Eldar Mansurov

Eldar Bayram oglu Mansurov (Eldar Bayram oğlu Mənsurov / Елдар Бәһрам оғлу Мансуров, ; born February 28, 1952) is an Azerbaijani musician, composer and songwriter.

Early life
He is a member of the Mansurov family, which has contributed immeasurably to the advancement of Azerbaijani composers and musical culture in general. His father was renowned musician and tar player Bahram Mansurov.

Mansurov was accepted into the forte-piano division of the musical school in Baku named after Asef Zeynally after completing music school. He was accepted in 1974 to the Jovdat Hajiyev class at the Azerbaijan State Conservatory named for Uzeyir Hajibeyov, where he graduated with honors in 1979.

He played the piano in the renowned band "Experiment OK" in 1969. He also performed with the band "Mashal" at the legendary rock festival "Golden Fall" in 1970.

Education
He worked as a professor for a long time. He first instructed pupils at a conventional music school before moving on to Republican Gymnasium of Culture.

Research
In 1983 and in 1987, he attended in International Symposiums in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. His research about the history of mugham was published in Azerbaijan, France, Germany, and Russia.

TV
Mansurov was a musical editor at Lider TV and BMTI channels. Later on he was promoted to the position of Chef Editor for the main musical shows department at State TV and Radio Committee. He was promoted to Chief Musical Producer while working as a producer of music at the House of Music.

Composer
He is author of "Seven beauties" rock-opera, "Cleopatra" and "Olimp" rock-ballet, 5 symphonies, "Mahur-Hindi" symphonic mugham, several works for instrumental and camera ensembles and pieces for chorus. Moreover, Mansurov composed music for a lot of movies and plays. He owns more than 3000 songs and instrumental music.

Works
"Bayatılar" and "Bahramnameh" is considered as the most famous works by Mansurov.

Bahramnameh was devoted to his father Bahram Mansurov and is for national musical instrument tar, rock group and symphonic orchestra.

"Bayatılar" was released in Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Europe (including Turkey, Greece, Germany, Spain, France), the Arab World and Brazil. The song was performed by Brilliant Dadashova and lyrics was written by Vahid Aziz. It was sampled and interpolated by many performers. "Bayatılar" is the basis of the refrain of the 2009 Eurodance hit "Stereo Love" by Romanian musicians Edward Maya and Vika Jigulina. A copyright dispute over the song resulted in Maya acknowledging that the refrain in his song was actually taken from Mansurov's "Bayatılar".

Another copyright issue was between Mansurov and Katy Garbi for the song "Esena Mono" from the album Emmones Idees (2008). Mansurov sued Dimitris Kontopulos (author) and Sony Music Entertainment Hellas AE (publisher) for stealing his original work in 2011. The Greek court said that the similarity between the 2 songs was more than 50 percent. The entire process was finished in 2023 in favor of Mansurov.

Albums

 * Fairytales of Ichari Shahar (2 CDs)
 * Without You – Sənsizlik (2 CDs) Poet: Piruz Dilenchi
 * Motherland – Vətən Sağ olsun! Poet: Piruz Dilenchi

Singles

 * Bayatılar

Awards
His research on the "History of Mugham Names" earned him third place honors at the Republican Scientific Conference of University Students.

Mansurov got the title of "Honoured Art worker" and "Peoples Artist" in 2005 and 2012 respectively.

In 2022, he was awarded with the Shohrat Order (Order of Glory).