Aref’s first introduction to music came in part from his Azeri mother listening to Radio Baku as a child. Radio Baku played Azeri and Western music as well as European operas in that time. In the 1960s, Aref was among the first who introduced Western melodies with romantic lyrics to Iran. After the Islamic revolution Aref left Iran and went to London and Los Angeles. He has one son and three daughters .
