family of artists and entertainers, Shohreh developed an interest in music early on - singing at seven years of age. She later went on to study at the National Iranian Music Conservatory, where she received training in singing and the clarinet. Her first album titled Dokhtar-e-Mashreghi (Eastern Girl) was successful, garnering some notability. Magazines directed toward the youth of Iran in the 1970s also gave exposure to the singer.
The Revolution
Shortly before the Revolution in 1978, Shohreh left Iran to perform in a series of concerts in the United States and, due to imposed restrictions of the new leadership on entertainers, was not able to return. She initially settled in New York and soon after married. Since the revolution came unexpectedly, she and other exiled Iranian singers initially faced some difficulties to re-establish the community.
Wider appeal
Leaving behind New York, Shohreh moved to Los Angeles in the early 1980s, settling with the exiled Iranian music industry of the 1970s, who also established in that city. Working with songwriters, composers and arrangers such as Mohammed Moqadam, Jaklin, Siavash Ghomeishi and Shubert Avakian, she produced and released several new albums. Most of these albums were nostalgic of the golden years of Iranian life just a few years before and thus appealed to a much wider audience, giving Shohreh's fame momentum. The yearning for Iran in Shohreh's music established a strong solidarity amongst the struggling Iranians who found comfort in her songs.
Her notable albums during this period include Jaan Jaan, Salam, Sedaayeh Paa and Shenidam. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Solati managed to increase her appeal by the release of newer albums, each earning commendation. In the 1980s she had many concerts with Siavash Shams and Andy Madadian.
However, it was not until the release of the album Zan (1994) that she unequivocally garnered positive reviews from critics. The themes of her songs in that album not only highlighted greater recognition of women's rights, but they also underlined the importance of women's duties. Furthermore, in the video “Ayeneh” (Zan) she donned on a black chador (the traditional garment worn by women of Iran), a move that evoked affection from the Iranian community toward a singer who represented her background with such pride. This led to the success of her concert at Hollywood Palladium in October 1995.
At the turn of the millennium, Shohreh continued releasing more albums outreaching her popularity beyond the borders of Iran. With the best-seller releases of Ghesseh Goo, Saayeh, Atr, Safar, Pishooni, and Havas. She has rivaled the work of such singers as Leila Forouhar and Nooshafarin. Some have argued that Shohreh in fact has eclipsed these singers in the last few years. Her music albums produced outside of Iran have now outnumbered her numbers before the revolution. She has been credited to have given sold out performances in U.S., Canada, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Italy, Britain, Sweden, France, Switzerland, Germany, Cyprus, Turkey and Israel.
Recent involvements
In 2008, Shohreh held a concert at Kodak Theatre to mark the release of her CD "Ashegham" which was a very successful concert.
Discography
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Videography
- Shohreh Live in Canada
- Best of Shohreh and Shahram
- Best of Shohreh #1
- Best of Shohreh #2
- Zan Album Videos (Selected Videos)
- Ghesseh Goo Album Videos (Selected Videos)
- Nemizaram Beri Album Videos (Selected Videos)
- Atr Album Videos (Selected Videos)
- Safar Album Videos (Selected Videos)
- Pishooni Album Videos (Selected Videos)
- Havas Album Videos (Selected Videos)
References
- Havas DVD. Nava Media Co. June 2005. Shohreh's Exclusive Interview
- Tehran Magazine. Forouhar, Shohreh, or Helen: Whom Would You Pick as Best? Issue 479. Page 72-73.
- [1][unreliable source?]