Juliana Jendo
| Juliana Jendo | |
|---|---|
| File:Juliannajendo.jpg | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Juliana Jendo |
| Genres | Assyrian folk, Pop, Folk pop, World music, Dance, Folk dance. |
| Occupations | Singer and actress Teacher (early occupation) |
| Instruments | vocals |
| Years active | 1986–present |
Juliana Jendo (Syriac: ܓܘܠܝܢܐ ܓܢܕܐ) is an Assyrian–American singer. She was born and raised in Tel Tamer, Syria. Along with her family, she emigrated to the USA in 1980 and settled in Chicago, Illinois. Jendo is usually classified as the "Queen of Assyrian Singers" because of her long and successful career throughout all the different Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac communities worldwide.
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[edit] Early life and career
She was born and raised in Tel Tamer, Syria. Juliana recalls that she began singing at the age of 12 when she was in a drama. The Syrians thought she was so talented that they wanted to take her under their care and train her to sing however her father refused and insisted she remain in school and finish her studies.
She graduated from university with a degree in French literature and was a teacher for few years before she emigrated to the US. Along with her family, she emigrated to the USA in 1980 and settled in Chicago, Illinois. In 1987 she released her first album 'Mardita.' After a positive response from the Assyrian community in Chicago she began singing professionally. She followed up with "Khater Aynatoukh" in 1988, the album proved to be very successful and later released "Love & Dance" in 1990.
[edit] Breakthrough
In 1991 Juliana Jendo starred in the first Assyrian film "Wardeh Deesheh" directed by John Homeh, in which she played the lead role of Nineveh/Nina. Her collaboration with John Homeh in the early 1990s managed to put her on top of all the Assyrian singers in such a short singing career. The film was screened internationally throughout the Assyrian communities in Europe, Oceania, Middle East and the Americas.
In the summer of 1993 she produced and sang in "The Flowers of Assyria", a video released in 1994 that contained children's songs aimed at educating the young Assyrians. The video was very successful and Juliana was loved by all the young generation for her work. In her 1993 album "Wardeh Deesheh" Juliana Jendo becomes the first female Assyrian singer to sing in the different dialects; Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, Chaldean Neo-Aramaic and Turoyo.
She released an Arabic album in 1994 and followed it up with her first West-Assyrian dialect tape "Athro Halyo" which proved to be very successful amongst the West Assyrian community in Europe. In her 1998 album "Ashek D'Mathwathan" Jendo starts singing more in the Nineveh plains dialect and the album is received well by the Chaldean community.
[edit] Later life
Juliana later marries however the marriage is not successful and she returns with her 2003 album "Mellatti" which again she sings in Assyrian and Chaldean Neo-Aramaic dialects. Jendo releases her second Western Assyrian album "Elemo Halyo" in 2008 and "Tel Keppeh" in which she mainly sings in Arabic. Jendo currently resides in Royal Oak, Michigan and still is singing for the Assyrians with a recent album titled "Golden Tunes".
[edit] Discography
- 1987 - Mardita
- 1988 - Khater Aynatukh
- 1990 - Love & Dance
- 1991 - The Flowers Of Assyria
- 1993 - Wardeh Deesheh
- 1994 - Qadari (Arabic)
- 1995 - Athro Halyo
- 1998 - Ashek D'Mathwathan
- 2003 - Mellatti
- 2008 - Elemo Halyo
- 2008 - Tel Kepeh (Arabic, Assyrian)
- 2010 - Golden Tunes
[edit] Filmography
- 1988 - Semeleh (Silent short film)
- 1991 - Wardeh Deesheh (Lead role: Nineveh + Nina)
- 1994 - The Flowers of Assyria (8 Video clips)
- 2005 - The Cost of Happiness (Supporting role: Yimma "Mother")
[edit] External links
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