His older brother Karo was a well-known Iranian poet and wrote the lyrics for Viguen's signature song, "Lala'ee" (Lullaby).

During World War II, the family moved to the northern city of Tabriz where local Azerbaijani nationalists declared the area a separatist republic, with the help of the occupying Soviet forces.

[6] In his mid teens, Viguen moved to Tehran and in 1951 he was hired to perform at the Café Shemiran, an upscale restaurant & bar on the northern outskirts of the capital city.

[4] Some of his most notable songs are "Baroon Barooneh" (It's Raining), "Asb-e Ablagh" (Piebald Horse), "Mahtab" (Moonlight), Lala'ee (Lullaby), "Gol-e Sorkh" (Red Rose), "Ragheeb" (Rival), "Simin-bari", "Awazekhan" (The Singer) and "Del-e Divaneh" (Crazy Heart).

Viguen's cinematic debut came in 1955 when he was discovered by the prominent Armenian-Iranian director Samuel Khachikian for a role in his film "Chaharrah-e Havades" (Crossroads of Incidents).

[11] Viguen died at home on 26 October 2003 from cancer and was buried at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Cemetery in Westlake Village, California.