Faegheh Atashin, known as Googoosh, was born in 1950 in Tehran, Iran. She lost her mother at a young age and was raised by her father, Saber, who was an entertainer and comedian. Googoosh's father encouraged her to sing in bars and cafes in Tehran, starting at the age of five. She began performing at such a young age that she never received a primary education.
Googoosh's singing career began when she was discovered by Iranian composers for her natural talent. She created a unique style in modern Iranian music and became a pop culture icon among Iranian youth. Her fashion sense was also influential, with her "mini-joupe" dress becoming a trend among young Iranian girls in the late 1960s. Her short haircut in 1975 is still popular among females in Iran.
Despite her success, Googoosh was a victim of underworld organizations that controlled the cabarets and bars in Tehran. One of these organizations, led by Parviz Ghorbani, created a large debt in her name, which she was forced to pay by marrying him in 1973. She has a son, Kambiz, from her first marriage.
Googoosh starred in many popular movies, including "Bita" (1972),"Honeymoon" (1976),"Fellow Traveler" (1975),"American Mamal" (1975),and "Along the Night" (1978). She also appeared in "3 Crazies" (1968) with Garshasb Raoufi and Mohammad Motevaselani. Her acting career ended with the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
Googoosh married Behrouz Vossoughi in 1976, but their marriage lasted only one year. Before their marriage, Vosoughi was engaged to Pouri Baneai, another popular actress, which ended the friendship between Baneai and Googoosh. With the Islamic revolution, Googoosh stopped her 25-year singing and acting career and refused to leave Iran.
After the revolution, Googoosh married Masud Kimiai and chose to reside in an apartment in the north of Tehran. She remained silent for 21 years before announcing a North American tour in 2000, which started in Toronto and included performances in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
