Zaur Rzayev

Zaur Alihuseyn oglu Rzayev was born on 28 January 1952 in the settlement of Karrar in the Kurdamir district of the Azerbaijan SSR, into the family of the railway worker Alihuseyn Rzayev. As a small child he moved with his family to Hajigabul, where he studied at secondary school No. 5 until the eighth grade.

He then moved to Baku, where he studied first at the Baku Library Technical School and then, following his interest in music, at the Asaf Zeynally Music College. In 1980 he entered the vocal department of the Azerbaijan State Conservatory, now the Baku Music Academy.

As a young singer Rzayev became a soloist with the folk instruments ensemble of the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic named after Muslim Magomayev. In 1976 he began military service at the Baku Officers' House, where he was a soloist from that year and became artistic director of its song and dance ensemble. He later worked as a soloist at the Azerbaijan State Song Theatre and with military music groups.

From 1994 he headed the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, leading it until his death. The Ministry of Culture said he made an important contribution to promoting patriotic spirit through music.

His repertoire took in Azerbaijani folk songs, songs by composers, mugham and tasnifs, and the ministry praised his distinctive style and warm voice, noting that he represented Azerbaijani music both in the country and abroad. He was named Honoured Artist of Azerbaijan on 24 June 1998 and People's Artist of Azerbaijan on 25 June 2003. The Republic of Dagestan named him an Honoured Art Worker in 2000 and a People's Artist on 22 April 2008.

Rzayev's son, Azer Rzayev, is also a singer and holds the title of Honoured Artist of Azerbaijan. Little else about his private life was made public.

After a long illness, Rzayev's health worsened sharply and on 14 October 2026 he was admitted in serious condition to the Central Oil Workers' Hospital in Baku, where he was treated in the anaesthesiology, intensive care and resuscitation department. The state medical authority TABIB said that despite the doctors' efforts his life could not be saved, and that his death was recorded at 18:30 on 29 October 2026. He was 74.

His son Azer Rzayev confirmed the death to the news agencies Trend and APA. The Ministry of Culture announced it, describing his passing as a heavy loss for Azerbaijani culture, and offered condolences to his family. Relatives told Axsam.az that the farewell ceremony would be held at his home with those close to him, and that he would be buried at the Qurd Qapisi cemetery in Baku.

Rzayev is remembered as one of the best known voices of Azerbaijani military and patriotic music, having led the Armed Forces Song and Dance Ensemble for more than thirty years, and as a performer of folk song and mugham whose career began in the 1970s and was recognised with the country's highest artistic title.