Biography

Baba Mahmudoglu (real name - Baba Mahmud oglu Mirzoyev) - khanende, People's Artist of Azerbaijan (1992). Born in the village of Muganli, Kazakh rayon, Azerbaijan SSR, USSR. Graduated from the Azerbaijan Institute of Oil and Chemistry named after M. Azizbekov. He also graduated from the Asaf Zeynalli Music College, studied in the class of Seyid Shushinsky. From 1960 to 1962, he worked at the Schmidt Plant in Baku. From 1962 to 1970, he was a musician at the Azerbaijan Opera and Ballet Theater named after M.F. Akhundov, first as an intern, later a soloist. In the theater, he created the images of Majnun ("Leyli and Majnun"), Ashug Karib ("Ashik-Karib"), Kerem ("Asli and Kerem") and others. He was also a soloist with the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic. Retired since 2005, Mahmudoglu toured Iran, Turkey, Denmark, Bangladesh, India, Algeria, Zambia, and other countries. Baba Mahmudoglu's performances of mughams and songs were distinguished from others by their virtuoso technique and characteristic artistry. The singer also gained fame beyond Azerbaijan's borders as an excellent performer of folk songs and tasnifs. Baba Mahmudoglu possessed a unique voice spanning four octaves. Many ensembles collaborated with the singer, including those of Akhmed Bakikhanov, Baba Salahov, Ehsan Dadashev, Seyid Rustamov, and Abbaskulu Najafov. Mahmudoglu later founded a new ensemble, the "Khazina" Folk Ensemble of the Azerbaijan State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, which now bears his name. In November 2005, he suffered a stroke, after which the singer's condition worsened, and on December 6, 2006, Baba Mahmudoglu passed away in the city of Baku.

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