The Man Behind Cabaret
Through his venues and management, Ghorbani helped elevate pop music to new heights — bridging traditional Persian melodies with Western sounds. His shows were renowned for their elegance, energy, and innovation, setting a standard for live entertainment in the region. Mahmoud Ghorbani’s marriage to Googoosh in 1967 was a union that fascinated the Iranian public. Together, they became one of the most talked-about couples in the country’s entertainment scene. The relationship also reflected the intersection between art, fame, and business in that period.
They had one son, Kambiz Ghorbani, before their marriage ended in the early 1970s. Despite the personal challenges, Ghorbani remained active in the entertainment business and continued promoting music and live shows until the late 1970s. The 1979 Revolution dramatically changed the country’s cultural landscape. Nightclubs and cabarets were shut down, and many performers, producers, and promoters — including Ghorbani — had to leave. Like many from that generation, he lived part of his later life abroad, where he was occasionally mentioned in connection with music management and concert promotion in the diaspora community.
