Tukezban Ismayilova

Tukezban Ismayilova was born on 21 December 1923 in Baku.[2] In 1939–1944, she studied at the Asaf Zeynalli Music College and began performing as a professional singer.[3] From 1939 to 1946, Ismayilova was a soloist of the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic.[2]

In 1942, she married Mazahir Guliyev, with whom she had a daughter Ilhama, however the couple divorced when their daughter was 5 years old. After divorcing Ismaylova married tar player Habib Bayramov.[4]

During the World War II, Ismayilova gave concerts on the front as part of the propaganda brigade.[2] In 1944, she started her career as a singer at the Radio Committee of Azerbaijan.[1]

In 1946–1949, Ismayilova was a soloist of the choir of the Azerbaijan Radio Broadcasting Committee.[2]

From 1948 to 1956, she was again a soloist of the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic.[3] After the transformation of the concert department of the Philharmonic Society into the organization "Azerbaijan State Stage" in 1956, Ismayilova worked here until 1962.[1]

From 1962 to 1978, she was a soloist of the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Society.[3] In 1978–1993, Ismayilova was a soloist of Azkonsert Tour-Concert Union.[4]

From 1985, Ismayilova started teaching at the State Gymnasium of Art.[5]

In 1993, Ismayilova was awarded the title of the People's Artist of the Republic of Azerbaijan.[1]

Ismayilova's repertoire consisted of works by Azerbaijani composers, folk songs and mughams.[5] Most of Tukezban Ismayilova's recordings are currently kept in the Gold Fund.[4] During her career Ismayilova toured in foreign countries representing Azerbaijan in Germany, Poland, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Algeria, etc.[2]

After the death of her second husband Habib Bayramov in 1994, Ismayilova left the stage and dedicated herself to teaching, working as a teacher at the Art Gymnasium from 1994 to 2004.[4]

In 1998, she was awarded the "Order of Glory" of the Republic of Azerbaijan.[2]

Tukezban Ismayilova died on 24 March 2008 in Baku at the age of 85.[3]

In 2019, a concert dedicated to Ismayilova was organized at the International Mugham Center as part of the "Creators and Survivors" project.[6] A bas-relief of Ismayilova and her husband Habib Bayramov is to be erected in front of their house.[7]

• O, olmasın, bu olsun (1956)
• Havalansın Xanın Səsi (2001)
• Oxuyan Ürəkdir (2003)

• People's Artist of Azerbaijan (1993)
• Shohrat Order (1998)
• Honorary scholarship of the President of Azerbaijan