Ebrahim Hamedi (
Persian: ابراهیم حامدی,
romanized: Ebrāhim Hāmedi; born 1949), better known by his stage name Ebi (ابی), is an
Iranian pop singer who first started his career in
Tehran and
Karaj, gaining fame as part of a band, and later as a solo performer. He moved to
Los Angeles in 1977, two years before the
1979 revolution in Iran, and continued his career
in exile. Over 50 years, Ebi has released nearly 200 singles and over 30 albums.
Early life
Ebi's father was from
Arak and his mother was from
Karaj.[1] He is the eldest of six siblings born in
Khorramdareh.[2]
In an interview with
Radio Zamaneh in 2008, Ebi said that his hobby was singing and he sang to people at home, schoolmates and children in his neighborhood. He also said that he has been
reciting the Quran in the school queue since the third year of primary school.[3]
Career
Inspired by
The Beatles, he formed a beat band known as "the Rebels" with
Shahram Shabpareh and
Siavash Ghomayshi in the mid 60's.[4] He was also a part of the "Sunboys" and "
Black Cats" bands, before embarking on a career as a solo singer.[5]
He left Iran to tour the United States in 1977, before the
Islamic Revolution of 1979 and he stayed there after the revolution.[6][7]
In 1990, he released the joint album Noon O Panir O Sabzi with
Dariush.[8] In the same year, he performed a joint concert with Dariush at the
Universal Amphitheater.[9]
The song Khalij-e Hamishegi-ye Fars (
Persian Gulf forever)[a] is one of Ebi's most famous songs, the lyrics of this song is by Adel Hassani and the composer of this song is Mohammad Shams. The name of the album Khalij is because of this song. Ebi stated that this song is one of the few songs that he is proud of himself for performing.[10]
In 1995, Ebi released the album Setarehaye Sorbi with the lyrics of
Iraj Janatie Ataie and the composition of
Siavash Ghomayshi. In the
Manoto's "Behtarinhaye Behtarinha", which showed the top 20 songs of Ebi as chosen by the people, the song Kee Ashkato Pak Mikoneh and Setarehaye Sorbi won the first and second place, respectively, and both of these songs are from this album. Also, the song Ghebleh from this album was ranked 17th.[11]
Among his "politically charged" songs, Hala (1999), written by the Iranian poet
Mina Assadi and produced by
Esfandiar Monfaredzadeh. He called this song his most important political song in an interview in 2013 with the TV channel
Manoto.[citation needed]
In 2009 Ebi again commented on the domestic politics of Iran by singing the song "
Tasmim" (Decision) as a response to the
2009 presidential election.[6]
Ebi collaborated with
Shadmehr Aghili in several songs. He did a joint world tour with Shadmehr called "Royaye Ma" in 2012.[12]
Ebi released the joint song Nostalgia with
Googoosh by Radio Javan in 2014.[13] Ebi and Googoosh started their joint world concert tour called "Nostalgia". The tour started with the Dubai concert.[14][15][16]
He released the album Jan-e Javani (2014). He also started the world tour of this album.[17]
Ebi released his last album called Lalehzaar in 2019. The song Koocheye Nastaran in this album, which is a political song and is about the
Iran–Iraq war, was controversial.[18][19]
He started his new world tour called "The Love Project" in 2022. This tour was postponed due to
COVID-19.[23]
Personal life
Ebi has three daughters from his first wife, Forooze Meghdadi Hamedi. They divorced after 25 years of marriage.[24]
He divides his time between
Marbella, Spain and Los Angeles with his second wife, Mahshid Hamedi Boromand.[25] In the early 2000s, he lived in
Sweden.[7][6] Ebi has a stepson from Mahshid.[7]
Awards
1974: 1st singer in
Turkey festival with the song Shekar.[26]