Haj Qorban Soleimani

Haj Qorban Soleimani (Persian: حاج قربان سلیمانی) (April 11, 1920 – January 20, 2008) was an Iranian celebrated dotar player and vocalist.

Soleimani was born in 1920 to Khorasani Turkic parents in Aliabad (علی‌آباد) village in the northern part of Qouchan in northeastern Iran.

[1] By his early twenties he had mastered the traditional Iranian instrument, the dotar, and at the age of 21 he received the coveted 'Bakhshi' title, given to people of musical excellence in Khorasan province.

Soleimani often spoke out about his perceived distinct lack of following in his native country which disappointed him, once saying "Non-Iranian nations especially the French know me better than my fellow countrymen since they have a passion for art and music.

His body was buried in the village the following day on January 21 and his funeral was attended by numerous famous artists and cultural officials in the region.