John Haig Bilezikjian

John Bilezikjian was America's Oud Virtuoso. A soloist at heart, John was a great admirer of the violinist Jascha Heifetz. Indeed, John's playing—no matter the genre—was marked with emotional intensity and great attention to detail. Growing up with a mother who sang him Armenian lullabies, a father who played violin, and a grandfather who played oud, it is no wonder that John developed an interest in music from an early age. His teachers all agreed that he showed great promise on the violin. When, at age nine, he applied his talents to the oud, it was not long before he began performing at church functions, parties, and nightclubs. As his performance career took off, he was guided by a deep sense of responsibility his parents. John worked relentlessly to keep alive the songs and dances of western Armenia. He paid careful attention to authenticity of sound and movement while also creating his own distinct style. Thanks to his family's extensive collection of 78rpm recordings featuring Armenian, Greek, and Turkish musicians, he also developed a love of the music that grew out of the Ottoman court tradition. He was well-versed in the makam modal system and the improvisational art of taksim. Members of the folk and belly dance communities are indebted to John and his music. Since the 1960s, he was a regular performer at legendary Southern California venues like the Seventh Veil, the Fez, and the Ash Grove. Also, John's research into Sephardic music proved useful to many singers and Hazzans interested in the historical traditions of Spanish Jews. John's expertise extended into western classical and popular music. He was known for his impressive arrangements of pieces by Johan Sebastian Bach, Isaac Albéniz, and Ernesto Lecuona. He performed as soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Los Angeles Mandolin Orchestra, and the Pacific Palisades Symphony, among others. Audiences at John's solo concerts spoke fondly of his adaptations of Beatles tunes, and audiences in Spain demanded encore after encore when John joined Leonard Cohen on an international tour. Additionally, John was Hollywood's first choice when film scores called for an oud: John can be heard on many motion picture soundtracks, including Schindler's List, The French Connection, and Hidalgo. John's own record label Dantz Records hosts an extensive and varied collection of his music. Included are Armenian folk songs and dances, belly dance music, classical music, and the soundtrack to the movie Pomegranate. Surely, John's legacy lives on in these recordings. John was also a gifted teacher. He taught private lessons and composed the Hal Leonard Oud Method book. Students at many Southern California universities, including UCLA, USC, UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, and CSU Northridge, benefited from his guest lectures on Armenian music and oud technique. Special mention must be made of John's wife Helen, who worked lovingly and tirelessly to support his performance career. As singer and dancer, she joined him in many performances and shared his values of artistry, professionalism, and hard work. Together, their love of Armenian music and culture was a true gift to Southern California and beyond. HISTORY Born John Haig Bilezikjian (named after his paternal grandfather, Haig) on Feb. 1, 1948, he was soon followed by his brother Eddie, two years later and his sister Alice Ann, ten years younger. He came from good parents and was not deprived of anything. The name Bilezikjian comes from the Turkish word "bilezik" meaning Bracelet, coupled withe the traditional ending of "ian" or "yan" affixed to all Armenian surnames designating "son of". John's paternal great grandfather, Nazareth Bilezikjian, was patriarch of the most affluent family in the Western village of Marash. His son, Haig Bilezikjian went to "Aintab" and found Nectar Karajian (prettiest girl in the village)". They were married on the docks and because of the marauding Turks they traveled to Bulgaria where John's father Andrew Bilezikjian was born in 1919, and later Albert was born. John's Maternal great-grandfather, Mugherdich Siroonian came from "Kheghe" and he escaped to Bulgaria. The same warning came to them that prompted Alice's father Bedros (Peter) Ohanessian to abandon his village of "Mush". The two families moved to Bulgria, where they lived across the street, met and married. Bedros was a freedom fighter and he was forced to flee to America where the fear of reprisals forced them to change their name to Darer or priest, reflecting the fact the Alice Bilezikjian's family was four generations of priests. Alice Bilezikjian was born in East Saint Lewis , Illinois and raised in Detroit. On a trip to L.A. relatives introduced her to Andrew Bilezikjian and they were married. JOHN'S CHILDHOOD From his earliest childhood, John recalled his mother singing to him the sad love songs and nostalgic lullabies of Armenia and his father playing Violin. He fell in love with the violin, which his father and uncle both played. John was the only child who learned Turkish and Armenian, primarily because doing so enabled him to unlock the meaning of the words he heard on the phonograph. It also allowed