Sandy (Iranian music band)
Sandy | |
|---|---|
 Sandy Concert in Houston, in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Shahram Azar شهرام خسروشاهی آذر |
| Born | 24 July 1957 Abadan, Imperial State of Iran |
| Genres | Persian pop music, Iranian hip hop, Bandari music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instrument(s) | Keyboards |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Members | Shahram Azar Khashayar Azar Behzad Pishro Sam Sohrabi |
| Website | www |
Shahram Azar, also known as Sandy, is a singer, composer, arranger, and keyboard player. Before the Iranian Revolution, he collaborated with notable singers such as Betty, Shahrokh Shahid, and Nooshafarin. After the revolution, he worked closely with Ebi, arranging several songs and performing in concerts. Azar served as one of the four judges and main producers on the first two seasons of the talent show "Stage," aired on Manoto TV.
Early life
[edit]Shahram Azar was born in 1957 in Abadan, Iran. In 1984, he emigrated to Germany. There, he continued his music career and founded the band Sandy in 1987. A few years later, he moved to the United States. Azar is married and has four children, including his son Khashayar, who is also a member of Sandy. Azar began singing in elementary school and later developed an interest in playing musical instruments during high school. He won several national competitions and, after the Iranian Revolution, faced challenges due to the banning of music. He eventually migrated to Germany and worked with a music company.[1]
Sandy Group
[edit]In 1987, Shahram Azar, along with Behzad Pishro, Reza Samiri, and Ahmad Abdollahi, formed the band Sandy in Frankfurt, Germany. The group's music blends pop lyrics with techno and Bandari influences. Sandy was one of the first bands to address social issues faced by Iranian youth, such as marriage, addiction, and immigration. They also pioneered Persian rap with songs like "Boro Baba" and "Pari."[2][3] Azar's contributions to Sandy include singing, music composition, arranging songs, producing, and writing lyrics. He is also recognized as one of the best keyboard players in Iranian music history.
Shahram Khosroshahi Azar: Lead singer, composer, arranger, producer, and lyricist.
Khashayar Khosroshahi Azar: Shahram's son, who started playing the keyboard at age five and officially joined Sandy in 2002.
Behzad Pishro: Began his music career in Abadan and collaborated with various artists before co-founding Sandy. He is an accomplished drummer and music producer.
Sam Sohrabi: Another member of Sandy, who migrated to Sweden during the Iran-Iraq war and later joined Sandy, contributing as a percussionist.
Musical Influence and Style
[edit]Shahram Azar is known for his innovative fusion of Western and Southern Iranian music, which has influenced many artists. He is credited with introducing rap to Iranian music and addressing social issues through his lyrics. His song "Talagh" combines Bandari style with modern synthesizers, reflecting the cultural rhythms of Southern Iran.[4]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums[2]
- 1994: Begoo Doostam Dari
- 1994: Dokhtar Haji Almas
- 1995: Ding Dang
- 1997: Cobra
- 1998: Top Singer (Khanandeh Top)
- 2000: Raghse Javona
- 2004: Tagh
- 2006: Sabok Sangin
- 2014: Station 7
- 2021: Album 22
References
[edit]- ^ a b "پاسخ گروه سندی به پرسشهای شما". BBC فارسی (in Persian). 6 February 2007.
- ^ a b "ABOUT SANDY". Shahram Azar. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "نخستین موسسان رپ فارسی و سرنوشتشان". ۷ صبح (in Persian). 6 April 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "The Rise and Decline of Persian Hip Hop". Peyk Magazine. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
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