Introduction
Mohammad Heydari (Persian: محمد حیدری; January 1937 – August 23, 2016) was a Persian santur player and songwriter.
Career
He received santur lessons first from Hossein Saba and Abolhassan Saba. He also worked with Abdollah Davami and Haj Agha Mohammad Irani-Mojarrad. In 1955, he played with Fine Arts Administrations Orchestra (conducted by Abolhassan Saba) in Tehran for one year and after that played with another ensemble in the administration that was led by Nosratollah Golpayegani. During this period he performed in Asia, Europe and the United States.
Heydari taught at the Persian National Music Conservatory in Tehran from 1961 until 1978, shortly before the revolution and his departure from Persia. Heydari also was the leader of Navazandegaan Ensemble and performed several programs on Tehran Radio and TV.
After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Mohammad Heydari left the country for Italy and a few years later moved to Los Angeles, where he continued his activities as a soloist and songwriter. Some of his nostalgic songs such as "Zahr-e Jodai" and "Bahar Bahar" (both performed by Hayedeh) became popular in the Persian community. Heydari also has written the melody of other Persian hit songs such as Bia Benevisim and Sobhet Bekheir Azizam.
Death
Mohammad Heydari died from cancer in a hospital in Los Angeles on 23 August 2016, aged 79.