Iraj was born into a musically rich environment—his father taught him singing, and his grandfather was a court singer during the reign of Nasser al-Din Shah. He began singing as a child and was especially influenced by traditional Persian singing styles. From a young age, he was exposed to taʿziyeh (traditional performance art) and began formal training in Persian classical music. By his early teens, Iraj was introduced to Abolhassan Saba, one of finest musicians, who helped bring him onto the National Radio, where he joined the prestigious Golha music programs—a series of influential radio shows featuring classical Persian music.
There, he collaborated with legendary musicians and composers, performing avaz and terana that would become staples of sound culture. During the 1960s and 1970s, Iraj’s recordings and radio performances made him a household name across. His warm, rich voice became synonymous with Persian classical music, and he also sang for many films of that era, further cementing his popularity. Iraj’s singing style blends the precision of classical Persian music (radif) with expressive vocal freedom. His voice—described by peers as strong, pure, and deeply resonant—has been held up by other masters as a benchmark for Persian vocal artistry.
