Paul Baghdadlian (July 10, 1953 – June 28, 2011), often known simply as Paul, was an Armenian singer, songwriter, composer, musician, entertainer, and businessman. He is referred to as the King of Love Songs. His music is loved by many Armenians and particularly by the Armenian diaspora.[1]
Paul Baghdadlian | |
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 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Krikor Baghdadlian |
| Also known as | Paul Baghdadlian |
| Born | July 10, 1953 Aleppo, Syria |
| Died | June 28, 2011 (aged 57) Glendale, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Traditional, pop, patriotic, rebetiko, rabiz |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, record producer, composer, musician, businessman |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1975–2011 |
| Labels | PE-KO Records, Parseghian Records, Verginie Records |
| Website | Paul Baghdadlian on Facebook |
Early life
editPaul, originally named Krikor Baghdadlian, was born on July 10, 1953, in Aleppo, Syria. He was born to Baruyr and Arousiag Baghdadlian. Paul grew up with two brothers and a sister. In 1961 the Baghdadlian family moved to Kuwait. He had great success in singing modern Armenian music after moving to Beirut, Lebanon.[2] In 1965, at the age of 12 his mother died (his father eventually remarried and settled in Pasadena, CA). Struggling to live his daily life, he started performing to make his living.
Career
editDuring the early 1970s, Paul Baghdadlian was known as Paul the Prince and was singing only English songs.[3] After listening to fellow singer of the Armenian diaspora music Harout Pamboukjian, however, Baghadadlian started to sing in Armenian, mostly performing love songs.[3]
Having achieved great success in Beirut and the Middle East in this new phase of his career, he moved to Los Angeles, in 1977 for an international career.[2][4] In Los Angeles he produced hundreds of recordings, mostly ballads,[5] most of which he sang in Armenian, though he sang in a number of other languages, most notably Arabic and English.[6] Many of his songs were recorded and produced by Parseghian Records in Los Angeles.[3]
He often toured the major centers of the Armenian diaspora and Armenia.[4] On November 27, 2010, Paul Baghdadlian performed a concert in Laval, Canada. This concert happened to be his last prior to his death 7 months later.
Death
editBaghdadlian died on June 28, 2011, after a long battle with lung cancer. He died in Glendale Adventist Medical Center, where he was being hospitalized.[5] The cause of death was ruled to be respiratory failure due to the cancer.[7][8]
Discography
editSingles
edit- Mouraz (feat. Sammy Flash) (2016)
- Siretzi Yes Megin (feat. Super Sako) (2016)
- Happy Birthday (feat. Sammy Flash) (2017)
- Happy Birthday (feat. Sako Ghazarossian) (2017)
- Payts Apsos (feat. Joseph Krikorian) (2018)
- Sirelis Veratartsir (feat. DJ Hye FX Harry Ohannessian) (2018)
- El Chem Timana (feat. Sarina Cross) (2018)
- Minchev Yerp (feat. Sammy Flash) (2019)
- Asa Asdvadz (feat. Sammy Flash) (2019)
- Yares Knatz (feat. Sammy Flash) (2020)
- Sirelis Veratartsir (feat. Sammy Flash) (2020)
- Harsntsou (Flashback Remix) (feat. DJ Hye FX Harry Ohannessian) (2020)
- Nerir Indz Yare (feat. Anush Petrosyan) (2020)
- Sirelem Sirelem (Groove Remix) (feat. DJ Hye FX Harry Ohannessian) (2020)
- Sirun Aghchig (feat. DJ Hye FX Harry Ohannessian) (2022)
- DJ Hye FX Ft Paul Baghdadlian - Yerazis Metch (2022)
- DJ Hye FX Ft Paul Baghdadlian - Tjvar Eh (2024)
Studio albums
edit- Ourishin Yes (1978)
- Siroum Yem Kez (1979)
- Mor Sere (1979)
- The Last Tango (1980)
- Sbasoum Yem Kez (1980)
- Mareta (1980)
- Zavgis (1982)
- Sev Acher (1983)
- Miayn Ints Siree (1983)
- Arants Kez (1985)
- Siretzi Yes Megin (1987)
- Happy Birthday (1989)
- Naz Aghchig (1991)
- Sirem (1992)
- Ch’kideyi, Ch’kidem (1993)
- Garodi Harts E (1994)
- Gyanki Dzaghig (1995)
- Tou Im Ashkharn Es (1997)
- Kez Pari Louys (1998)
- Gyankes... (2000)
- Mortsir... (2001)
- Anoushig's (2004)
- Oor’Es (2008)
- Hokis Im (2010)
Posthumous
edit- Hishadagner (2017)
Live albums
edit- Live In Beirut: Sona Chan (1981)
- Live In Australia (1988)
- Live In Damascus (1999)
- Live In Allepo (2000)
- Live In Holland (2009)
Compilation albums
edit- Best Of Paul (1998)
- Dance Party Mix (1998)
- Romantic Flashback (2000)
- The Very Best Of Tangos (2000)
- Golden Mix (2000)
- Paylogh Asdgher (2005)
- Arabic Songs (2015)
As a featured artist
edit- Sirel Em Kez (Compilation album with Harout Pamboukjian & Varoujan Manoukian) (1981)
- Angeghdz Ser (Compilation album with Harout Pamboukjian & Varoujan Manoukian) (1981)
- Payts Tou Chgas (Compilation album with Harout Pamboukjian & Varoujan Manoukian) (1981)
- Tartsel Ourishin (feat. Paul Baghdadlian Jr.) (2002)
- Meghk (feat. Joseph Krikorian) (2002)
- Heranumes (Aram Asatryan 50th anniversary album) (2003)
- Arev Tartsar (Aram Asatryan 50th anniversary album) (2003)
- Srdis Takouhin (feat. Ararat Amadyan) (2007)
References
edit- ^ LastFM: Paul Baghdadlian
- ^ a b Strauss, Rob (2011-07-01). "Paul Baghdadlian, entertainer of Armenian Americans, dies". Southern California Public Radio. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
- ^ a b c Alajaji, Sylvia Angelique (2015-09-07). Music and the Armenian Diaspora: Searching for Home in Exile. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press. pp. 121, 161. ISBN 978-0-253-01776-5.
- ^ a b Shooter, Natalie; Chahoud, Ernesto (April 23, 2021). "The Armenian musicians who established Lebanon's diverse diaspora scene". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
- ^ a b "Paul Baghdadlian Passes Away [Updated]". Asbarez. 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
- ^ Quinones, Sam (2015-12-04). "How Three Pioneering Immigrants Forever Changed the Course—and the Culture—of L.A. Los Angeles Magazine". Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
- ^ "Paul Baghdadlian Passes Away (Updated)". The Armenian Weekly. 2011-06-28. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
- ^ "PerezHilton site: Beloved Armenian Superstar Singer Passes Away". Archived from the original on 2013-11-10. Retrieved 2011-07-14.