Evin Agassi, also written as Evin Aghassi (Syriac: ܐܝܒ̣ܢ ܐܓܣܝ, born September 1945), is an
Assyrian-
American singer who has released over 20 albums during his career.
[Evin Agassi]
, AssyrianVoice.net His music career spans for 50 years, but it peaked in the 1980s and 1990s.
One of the better-known Assyrian singers, he had since toured Australia, Europe and Asia. The majority of his songs were and are written by his brother, Givergiss Agassi, both in
Persian and
Assyrian. His first name is generally pronounced ''Evan'' by
Iranian Assyrians and ''Ewan'' by
Iraqi and
Syrian Assyrians
Assyrians in Syria ( syr, ܐܬܘܪܝܐ ܕܣܘܪܝܐ, ar, الآشوريون في سوريا) are an ethnic and linguistic minority that are indigenous to Upper Mesopotamia (known in Syriac as '' Gozarto'') which is the name used for the uplands ...
, with an
emphasis on the vowels.
Biography
Agassi was born in
Kermanshah
Kermanshah ( fa, کرمانشاه, Kermânšâh ), also known as Kermashan (; romanized: Kirmaşan), is the capital of Kermanshah Province, located from Tehran in the western part of Iran. According to the 2016 census, its population is 946,68 ...
, Iran. He became involved in the Iranian national radio since his teen years where he recorded a number of records in
Persian. He worked with many Iranian poets and composers and produced several popular songs, which were broadcast on the radio and TV stations, with several reaching the top ten records at the time.
While in radio, Evin Aghassi also sang
Persian songs, which became hits at the time, one noticeable song dates back to 1974 entitled ''SHAHRZAAD'' which was loved by many Iranians and Assyrians all over the world. In 1976, Agassi was invited to the United States for some concerts in California and Chicago, which became a success. After returning to Iran, he produced songs based upon his pleasant experience in the United States. Courageously, Agassi made a few social
political songs
Revolutionary songs are political songs that advocate or praise revolutions. They are used to boost morale, as well as for political propaganda or agitation. Amongst the most well-known revolutionary songs are "La Marseillaise" and "The Internatio ...
, forgetting the strong
censorship in Iran
Censorship in Iran was ranked among the world's most extreme in 2020. Reporters Without Borders ranked Iran 173 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index, which ranks countries from 1 to 180 based on the level of freedom of the press. ...
. These songs, which were about humanity, equality, and freedom, were ultimately collected by the
Iranian government
The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran ( fa, نظام جمهوری اسلامی ایران, Neẓām-e jomhūrī-e eslāmi-e Irān, known simply as ''Neẓām'' ( fa, نظام, lit=the system) among its supporters) is the ruling state a ...
and banned.
Due to these distressing outcomes and also because of the
Islamic Revolution of Iran, Agassi relocated to the United States in the late 1970s for the social and
political freedom there. Meanwhile, the
Iraqi government was also rather vehement towards his songs, as they emboldened the Assyrians of Iraq, who opted for peace, freedom and human rights. As such, a few of Agassi's songs were banned there and his name was registered on a
blacklist
Blacklisting is the action of a group or authority compiling a blacklist (or black list) of people, countries or other entities to be avoided or distrusted as being deemed unacceptable to those making the list. If someone is on a blacklist, ...
by
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein ( ; ar, صدام حسين, Ṣaddām Ḥusayn; 28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was an Iraqi politician who served as the fifth president of Iraq from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003. A leading member of the revolution ...
.
To this day, he gives concerts regularly in the United States, Europe and Australia. In 2010, he's travelled to
Syria, and in 2016 he has visited
Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Southern Kurdistan ( ku, باشووری کوردستان, Başûrê Kurdistanê) refers to the Kurdish-populated part of northern Iraq. It is considered one of the four parts of "Kurdistan" in Western Asia, which also inc ...
, to perform at the concerts and parties there. His recent album "The Circle Of Life", released in 2012, has been one of his most anticipated albums, after his 7-year hiatus. Agassi currently resides in
Modesto, California.
[البير أبدل]
لقاء مع الفنان الآشوري الكبير إيوان أغاسي
هلمون نت Other than singing, he can play the
classical guitar and
piano keyboard.
Discography
Agassi has made over 20 albums in his 50-year career. In the years between 1960 and 1980 Agassi made singles, not releasing album for 20 years.
[ ] Here are his albums:
* ''Evin Agassi'' (1959)
* ''Shamiram'' (1980)
* ''Alola'' (1982)
* ''Sayaada'' (1983)
* ''Khazadee'' (1984)
* ''Sadra Preqta'' (1985)
* ''Evin'' (1986)
* ''1987'' (1987)
* ''Mometa D' Ata'' (1988)
* ''Evin 1989'' (1989)
* ''Evin 1990'' (1990)
* ''Evin 1992'' (1992)
* ''Evin 1993'' (1993)
* ''Yesterday'' (1994)
* ''Son of our Times (Bronet Zona)'' (1995)
* ''Evin 1996'' (1996)
* ''Paradise'' (1997)
* ''Fisherman'' (1998)
* ''Evin 1999'' (1999)
* ''Letter to God'' (2000)
* ''Memories'' (2005)
* ''Circle of Life'' (2012)
* 45 years (2017)
References
See also
Evin Agassi makes YouTube appeal to Assyrians TheAssyrian
Profile at Qeenatha
{{DEFAULTSORT:Agassi, Evin
Assyrian musicians
20th-century Iranian male singers
Syriac-language singers
Musicians from Kermanshah
Iranian Assyrian people
Living people
Exiles of the Iranian Revolution in the United States
1945 births
Musicians from Modesto, California