Adiss Harmandian
Adiss Harmandian (in Western Armenian Ատիս Հարմանտեան) is a Lebanese-Armenian pop singer (born in Beirut, Lebanon, on January 14, 1945) who now resides in Los Angeles, United States. He is a naturalized American citizen.
He is an international pioneer of Armenian pop songs (known as Armenian estradayin music). He has received high awards and medallions from Armenia, Lebanon, USA and France for his work. The Armenian estradayin music movement started with the big Harmandian hits. The first release of estradayin music was "Dzaghigner" which was well received. "Nouné", a world Armenian hit "Karoun Karoun" was his ground breaking song around the globe and a great hit. Also notable in the genre are his songs "Ayl Atcher" and "Aghtamar". Harmandian has released around 30 albums. He has been a renowned songwriter and composer who still travels the world, keeping Armenian pop songs alive for more than four generations throughout the Armenian diaspora.
Awards
Harmandian has been given high religious awards as follows:
- 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 His Holiness 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 His Holiness 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, the then mayor of Paris Jacques Chirac honored the singer with a medal in recognition of his contributions.