Muslim Magomayev (musician)

Muslim Magomayev
Magomaev on a postage stamp of Azerbaijan
Born	Muslim Mahammad oglu Magomayev (1942-08-17)17 August 1942 Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union
Died	25 October 2008(2008-10-25) (aged 66) Moscow, Russia
Occupation	Singer
Years active	1962-2008
Title	People's Artist of the USSR (1973)
Awards	Istiglal Order Order of Honour Shohrat Order Order of the Red Banner of Labour Order of Friendship of Peoples

Muslim Magomayev (Azerbaijani: Müslüm Məhəmməd oğlu Maqomayev, 17 August 1942 – 25 October 2008), dubbed the "King of Songs" and the "Soviet Sinatra" was a Soviet and Azerbaijani baritone operatic and pop singer of the 1960s and 1970s. He achieved iconic status in Russia and the post-Soviet countries, including his native Azerbaijan, for his vocal talent and charisma.

Muslim Magomayev represented one of the most respected artistic dynasties in Azerbaijan. His grandfather Muslim Magomayev (1885–1937), a friend and contemporary of the prominent Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov, was one of the founders of modern Azerbaijani classical music. Magomayev's father, Mahammad Magomayev, who died two days prior to the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II while serving as a soldier in the Soviet Army, was a gifted scenic designer; and his mother, Aishet Kinzhalova, was an actress, who deserted him with his grandmother when he was less than a year old. Magomayev's father was of mixed origin whose parents moved to Azerbaijan from Chechnya and Georgia respectively, whereas his Adyghean-born mother was of mixed Turkish, Adyghe and Russian descent. However, when asked about his ethnicity, Magomayev considered himself Azerbaijani.