Shahram Azar (; born 24 July 1957), better known by his stage name Sandy (), is a singer, composer, arranger, and keyboard player. Before the Iranian Revolution, he collaborated with notable singers such as Betty, Shahrokh and Nooshafarin. After the revolution, he worked closely with Ebi, arranging several songs and performing in concerts. Azar served as one of the four judges and main producers on the first two seasons of the talent show Stage, aired on Manoto TV.
Early life Shahram Azar was born in 1957 in Abadan, Iran. Azar began singing in elementary school and later developed an interest in playing musical instruments during high school. He won several national competitions and, after the Iranian Revolution, faced challenges due to the banning of music. In 1984, he immigrated to Germany. There, he continued his music career and founded the band Sandy in 1987. A few years later, he moved to the United States. Azar is married and has four children, including his son Khashayar, who is also a member of Sandy. Sandy In 1987, Shahram Azar, along with Behzad Pishro, Reza Zamini, and Ahmad Abdollahi, formed the band Sandy in Frankfurt, Germany. The group's music blends pop lyrics with techno and Bandari influences. Sandy was one of the first bands to address social issues faced by Iranian youth, such as marriage, addiction, and immigration. They also recorded Persian rap songs including "Boro Baba" and "Pari." Azar's contributions to Sandy include singing, music composition, arranging songs, producing, and writing lyrics.
Band members Shahram Khosroshahi Azar: Lead singer, composer, arranger, producer, and lyricist.
Khashayar Khosroshahi Azar: Shahram's son, who started playing the keyboard at age five and officially joined Sandy in 2002.
Behzad Pishro: Began his music career in Abadan and collaborated with various artists before co-founding Sandy. He is a drummer and music producer.
Sam Sohrabi: Migrated to Sweden during the Iran-Iraq war and later joined Sandy, contributing as a percussionist.
Musical influence and style Shahram Azar is known for his fusion of Western and Southern Iranian music. He has helped to introduce rap to Iranian music and addresses social issues through his lyrics. His song "Talagh" combines Bandari style with modern synthesizers, reflecting the cultural rhythms of Southern Iran.
Discography Studio albums 1990: Begoo Doostam Dari 1992: Tou Vasam Tak Hasti 1994: Dokhtar Haji Almas 1995: Ding Dang 1996: Cobra 1998: Top Singer (Khanandeh Top) 2000: Raghse Javona 2004: Tagh 2006: Sabok Sangin 2014: Station 7 2021: Album 22
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