Ahmad Zahir (June 14, 1946 - June 14, 1979), was an Afghan singer, songwriter and composer. A celebrity of enduring popularity more than
a quarter century after his death, he is considered an icon of Afghanistan's music industry.
Ahmad was born on June 13, 1946 (Jauza 23, 1325 of the Afghan Calendar) in the province of Laghman, Afghanistan. Born to a royal court
doctor who was also a one-time prime minister, his father-Abdul Zahir-was an influential figure in the Shah era. Due to his nobility of birth,
Ahmad’s profession as a singer later became a point of contention between the singer and his elitist father.
The singer’s interest in music developed early on with his involvements in his high school’s band in the early 1960s. The Amateur Band of
Habibia High School, as they became known, modeled themselves after such Western musical groups as the Beatles. The five-member band garnered
notability with their performances in local concerts. Most of these were on occasions of large celebrations (Nouroz, Eid, Afghan Independence Day, etc.)
and were centered in or around Kabul.
Mail This Page
LIVE RADIO