Adiss Harmandian

Adiss Harmandian (in Western Armenian:Ատիս Հարմանտեան) is a Lebanese-Armenian pop singer (born January 14, 1945 in Beirut, Lebanon) who now resides in Los Angeles, United States. He is a naturalized American citizen.

Biography

Harmandian is known for Armenian pop songs (known as Armenian estradayin music). He has released around 30 albums. The Armenian estradayin genre is sung in Armenian, and was influential in forming Armenian identity in Lebanon. Harmandian's first single was "Dzaghigner," which quickly gained popularity among Lebanese Armenians.

His best known songs are "Nouné" (1967) and "Karoun Karoun" (1973). Also known in the estradayin genre are his songs "Ayl Atcher" and "Aghtamar."

Harmandian still travels the world to perform, especially throughout the Armenian diaspora.

Awards

Harmandian has won awards including:

• The Komitas medal by His Holiness Vazgen I, Surpreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin of the Armenian Apostolic Church
• Great House of Cilicia high honour by Karekin II, when he was Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia
• Mesrob Mashdots Medallion (with the degree of Prince) title in 2005 for his 40 years of work by Aram I, Catholicos of the Catholicossate of the Great House of Cilicia

In 2005, he also received a "lifetime achievement award" at the 7th Armenian Music Awards with a certificate from the Los Angeles Council members for lifetime achievement.

At the suggestion of France's Armenian community, mayor of Paris Jacques Chirac honored the singer with a medal in recognition of his contributions.

External links

• Adiss Harmandian MySpace site
• Adiss Harmandian page on armenianmusic.com