An artist's path
Life
The life of Rashid Behbudov is a journey from a musical family in Tiflis to the stages of the world, from his first songs to the title of People's Artist of the USSR.
An artist's path
The life of Rashid Behbudov is a journey from a musical family in Tiflis to the stages of the world, from his first songs to the title of People's Artist of the USSR.
To understand Behbudov, you must start with his family: music surrounded him from birth and became his destiny.
Life
Rashid Behbudov was born on 1 (14) December 1915 in Tiflis. His father, Mejid Behbudov, was a renowned khanende — a master of the Karabakh school of mugham. His mother, Firuza Vekilova, taught and led a drama circle.
From childhood the boy absorbed both his father's Azerbaijani music and the broad cultural world of the city. Music became his native language before it became his profession.
Life
Behbudov's talent soon brought him to the great stage. In 1959 he became People's Artist of the USSR, and in 1980 a Hero of Socialist Labour; his honours include the Stalin Prize and the State Prize of Azerbaijan.
He worked as a soloist of the Baku Philharmonic and the Opera and Ballet Theatre, toured across the Union and abroad, and remained a favourite of audiences.
Milestones
Born in Tiflis into a musical family.
Mejid Behbudov — a master of Karabakh mugham.
People's Artist of the USSR.
Hero of Socialist Labour.
Datings and biographical details vary across sources; the most common information is given here.