him to understand what his parents were saying when he wasn't supposed to hear. He recounts how his father would try to surprise the children by telling Alice, his mother in the Arnenian-Turkish dialect "I'm going to the store to buy some " shirin shey" (sweet thing)." John would overhear and tell his brother and sister "Dad's going to buy some ice cream!" Studying with his father, who was classically trained, he was playing Paganini by the age of ten. However, at nine years old he had discovered the Oud, which his grandfather had stored in the attic. He began to teach himself and gave his first professional oud performance at twelve. As a teenager, John began formal studies of Armenian at Sunday school, and became president of St. Jameser's youth group. He also trained to become a deacon in the Armenian church, assisting the Archbishop in chanting the divine liturgy, position he continued until entering college in 1966. He started his own band "the Hallahs" with his brother and several other friends. He graduated from California State University, Northridge in 1970 with a B.A. in performance (Violin and Oud) and Compositing. In 1969 john met and married Agavni (ah ghav nee) Gaprielian a young Russian-Armenian girl who was in a dance troop. Together they had two sons, John David born in 1970, and George Hrant born in 1972. Their marriage ended in 1976. That same year John was diagnosed with cancer and given approximately six months to live. In 1977 he underwent three separate pertains and came very close to death, an experience that exerted a profound effect on him. During this period, he produced his first long playing album "America's Oud Virtuoso: live at the the Wilshire Eell in 1974. He also met Helen Walton, who had two sons of her own; Morgan and Mason Walton. They became very close. Helen attended Bethany College and received a B. A. in Voice production and performance. She had started an Opera Company in San Juan Capistrano and during a performance of "Cosi Fan Tutti" was asked to direct "King in I" in Dana Point. The dancers in the opening act brought a tape that they used to accompany their dance performance and for five performances a week, Helen was mesmerized by the brilliance of the musician on the tape and promised to go to hear him in person. Upon their introduction that night John introduced himself and said "Why are Opera singers always so beautiful?" and proceeded to kiss her hand. During the early years of their marriage John began branching out, expanding his repertoire exploring American folk music and Rock'n roll, and enlarging his role as a vocalist as well as an instrumentalist. He began composing songs. He became prolific in the music of the Sephardim (Jews banished from Spain) He did commercials, music for the radio, television, motions pictures, and even suites for the Middle eastern folk dance community. His style was Flamenco, and he was given accolades for his use of the single pick (eagles feather) cords. His style became known as "Bilezikjinisms" a fusion of various elements from the Latin to Russian and Arabic. He has forty albums and cd to his credit and he has been soloist with the Boston Pops, the LA Philharmonic under Zubin Meta; toured with Leonard Cohen and accompanied such notable performers as Theodore Bickel, Alberto Mesrahi, Judy Frankel, and many more. He wrote a book through the Hal Leonard Co. on "How to play the Oud". Two of his most prized "Ouds" are in the NY Metro Museum and the MIM (Musical Instrument Museum) in Arizona. John and Helen have concertized together for 35 years and were soon to give a concert on his birthday at the Coffee Garden on the 1st of Feb. His was an entertainer extraordinaire a respected and generous person. He loved his family and wished to see his parents again. He suffered with Kidney failure and the pain was many times more than he could bear, but he continued to play up until the end. There is so much more that could be added, but it will be left to the talents of his Auto biographer Alyssa Mathis. His legacy will go on in his students and the John Bilezikjian Foundation.Through scholarships and donations to the Kidney Foundation he will be remembered. Several good friends joined together to start a foundation in his name—John Bilezikjian Foundation. This is their way of giving back to John for his contributions as a virtuoso musician, faithful friend, and mentor to those who come to him for the invaluable education only he has given. His legacy for the future will be his music, written and recorded. For further information please visit: http://johnbilezikjianfoundation.com/. To listen and remember John's masterful playing visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8uCElSGATU His dedication to his family and friends was immeasurable, and his strength and compassion will forever be instilled in the lives he has touched. He is missed more than you can imagine. He left this world with three awesome grandsons. Anthony, and twins, Julian and Alex. His wife Helen will carry on with the foundation. It would be impossible to name all of the people in his life. Thanks to everyone who wrote and left messages. You, his friends and fans were his reason for living. Thank you again.