First Footage from the Funeral Ceremony of Master Nasser Masoudi

Biography of Nasser Masoudi

Nasser Masoudi was born on 25 March 1935 in the Sighalan district of Rasht. In 1949, he moved to Tehran with his family and, for a period, studied under Ali-Akbar Khan Shahnazi. He later returned to Gilan in 1955, where he began his activities in the field of theater. From 1957, with the launch of Radio Gilan, Masoudi joined the station and became one of its earliest singers, performing regularly on its programs. In 1960, he became acquainted with Ahmad Ebadi and Malekeh Zarrabi—an encounter that played a significant role in his artistic path and paved the way for his influential contributions to the “Golha” program.

Artistic Career and Notable Works

Over more than half a century of artistic activity, Nasser Masoudi produced over 500 musical works, including more than 200 orchestral, traditional, and pop pieces, as well as nearly 50 vocal performances for the “Golha” program, appearing in collections such as “Barg-e Sabz,” “Shakhe Gol,” “Golhā-ye Sahraei,” and “Golhā-ye Tāzeh.” Throughout his career, he collaborated with celebrated musicians such as Ahmad Ebadi, Jalil Shahnaz, Asghar Bahari, Farhang Sharif, and Reza Varzandeh. His primary fame, however, stemmed from performing more than 250 Gilaki folk songs, several of which were composed by Masoudi himself.

His collaborations with distinguished composers including Morteza Hannaneh, Mehdi Khaledi, Fereydoun Naseri, and Esfandiar Monfaredzadeh, as well as prominent poets such as Simin Behbahani, Touraj Negahban, and Sheyvan Foomani, are counted among his many artistic honors. In addition, before the Islamic Revolution, he held numerous concerts around the world to introduce Gilaki and Iranian music to international audiences.

Post-Revolution Activities

After the Islamic Revolution, Masoudi entered a new phase of his musical career with his performance of the theme song for the television series “Koochak-e Jangali” in the 1980s. He was also among the first domestic musicians to hold concerts abroad after the Revolution. In the following decades, he reinforced his position in Iranian music with albums such as “Hala Chera,” and through collaborations with artists including Masoud Lahiji and Majid Derakhshani. One of these works was selected as the Best Traditional Album of the Year at the “Musicema” Festival.

His concerts after the Revolution also received significant acclaim. These included his first public performance at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall with the National Orchestra of Iran in the early 2000s, and his first concert in his hometown of Rasht in 2016—held after decades away from the stage.

Enduring Works

Among Masoudi’s pre-Revolution works are songs such as “Banafsh-e Gol,” “Divanaham,” “Allah Ti-Ti,” and “Nafrin Bar Masti.” Following the Revolution, he released well-known albums including “Ghalandar,” “Parchin,” and “Koorashim.”

According to his family, the date and location of his memorial ceremony will be announced soon.