Ilhom Jorayev

Ilhom Jorayev was an Uzbek singer from Asaka, in the Andijan region, who was widely regarded as one of the leading custodians of the Fergana-Tashkent maqom tradition, the classical sung poetry and melodic system that forms the backbone of Uzbek traditional music. He belonged to a family closely tied to that tradition: he was a close nephew of Sherali Jorayev, one of the most celebrated Uzbek singers of the twentieth century, and he was widely described as a representative of a dynasty that had left a lasting mark on Uzbek art.

Over a long career he became known for his distinctive voice and for the way he delivered the ghazal, the classical lyric poem that is central to Uzbek maqom singing. Reports following his death described him as a devotee of art who had created his own school for conveying the pure melodies of the Uzbek traditional singing style and the culture of live performance to audiences. That reputation made him a reference point for younger singers, including his own sons, whom he mentored directly.

Ilhom Jorayev's full name was Ilhom Halimovich Jorayev. He was married to the singer Sanobar Rahmonova, herself a well known artist, and the couple raised two sons, Ixlosbek Jorayev and Islombek Jorayev, who both went on to become singers in their own right under their father's guidance. The family's continued involvement in Uzbek traditional music meant that Jorayev's influence extended beyond his own recordings and performances into a wider household of musicians.

Ilhom Jorayev died on November 10, 2026, at the age of 70. The news was announced by the Uzbek news outlet Zamin.uz, which described his death as a heavy loss for Uzbek national classical singing art. The cause of his death has not been made public at this time. No details about the place of death or the circumstances have yet been released, and this page will be updated as reliable information becomes available.

Tributes following the announcement focused on his contribution to preserving and transmitting the maqom tradition, with commentators noting that his memory, his creative legacy, and his contribution to Uzbek art would remain with his fans. As of this writing, no funeral or memorial details had been made public.