Harout Pamboukjian

Harout Pamboukjian (Armenian: Հարութ Փամբուկչյան; Western Armenian: Յարութ Փամպուքճեան), (born in 1950 in Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union), known as Dzakh Harut (Ձախ Հարութ Left Harout), is an Armenian American pop singer living in Los Angeles. He wrote a song called Zokanch about an old Soviet era warship. His Armenian dance, folk, and revolutionary and romantic songs make him a favorite among Armenians worldwide.[1]

Harout Pamboukjian
Հարութ Փամբուկչյան
Harout Pamboukjian in Aleppo, 2007, during Armenian Christmas concert
Background information
Born1950
Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union
GenresPop, folk, patriotic
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1970–present
Websiteharoutpamboukjian.com

Early life

In his early teens, he took lessons in many musical instruments including the guitar, the bouzouki and saz (stringed instruments), the dhol (drums) and the piano, later forming a band called Erebouni. His interest in music was initially influenced by his mother, a singer. Erebouni went from village to village playing everything from Charles Aznavour to Deep Purple and Elvis, at weddings and universities. Due to restrictions under the Soviet Union, Harout and most of his family left Soviet Armenia in 1975. After a year in Lebanon, he went to Los Angeles and took up residence in Hollywood. He has one son, who was born in 1980.

Music career

Only two months after his arrival in L.A. Harout put together a studio band and recorded his first album, "Our Eyir Astvats" (Where Were You, God?), in reference to the Armenian Genocide at the Quad Teck studio.

That first album barely resembles the sound he has since become known for. Instead of the duduk or synths, there are clarinet, organ and a lot of bass. Only a few of the songs on the first are dance-oriented, differing from the material that later made him popular at weddings. This made him popular and branded him the nickname "The Armenian Wedding Singer".

Harout Pamboukjian with Ruben Hakhverdyan in Yerevan, 2012

Harout has interpreted songs composed by artists such as Ruben Hakhverdyan, Robert Amirkhanyan and Arthur Meschian. But it's the centuries-old folk tunes about protecting the soil and fighting in the highlands—"Antranik Pasha," "Sassouni Orore," "Msho Aghchig"—that appeal to his fans' nationalistic pride. He's most fond of Rouben Hakhverdian, including the 1996 almost all-acoustic "Yerke Nayev Aghotk Eh" (Songs Are Also Prayers). Harout has also covered favorites like "Nuné".

A year after the 1988 Armenian earthquake, which killed 25,000 people and left many more homeless, hundreds of thousands of fans looking for some kind of temporary diversion from the devastation, packed the Hrazdan stadium and Karen Demirchyan Complex to hear 28 concerts by Harout.

In 2008, Harout appeared as children's music singer Bread Harrity on the sketch comedy show Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, performing a song about spaghetti and meatballs.

Pamboukjian has released over 20 albums. Some of his famous interpretations include "Asmar Aghchig" (Dark Skinned Girl), "Zokanch" (Mother-in-law), "Msho Aghchig" (Girl from Mush), "Msho Dashter" (Fields of Mush), "Hye Kacher" (Armenian Heroes), "50 Daree" (50 Years) and "Hey Jan Ghapama"

Discography

Studio Albums:

  • 1976 Oour Eyir Ahstvats
  • 1977 Ballad Hayrenyatz
  • 1978 Aravoditz Irigoun
  • 1979 Harout
  • 1980 Minchev Ekouts
  • 1980 In Memory Of Those Who Gave Their Lives
  • 1981 Kedi Ayn Apin
  • 1982 Yerp Alegodz Dzovu Vra
  • 1982 Top’82
  • 1983 Heratsadz Engerner
  • 1984 Vol 12
  • 1986 Hayi Achker
  • 1988 Hay Baliknerin
  • 1989 Knas Parov
  • 1991 Yeregoyan Yerevan
  • 1993 Pari Daretarts
  • 1994 Jambanere Bingyoli feat. Rouzan Pamboukjian
  • 1996 Yerke Nayev Aghotk E feat. Ruben Hakhverdian
  • 1997 The Golden Album
  • 2000 Haroutn Hayots
  • 2013 My Life

Live Albums:

  • 1980 Live In Beirut
  • 1987 Live In Concert
  • 1988 Live In Los Angeles
  • 1997 Live In Concert
  • 2001 Live In California
  • 2017 Live In Dolby Theatre
  • 2018 Live In France

Compilation Albums:

  • 1998 25 Dance Hits
  • 1999 Hit Romances:50 Daris
  • 1999 Romantic Flashback
  • 2000 Patriotic Collection
  • 2000 Love Songs
  • 2000 Dance Party Mix
  • 2003 Toukh Achker
  • 2005 Paylogh Asdgher

Singles And Ep:

  • 1981 Marali Bes
  • 1981 Sari Jampov
  • 1981 Ser Jan
  • 1981 Toukh Acher
  • 1981 Im Arajin Ser
  • 1997 Mer Hayrenik
  • 2006 Menag Es Mnatsel feat. Silvi
  • 2012 Sareri Kami feat. Rouben Hakhverdyan
  • 2014 Tariner feat. Sirusho
  • 2014 Ancir Ay Getak feat. Armenchik
  • 2016 Angakh Hayastan feat. Tigran Asatryan & Sammy Flash
  • 2016 Te Acheres feat. Super Sako
  • 2017 Zoqanch feat. Dj Donz
  • 2017 Te Achers Kez Voronem
  • 2017 Karmir Tsaghik Me Garuni feat. Anna Boyrazyan
  • 2018 Tebi Sassoun feat. Karnig Sarkissian
  • 2018 Ha Nina Nina feat. Sammy Flash
  • 2018 Es Arantz Kez
  • 2018 Yerp Siroum Es Indz
  • 2019 Karmir Tsaghik feat. Anna Boyrazyan
  • 2019 Tsovn E Sharachum

References
  1. "Armenians celebrate own Mardi Gras". The Dallas News. February 25, 1998.
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