Hossein Malek

Hossein Malek (Persian: ; 7 July 1925 – 4 November 1999) was an Iranian santur player and composer known for his innovations in Persian classical music and instrument-making.

Early life Hossein Malek was born in Tehran in 1925. His father, Abdollah Malek Goudar, was a woodworker. Influenced by several uncles who were musicians during the Qajar era, he and his brothers—Asadollah and Abdollah—pursued music. Asadollah became a violinist and kamancheh player, Abdollah played tombak, and Hossein focused on the santur.

Malek began studying santur at the age of eight under Habib Samayi, later continuing with Abolhasan Saba and Nour Ali Boroumand. He also studied with other notable musicians, including Shokrollah Gharahmani, Rokneddin Mokhtari, Hossein Yahaghi, Ebrahim Mansouri, and Mehdi Barkeshli.