Ashur Bet Sargis
Ashur Bet Sargis ܐܫܘܪ ܒܝܬ ܣܪܓܝܣ | |
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Occupation(s) | Composer, singer, songwriter, political activist |
Years active | 1960s–present |
Ashur Bet Sargis
Early career in Iraq
Ashur Bet Sargis was born in
Music was being redefined out in the rest of the world, and stars like
Elvis, Paul Anka, and of course The Beatleswere shining all over the place. I wanted to be a part of this transformation, and offer its fruition to my people.
Rise to fame
Shortly after the Ba'ath-led revolution of 1968, Sargis fled the unstable political situation in Iraq in 1969, ending up in Chicago, United States. A year later he formed his first band, "East Bird Band", which released its first recording in 1972. He relocated to Los Angeles in 1973 and in 1975 released his first LP Ashur Sargis Sings for Ancient Assyria which contained nationalistic songs like "Roosh Jwanqa" and "Bet Nahren Atrewa", written by Benyamin Mako,[2] as well as several other songs that have since become staples of his catalog and concerts.[1]
In 1976, Sargis became the first Assyrian artist to tour overseas when he and his band played three sold-out shows in Australia. Soon afterward he would travel to Iran, which at that time had the second largest population of Assyrians in the Middle East, and had long been a large producer of Assyrian music on the record labels that flourished in Tehran in the days before the Islamic Revolution. After two weeks of performances there, he returned to Los Angeles to record his third album, Sing Me a Lullaby. He followed it with Dance of Victory in 1984.
Later years
Sargis is known for his staunch support for
Discography
- Studio Albums
- 1972 – Bet Nahren ("Mesopotamia")
- 1975 – Ancient Assyria ( Atour Atiqa)
- 1979 – Sing Me a Lullaby (Tanili Lay Lay)
- 1984 – Dance of Victory (Riqda d'Ghaliboota)
- 1990 – Winter Wind (Pokha d'Sitwa)
- 1992 – The Mighty Assyrians
- 1995 – Mirror of Deception (Nora Aldyana)
- 1996 – From a Distant World (Ana Lewin Min Daha Dunyeh)
- 1998 – Immortal Memories (Zmaryeta d'Khoba Mtomaya)
- 2008 – Dashta D'Nineveh (Nineveh Plains)
- 2016 – Nishmi (My Breath)
- 2020 - Tarpa (Leaf)
- Singles
- 2014 – Hala Leten
- 2020 – Yalikhtoh Smoqta Zardeh
- 2022 – Prookh Rama Ya Nishra (Remix) (Fly High Oh Eagle)
- 2023 – Shiklow
- 2023 – Tawani (My Room)
- 2023 – Ayni Tosh'yeh'le (My Eyes Hid)
- Compilation(s)
- 2003 – Everything So Far (Kol'Mindi Hal Hadyia)
Notes
- ^ Sometimes referred to as Ashur Sargis, without the family name affix "bêṯ".
References
- ^ a b "Ashur Bet Sargis". 28 February 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ "Bet Nahrain by Ashur Bet Sargis". Archived from the original on 12 January 2010.
- ^ الحركة الديمقراطية الآشورية تحتفل بالذكرى الـ 28 لتأسيسها Archived 29 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine, ADM
External links
- Ashur Bet Sargis, entry at Last.fm
- Lyrics from AssyrianLyrics.com
- Music pearls of Beth-Nahrin: an Assyrian/Syriac discography, Abboud Zeitoune
- Ashur Bet-Sargis Finds Solace in Dashta D’Nineveh, Skokie.net
- آشور بت سركيس بين احضان الوطن, Zahrira.net
- تأملات في ألبوم آشور بت سركيس دشتا د نينوى, خابور كوم