Hayedeh Early life and career
Ma’soumeh Dadehbala, professionally known as Hayedeh (Persian: هایده, romanized: Hâyde), was an Iranian singer renowned for her contralto vocal range. With a career that extended over two decades, she is celebrated as one of the most popular and influential musicians in Iran, distinguished by her exceptional and expansive vocal abilities.
Born on April 10, 1942, in Tehran, Ma’soumeh Dadehbala, also known as Hayedeh, was the elder sister of the renowned singer Mahasti.
Her professional journey commenced in 1968 when she became a singer on the Persian traditional music program “Golhâye Rangârang” (Persian: گلهای رنگارنگ “Colorful Flowers”) on Radio Tehran, directed by Davoud Pirnia.
Hayedeh received formal training in Avaz (Persian vocal music) from the Persian violinist and composer Ali Tajvidi.
Her inaugural hit, “Azadeh” (1968), composed by Ali Tajvidi with lyrics by Rahi Moayeri, marked the beginning of her illustrious career. Premiered on Radio Tehran with the Gol-ha Orchestra, it was followed by another release titled “Raftam” (1968).
During the 1970s, Hayedeh seamlessly incorporated Persian pop music into her classical Persian repertoire. Collaborating with esteemed songwriters like Fereydoun Khoshnoud, Jahanbakhsh Pazouki, Anoushiravan Rohani, and Mohammad Heydari, she produced notable works such as “Bezan Tar,” “Gol-e Sang,” “Nowrouz Aamad,” and “Soghati.”
Hayedeh’s artistic legacy extends to her collaboration with her younger sister Mahasti, with whom she recorded successful duets like “Doa & Delam Mikhad” (I pray and I want).
Hayedeh Cause Of Death
On the afternoon of Saturday, January 20, 1990, Hayedeh passed away due to a heart attack at the age of 47, just one day after her performance at the Casablanca Club in San Francisco, California. Despite experiencing discomfort since the morning, her Los Angeles doctor had reassured her that it was not a serious issue. Hayedeh had a medical history marked by heart problems, diabetes, and hypertension. Additionally, her struggles with alcohol and drug abuse, coupled with her smoking habit, contributed to her declining health leading up to her demise. Her father, two older brothers, and she herself had a history of heart-related issues. Moreover, the singer grappled with depression after being exiled from Iran until her death.
The news of Hayedeh’s passing deeply affected Persians worldwide. On January 24, 1990, she was laid to rest at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. Thousands attended her funeral, including numerous Persian singers and entertainers in exile.
Khosrow Motarjemi, a Persian IT expert in California, recorded a three-and-a-half-hour concert she gave, but for unknown reasons, the video has never been officially released. During the performance, Hayedeh shared with the audience her perspective on life, stating, “Life is like an express train…I am going to the House of God. Who knows what will happen in the future; I may not be alive tomorrow…” She concluded with one of her final songs, “Man Mikham Be Khoune ye Khoda Beram” (I want to go to the House of God). The lyricist of the song, Leila Kasra (Hedieh), who was also Hayedeh’s best friend, had passed away from cancer a few months prior.
Before her death, Hayedeh was in the process of recording an album, planning to finish it after her return from the San Francisco concert. In her last interview, conducted one week before her demise and released posthumously, she expressed weariness of rumors about her life and affirmed her commitment to expanding her artistic endeavors.