Sherali Joʻrayev

Sherali Joʻrayev (Russified form Sherali Dzhuraev) (Uzbek: Sherali Joʻrayev / Шерали Жўраев) is an Uzbek singer, songwriter, poet, and actor. He has been an influential figure in Uzbek cultural life for almost four decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1980s and 1990s.

Sherali Joʻrayev
Sherali Joʻrayev / Шерали Жўраев
Born (1947-04-12) 12 April 1947
Asaka, Uzbek SSR
GenresTraditional music
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, poet, scenarist and actor
Years active1976–present

Joʻrayev's lyrics have incorporated a variety of political, social, philosophical, and literary influences. Some of his lyrics have become part of everyday Uzbek vocabulary. While Joʻrayev usually writes both the music and lyrics to his songs, he has also used lines from the poems of Ali-Shir Nava'i, Babur, Jami, and Rumi in his songs.

In 1988, Joʻrayev wrote a book entitled Bola dunyoni tebratar (The Child is the Master of Earth). He wrote the screenplay and played the leading role in the 1989 film Sherali va Oybarchin (Sherali and Oybarchin). He was a member of the Supreme Assembly of Uzbekistan from 1990 to 1995.

From 2002, Uzbek government authorities banned Joʻrayev's appearance on Uzbek television and radio. He fell out of favor with the Uzbek government for his critical remarks about the difficult economic situation in the country. In 2017, one year after the death of Islam Karimov, Joʻrayev was briefly shown on state television.

Joʻrayev has won dozens of awards and nominations, including the title People's Artist of the Uzbek SSR (1987). In 1991, he received the Alisher Navoiy State Prize.

Life

Sherali Joʻrayev was born in 1947 in Asaka, then the Uzbek SSR, USSR. His exact birthday is unknown. He symbolically chose 12 April to be his birthday. Joʻrayev has stated that another reason he chose this date is because he entered inside of Kaaba.

Joʻrayev graduated from the Uzbekistan State Institute of Arts and Culture in 1976. He has 2 sons and 3 daughters. Two of his sons, Shohjahon Joʻrayev and Zohir Shoh Joʻrayev, are became popular singers in Uzbekistan.

Professional career

From 1972 until 1979, Joʻrayev worked at the Shodlik Song and Dance Ensemble. From 1979 to 1986, he worked at the Andijan Province Philharmonic. From 1986 to 1996, he worked at the Uzbek State Philharmonic. Joʻrayev was a member of the Supreme Assembly of Uzbekistan from 1990 to 1995.

Throughout his long career, Joʻrayev has written and recorded hundreds of songs. His most famous songs include "Bahor ayyomi" ("Springtime") (lyrics taken from a Babur poem), "Birinchi muhabbatim" ("My First Love") (lyrics taken from an Abdulla Oripov poem), "Inson qasidasi" ("The Ode to Man") (lyrics taken from an Erkin Vohidov poem), "Karvon" ("Caravan") (lyrics taken from an Usmon Azim poem), "Meni kutgil" ("Wait for Me") (lyrics taken from a Konstantin Simonov poem), "Oshiqlar sardori" ("The Leader of Lovers") (lyrics taken from a Rasul Gamzatov poem), "Oʻzbegim" ("My Uzbek People") (lyrics taken from an Erkin Vohidov poem), "Oʻxshamas" ("Peerless") (lyrics taken from an Ali-Shir Nava'i poem), and many others.

Joʻrayev's lyrics have incorporated a variety of political, social, philosophical, and literary influences. Some of his lyrics have become part of everyday Uzbek vocabulary. He is often invited to other countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Russia. While Joʻrayev usually writes both the music and lyrics to his songs, he has also used lines from the poems of Ali-Shir Nava'i, Babur, Jami, and Rumi in his songs. In 2008, Juraev organized gatherings at his home to celebrate the works of Rumi.[1]

In 1988, Joʻrayev wrote a book entitled Bola dunyoni tebratar (The Child is the Master of Earth).[2] Juraev wrote the screenplay and played the leading role in the 1989 film Sherali va Oybarchin (Sherali and Oybarchin).

Joʻrayev's song Oʻzbegim was featured on the 2005 album Rough Guide to the Music of Central Asia which was released by World Music Network. In honor of Queen Elizabeth II's 78th birthday, British Ambassador Craig Murray welcomed more than a thousand guests to his residence in Tashkent on 23 April 2004. The celebrations featured Joʻrayev, Sevara Nazarkhan, and the Chamber Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Neimer. At the same time the British Embassy arranged a tour of Uzbekistan by Scotland's Battlefield Band, with whom Joʻrayev performed at the residency before a large and influential audience.

Censorship

In 2002 Uzbek government authorities banned Joʻrayev's appearance on Uzbek television and radio stations because of his "alleged political unreliability".[3] He fell out of favor with the Uzbek government for his critical remarks about the difficult economic situation in the country.[4] The singer generally avoids talking about the ban in public.[5] In 2017, one year after the death of Islam Karimov, Joʻrayev was briefly shown on state television.[6]

Filmography

Actor
Year Film Role
1989 Sherali va Oybarchin (Sherali and Oybarchin) Sherali

Screenwriter
Year Film
1989 Sherali va Oybarchin (Sherali and Oybarchin)

Awards

Joʻrayev has won dozens of awards and nominations, including the title People's Artist of the Uzbek SSR (1987).[7] In 1991, he received the Alisher Navoiy State Prize.

References
  1. Ashur, Sadriddin (30 December 2008). "Шерали концерт берди" [Sherali gives a concert]. Ozodlik (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Uzbek Service) (in Uzbek). Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  2. "Ребенок – владыка Земли" [The Child is the Master of Earth]. Biblus Bibliographical Catalogue (in Russian). Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  3. "The art of propaganda". EurasiaNet. 7 October 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  4. "Узбекистан: Народному певцу Шерали Джураеву исполняется шестьдесят лет. Его концерты – под запретом властей" [Uzbekistan: National singer Sherali Joʻrayev is sixty. His concerts — banned by authorities]. Ferghana News (in Russian). 26 April 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  5. Tangiyorova, Mustahkam (25 August 2009). "Шерали Жўраев ўғилларининг ўз йўлини истайди" [Sherali Joʻrayev wants his sons to follow their own paths]. BBC's Uzbek Service (in Uzbek). Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  6. "Sherali Joʻrayev hali kontsert bermaydi" [Sherali Joʻrayev not giving a concert any time soon]. BBC's Uzbek Service (in Uzbek). 24 March 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  7. "Joʻrayev, Sherali". Oʻzbekiston milliy ensiklopediyasi (in Uzbek). Tashkent: Oʻzbekiston milliy ensiklopediyasi. 2005.
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