Viguen (singer) - Artistic Rising

Artistic Rising

In his late teens, Vigen moved to Tehran and in 1951 he was hired to perform at the Café Shemiran, an upscale restaurant & bar on the northern outskirts of the capital city, where one evening he was discovered by a national radio network producer and his very first song, "Mahtab" (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 "Gole Sorkh" (Red Rose), "Ragheeb" (Rival), and "Bazgasht" (Return) are considered evergreens among all Iranian songs.

Equated to Elvis Presley by some fans in Iran, Vigen's debonair looks and his tall and athletic physique added to his appeal as Iran's first male pop star - particularly among young Iranian women at a time when ideas of emancipation and liberalism were taking hold in the 1950s and 60s. He was also one of the first Iranian entertainers to perform with a guitar.

Vigen was raised by his older brother Zaven and older sister Helen, Karo was the 2nd oldest, and a poet who write some of his lyrics.