Vigen or Viguen, born Vigen Derderian (Armenian: Վիգեն Դէրդէրեան)(November 23, 1929 – October 26, 2003), known as "Sultan of Pop" and "Sultan of Persian jazz", was a hugely popular Iranian pop music singer and actor. He is famous throughout the Near East.
Vigen was of Armenian ethnicity and during his era, some Iranian artists wanted to be associated with him, among them the country's most established top female singers, Delkash, Pouran and Elaheh.
The legendary Vigen Derderian worked with the best Iranian songwriters and composers, who realized they had to cater for a new youth market, and performed some of his country's most memorable songs.
Born into a relatively poor family in the western Iranian city of Hamadan, Vigen was brought up by his older brother, after his father died when he was seven. During the second world war, his family moved to the northern city of Tabriz, where local Azerbaijani nationalists later declared the area a separatist republic, with the help of the occupying Soviet forces. Vigen may have resented the presence of the foreigners, but listening to Red Army troops playing the guitar changed his life. He bought his first guitar from a soldier.
Then the family moved to the capital Tehran. By 1951, Vigen had got his first job, performing at the Cafi Shemiran. One night, a national radio producer heard him, with the result that his first song, Moonlight, was broadcast on Tehran radio – and became an instant hit. More than 600 songs were to follow during his long career. Some of them, such as Red Rose, Rival and Rain, have become classic Iranian popular songs.
Compared by some fans to Elvis Presley, Vigen's good looks and tall, fine physique added to his appeal as Iran's first male pop star – especially among women at a time when ideas of emancipation were taking hold in the 1950s and 60s. He was also one of the first Iranian entertainers to perform with a guitar.
Vigen came from Iran's minority Armenian Christian community, a fact that had no effect on his appeal in a predominantly Muslim country. He sang in both Persian and Armenian, and, at the height of his popularity, featured in six movies. In that era, every Iranian artist wanted to be associated with him; among them the country's most established top female singers, Delkash and Elaheh are notable. He worked with the best songwriters and composers, who realized they had to cater for a new youth market, and performed some of his country's most memorable songs.
Vigen left Iran shortly before the 1979 revolution; he never returned. Meanwhile, the newly established Islamic Republic banned pop music. Based in California since he moved to exile, he continued to perform in concerts and on tours – including to Europe – and record new albums. He celebrated the 50th anniversary of his career at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles in February 2001.
And despite the official ban of Islamic Republic on Pop-music, Vigen's albums continued to reach his millions of fans inside Iran via the black market. Some people traveled to neighboring countries to see him perform. His own last wish was to go home and perform for that vast audience in Iran, and one of his last songs, "Awazeh-Khan-e Mardom"(People's Entertainer), expressed that desire.
Vigen died on October 26, 2003 from cancer and is buried at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Cemetery in Westlake Village, California.
Vigen is survived by his wife Karen, one son, four daughters, one stepdaughter and four grandchildren.
By 1951, Vigen had got his first job, performing at the Café Shemiran. One night, a national radio producer heard him, with the result that his first song, Moonlight, was broadcast on Tehran radio – and became an instant hit. More than 600 songs were to follow during his long career. Some of them, such as Red Rose, Rival, and Rain, have become classic Iranian popular songs.
Considered by some fans as the Elvis Presley of Iran, Vigen's good looks and tall, fine physique added to his appeal as Iran's first male pop star – especially among women at a time when ideas of emancipation were taking hold in the 1950s and 60s. He was also one of the first Iranian entertainers to perform with a guitar.
His works were very popular among Iranian people at the time, some of his songs became iconic/folkloric songs in the culture. In 1950's he used to listen to the international music and reproduce them using lyrics written by best writers of the time like Parviz Vakili. Works Solenzara are available in the internet.
Most of his works remained in Iranain culture as folkloric, including: Baroon Barooneh, Mahtab, Asbeh Ablagh, Lalaii, Raghib, Deleh Divaneh.
He celebrated the 50th anniversary of his career at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles in February 2001.
He was discovered by the Iranian director Samuel Khachikian and his first role was in the movie "Chaharrahe Havades (Crossroads of Coincidence)" in 1955.
He later on founded a company named "Vigen film", but did not pursue the enterprise.
Iran developed its own pop music by the 1950s,when Vigen introduced the Guitar for the first time and later on using indigenous instruments and forms and adding electric guitar and other imported characteristics. He became the most popular pop singer of this period for his unique voice. Later on in 1970's, Googoosh who was Vigen's student became popular. After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, pop music's future seemed dark because of the new Islamic laws and restrictions. Many Iranians migrated to foreign countries, especially Los Angeles in the United States, and Iranian-in-exile pop stars include: Dariush Eghbali, Ebi, Siavash Shams, Siavash Ghomeyshi, Hayedeh, Homeira, Mahasti, Hassan Sattar, Shohreh Solati, Shahram Solati, Noshafarin, Aref, Shahram Shabpareh, Leila Forouhar, Faramarz Asef, Andy, Koros, Martik, Morteza, Farzaneh Ahmad Azad, Mansour, Shahram K, Fattaneh, Moein, Hasan Shamaeezadeh, Nazi Afshar, Bijan Mortazavi.