Fahriddin Umarov

Fahriddin Umarov (Fahriddin Aslpulat ogli Umarov) was born in Qibray, Tashkent Region. Sources give his birth year as either 1924 or 1926. He learned to play the dutar from his father, the violin from Rahimjon Ikromov, and hofiz singing from Asqar Ubaydullayev and from the brothers Akmalxon and Boboxon Sufixonov.

He studied at the Tashkent Conservatory from 1950 to 1953. During the Second World War he worked on the home front. From 1946 to 1961 he worked at the Uzbek Radio Committee, and from 1961 to 1986 he was a solo singer with the Uzbek State Philharmonic.

His repertoire included the traditional hofiz manner, the classical pieces «Chorgoh» and «Bayot», and works by modern composers, among them «Munojot». His performances are kept in the phonotheque of Uzbek Radio, and more than twenty gramophone records were issued with them.

As a composer he is known for songs of his own: «Ishqingda zor o'ldim», «Naylaram», «Onam derman», «O'zbegim» and «Umr o'tmoqda». Sources credit him with more than 400 songs.

In 1964 he was given the title Honoured Artist of the Uzbek SSR. On 26 August 2002 he was named People's Hafiz of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

By a decree of 24 August 2021 he was posthumously awarded the Order «For Selfless Service». He died on 8 September 2007.