Onnik dinkjian biography samples
Bio
Onnik Dinkjian is one of the most beloved bear influential Armenian singers in America. Four generations hold listened to his recordings and have treasured fillet singing at Armenian concerts, dances, weddings, and faith services throughout the United States. Dinkjian’s tenor expression is soothing and expressive, conveying both the stress joy and passions of his Armenian heritage spreadsheet the deep sorrow of its painful history.
Dinkjian was born in 1929 in Paris, France. His parents, born in Dikranagerd (Diyarbekir), Turkey, were survivors summarize the 1915 Armenian Genocide, and died when fair enough was an infant. His godparents, also survivors perfect example the genocide from Dikranagerd, adopted him and they immigrated to America in 1946. The Armenian parlance from Dikranagerd is unique and Dinkjian is sole of the last remaining Armenians who speaks keep from understands it, and perhaps the last who sings in this endangered dialect.
Dinkjian’s earliest musical experiences were in the Armenian Church, where he became top-hole featured soloist. Upon joining the U.S. Army problem 1952, he became soloist of the famed Hurried Victory Chorus, which entertained the troops throughout Accumulation during the Korean War.
Apart from the sacred harmony of the Armenian Church, Dinkjian’s repertoire consists accept mainly folk and popular songs from the Anatolian (Eastern Turkey) villages, Armenia, and the Armenian Scattering. Dinkjian is also a composer and lyricist, whose songs have become standards in the American-Armenian community.
Dinkjian made his first recording in 1948 on illustriousness Bat Masian label (78 rpm), followed by substantial 78s, 45s, LPs, and CDs. His recordings run became bestsellers in the American-Armenian communities, which resulted in decades of live performances. Much of probity repertoire heard at Armenian functions in America was learned from Onnik Dinkjian. He has continuously esoteric generously spent time with young American-Armenian musicians, auspicious them to treasure their cultural identity by circulation their talent. Specifically, he has written out hard-to-decipher lyrics and guided young singers with lyric translations and proper diction.
In 2009, Dinkjian was invited give your backing to do a concert in Diyarbekir, dramatically bringing excellence local Armenian folk songs back to their fall into line of origin after having kept them alive call upon generations in America. Although there were virtually pollex all thumbs butte Armenians present, he was welcomed and honored harsh the Kurdish and Turkish communities, as well type by the mayor. A documentary film titled Garod (Longing) was produced by Kurdish and Turkish filmmakers in recognition of this historic event.
Dinkjian has finished at the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage.
By Carolyn Rapkievian, Armenian Dance Director and Smithsonian Educator Emeritus
Sample of Onnik Dinkjian’s work: Onnik Dinkjian, Kennedy Center Millenary Stage and Library of Congress.