Today is the birthday of People's Artist Mirza Babayev

Today marks the 113th anniversary of the birth of Azerbaijani film actor and singer, People's Artist of the country, and one of the founders of Azerbaijani pop music, Mirza Babayev.

Mirza Babayev was born on July 16, 1913, in Baku into a family of intellectuals.

From 1935 to 1940, he studied at the architectural faculty of the Industrial Institute.

The beginning of the Great Patriotic War changed his entire future life: he went to the front and showed courage in many battles. His great interest in music led him in 1948 to the Azerbaijan State Conservatory, where he studied in the class of the singer Bülbül. After graduating in 1953 and mastering the subtleties of vocal art, the talented singer quickly won the public's affection with his soulful voice, beautiful performance style, deep musical intuition, and high stage culture. For more than 50 years, he was the king of Azerbaijani pop music.

Mirza Babayev's unique style and manner of performance captivated listeners. He did not simply perform a song — he poured his entire soul into it. In the hearts of fans of Mirza Babayev's art, the songs "Butterfly," "Distant Green Island," "Liman," "I Will Weave Flowers into Your Hair," "Zaferan," and "She Didn't Come," performed by the master, live on forever.

Songs created by the outstanding pop performer in collaboration with composers Tofig Guliyev, Emin Sabitoglu, Rauf Hajiyev, and others are precious pearls of our musical treasury. His repertoire also included songs of the peoples of foreign countries.