"My Dad was a man of great presence and influence — a constant protector, the mountain standing firmly behind me,” said Taline Harmandian. The youngest child of pioneering Armenian pop singer Adiss Harmandian remembers her father not only for his role in shaping modern Armenian popular music, but for the way he anchored his family and community. To her, his legacy extends far beyond the stage.
Adiss Harmandian was one of eight children born to Armenian Genocide survivors. His father was
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Adiss was the legend, he was the best singer of his time, which was a very long time. Every Armenian in the world knew and loved his voice, his songs, his music, and the quality of his performance. I grew up with Addis’s songs and I am not from Lebanon, but I am not alone. The entire Armenian world grew up listening to his fantastic voice and great music. I can tell that Addis had a high class and it was reflected in his music, his songs and his performance. He also had that beautiful smile. And with that smile, I can’t imagine Addis being ever mad in his life! Today, I can still listen to any of his songs and have the same joy as I had 40 years ago. Addis may not be with us today, but his voice and his music is well alive amongst us who grew up with his music.
May God bless his soul in Heavens.
Thank you Robert! He definitely was a very classy man on stage and at home. Most of his music catalog has been recently uploaded on music platforms and available for your continued enjoyment.
-Taline
The concluding paragraph from Boghos Shahmelikian’s book, “Dawn of Armenian Pop Music”, I translated, reads as follows:
“Adiss was 20 years old when he burst on the Armenian pop music scene. He had good looks. His overnight rise from obscurity to national fame arguably remains unprecedented in Armenian Diaspora music.
Adiss’ baptismal name is Avedis. His name means someone who brings good tidings. Indeed, he brought good tidings to Armenian culture by popularizing Armenian music. Thanks to his stamina, good looks, drive, likable personality on and off the stage, Adiss remains an undisputed leader of Armenian pop music. His contribution to Armenian culture was formally recognized when Catholicos Aram I bestowed upon him the Order of Saint Mesrob Mashtots in 2005. Adiss Harmandyan, the first Armenian pop music singer is also the first modern Armenian pop music star to be bestowed with the ecclesiastical order.”