Tohir Sodiqov

Tohir Sodiqov

Tohir Sodiqov performing in the Millennium Theater in New York
Background information
Born July 1, 1973
Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, USSR
Genres Pop rock, experimental rock
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, composer, and actor
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 1989–present
Labels Tarona, Kelajak
Associated acts Bolalar

Tohir Sodiqov (sometimes spelled Tokhir Sodikov in English) (Uzbek: Tohir Sodiqov, Тоҳир Содиқов; Russian: Тахир Садыков) (born July 1, 1973) is an Uzbek singer, songwriter, composer, and actor. He is best known as the long-time lead singer, guitarist, songwriter, and composer of the Uzbek rock band Bolalar. Sodiqov has also established a successful solo career. He has recorded songs in Uzbek, Russian, and English.

Sodiqov has received dozens of awards and nominations, including the title Meritorious Artist of Uzbekistan. He is one of the few Central Asian artists to have given concerts in the US and to have released albums on iTunes.

Personal life
"Bolalar"
Sample of the 1998 remix of "Bolalar." The song became an immediate hit in Uzbekistan upon its release in 1989.
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Tohir Sodiqov was born in Tashkent on July 1, 1973. His father, Sodiqov Bahromjon Sobirovich, was a retired officer and died when Sodiqov was a child. His mother, Sodiqova Gulnur Mansurovna, raised him as a single parent. Sodiqov attended Secondary School No. 41 in Tashkent from 1980 to 1990. He is married has three children, two daughters and a son.

Music career

Tohir Sodiqov with his student and friend Renat Sobirov in 2014

Tohir Sodiqov had no formal music training. He started to play music when he was in high-school. Sodiqov and his friends Ruslan Sharipov, Bahodir Poʻlatov, and Javohir Zokirov, all of whom went to High School No. 41 in Tashkent, founded the band Bolalar in 1989.

Bolalar

Main article: Bolalar

Bolalar originally consisted of Bahodir Poʻlatov, Husan Sodiqov (Tohir Sodiqov's brother), Javohir Zokirov, Nargiza Zokirova, Ruslan Sharipov, Tofik Marduxaev, Toir Odilov, and Tohir Sodiqov. The band became widely popular in Uzbekistan with their song "Bolalar" in 1989.[1]
"Unutganim Yo'q"
Sample of "Unutganim yoʻq." Expressive guitar accompaniments are a distinguishing feature of Bolalar songs.
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Bolalar recorded their first album, Esingdami sening? (Do You Remember?), in January 1990. Initially, the group's artistic director and composer was Ruslan Sharipov. Over the years all of the original members left the band one after another. Currently, Tohir Sodiqov and Tofik Marduxaev are the only remaining original members.

Tohir Sodiqov usually writes both the music and lyrics to his songs.[1] His music has been associated mostly with pop rock and experimental rock. The members of Bolalar were influenced by the Uzbek rock and roll singer Davron Gʻoipov and the then-popular Russian band Laskoviy Mai. Bolalar and Laskoviy Mai have often been called "the legends of the 1990s."[2] Tohir Sodiqov and Yuri Shatunov, the lead singer of Laskoviy Mai, performed together in Tashkent in 2009.

Acting
"Boʻldi Xato"
Sample of "Boʻldi xato." "Boʻldi xato" was included in Bolalar's compilation album The Very Best of the Fontana Years.
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Tohir Sodiqov has played main roles in two Uzbek films, namely Tohir va Zuhra: Yangi talqin (Tohir and Zuhra: A New Interpretation) and Koʻzlaring maʼyus (Your Eyes are Sad).

Awards

Tohir Sodiqov has won dozens of awards and nominations, including the title Meritorious Artist of Uzbekistan.[3][4] He has also received Nihol and Tarona awards.[5] He is one of the few Central Asian artists to have given concerts in the US and to have released albums on iTunes.[6][7][8]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Bolalar still remain popular". RFE/RLs Uzbek Service (in Uzbek). 26 February 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  2. ↑ Turdaliyeva, Muhayyo. "Takhir Sadikov and Yuri Shatunov: About the songs of the '90s". Ziyo Net (in Russian). Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  3. ↑ "Tohir Sodiqov proves he's the best!". Darakchi (in Uzbek). 10 March 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  4. ↑ "BBC's Guest: The "most special" celebrity Tohir Sodiqov". BBC's Uzbek Service (in Uzbek). 8 March 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Popular since the 1980s". Darakchi (in Uzbek). Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  6. ↑ "Bolalar's concert in New York". Uzbek TV New York. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  7. ↑ Zokirov, Dilshod. "A special report on the 20th anniversary of Bolalar". Shov-Shuv (in Uzbek). Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  8. ↑ "The Very Best of the Fontana Years by Bolalar". iTunes. 22 January 2007. Retrieved 29 November 2011.

External links

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