Evin Agassi (25 September 1945 – 17 September 2024) was an Assyrian-American singer who had a career that spanned for over 50 years.Evin Agassi
, AssyrianVoice.net Agassi produced over 40 albums during his career, with a majority of them being released in the 1980s and 1990s. Possessing spinto-

tenor A tenor is a type of male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. Composers typically write music for this voice in the range from the second B below m ...

vocals, his work generally consisted of sophisticated

ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and song of Great Britain and Ireland from the Late Middle Ages until the 19th century. They were widely used across Eur ...

love song A love song is a song about love, falling in love, heartbreak after a breakup, and the feelings that these experiences bring. Love songs can be found in a variety of different music genres. They can come in various formats, from sad and emotion ...

s, nationalistic music and folk dance, with musical inspiration from Persian pop and, more recently,

Latin pop Latin pop () is a pop music subgenre that is a fusion of US–style music production with Latin music genres from anywhere in Latin America and Spain. It originates with List of countries where Spanish is an official language, Spanish-speaking ...

genres, where he fused his art with cultural resistance. One of the better-known Assyrian singers, he generally toured Australia, Europe and

West Asia West Asia (also called Western Asia or Southwest Asia) is the westernmost region of Asia. As defined by most academics, UN bodies and other institutions, the subregion consists of Anatolia, the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Mesopotamia, the Armenian ...

. The majority of his songs were written by his brother, Givergiss Agassi, both in

Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...

and Assyrian. His full name has also been spelled as Evan Aghassi.

Career

1960s–early 1970s: Radio work and breakthrough

Agassi was born in

Kermanshah Kermanshah is a city in the Central District (Kermanshah County), Central District of Kermanshah province, Kermanshah province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. The city is from Tehran in the western pa ...

, Iran to an Iranian Assyrian family. Although he began singing in gigs in the late 1950s, he was not yet an established professional singer. In the 1960s, he became involved in the Iranian national radio since his teen years where he recorded a number of records in

. 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. Other than singing, he played the

classical guitar The classical guitar, also known as Spanish guitar, is a member of the guitar family used in classical music and other styles. An acoustic wooden string (music), string instrument with strings made of catgut, gut or nylon, it is a precursor of the ...

and

piano keyboard A musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, sho ...

. One notable Persian song from 1974 entitled ''Shahrzaad'' was loved by many Iranians and Assyrians all over the world. After his breakthrough from that song, Agassi was invited to the United States for some concerts in

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

and

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

in 1976, which became a success. After returning to Iran, he produced songs based upon his pleasant experience in the United States.

Late 1970s–1980s: Political controversies and relocation to the US

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 Internati ...

, forgetting the strong censorship in Iran. These songs, which were about humanity, equality, and freedom, were ultimately collected by the

Iranian government The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran (), known simply as ''Nezam'' (), is the ruling State (polity), state and current political system in Iran, in power since the Iranian Revolution and fall of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979. Its Const ...

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 Political freedom (also known as political autonomy or political agency) is a central concept in history and political thought and one of the most important features of democratic societies.Hannah Arendt, "What is Freedom?", ''Between Past and ...

there. He resided in

Modesto, California Modesto ( ; ) is the county seat and largest city of Stanislaus County, California, United States. With a population of 218,069 according to 2022 United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau estimates, it is the List of cities and towns in Ca ...

Agassi's patriotic music inspired the Assyrians' nationalism in Iraq, where the Assyrians there established the ''

Assyrian Democratic Movement The Assyrian Democratic Movement (, , ADM), popularly known as Zowaa (), is an Assyrian political party situated in Iraq, and one of the main Assyrian parties within the Iraqi parliament. The Assyrian Democratic Movement states its aims are to e ...

'' in 1979. In the 1980s, the

Iraqi government The government of Iraq is defined under the current Constitution, approved in 2005, as a democratic, parliamentary republic with Islam as the official state religion. The government is composed of the executive, legislative, and judicial branche ...

also became 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 in the country and his name was registered on a

blacklist Blacklisting is the action of a group or authority compiling a blacklist of people, countries or other entities to be avoided or distrusted as being deemed unacceptable to those making the list; if people are on a blacklist, then they are considere ...

Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein (28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was an Iraqi politician and revolutionary who served as the fifth president of Iraq from 1979 until Saddam Hussein statue destruction, his overthrow in 2003 during the 2003 invasion of Ira ...

. Those caught listening to or distributing his music faced punishment.

1990s–early 2000s: Precarious visits to the Middle East

In August 1991, Agassi visited

Al-Hasakah Al-Hasakah (; / ; ) is a city in northeastern Syria and the capital of the Al-Hasakah Governorate. With a 2023 estimated population of 422,445, Al-Hasakah is populated by Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians and a smaller number of Armenians and Chechens. A ...

, Syria for the first time to perform for the

Syrian Assyrians Assyrians in Syria (, ), also known as Syriacs/Arameans, are an ethnic and linguistic minority indigenous to Upper Mesopotamia, the north-eastern half of Syria. Syrian-Assyrians are people of Assyrian descent living in Syria, and those in the ...

there. In April 1993, he had his maiden visit to Northern Iraq, where he performed in a festal and ceremonious concert. In the early 2000s, before the

invasion of Iraq An invasion is a military offensive of combatants of one geopolitical entity, usually in large numbers, entering territory controlled by another similar entity, often involving acts of aggression. Generally, invasions have objectives ...

, the Assyrian Democratic Movement invited Agassi to perform at a concert in the

no-fly zone A no-fly zone, also known as a no-flight zone (NFZ), or air exclusion zone (AEZ), is a territory or area established by a military power over which certain aircraft are not permitted to fly. Such zones are usually set up in an enemy power's terri ...

of Iraq. His trip was under the supervision of the allied forces, which prompted the

to create a

power outage A power outage, also called a blackout, a power failure, a power blackout, a power loss, a power cut, or a power out is the complete loss of the electrical power network supply to an end user. There are many causes of power failures in an el ...

in Northern Iraq, and sent assassins for an attempt on his life. The Iraqi government

bribe Bribery is the corrupt solicitation, payment, or acceptance of a private favor (a bribe) in exchange for official action. The purpose of a bribe is to influence the actions of the recipient, a person in charge of an official duty, to act contrar ...

d him into participating in a concert in

Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...

, in which he declined.Evin Agassi
by Moneer Cherie. Published by Qeenatha.com. Retrieved 19 September 2024.

Mid 2000s–2020s: Continued world tours and final years

Agassi had since raised hundreds of thousand of dollars for Assyrian churches and the welfare organizations aiding the Assyrian people. In 2010, he again travelled to

Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...

, and in 2016 he has visited

Iraqi Kurdistan Iraqi Kurdistan or Southern Kurdistan () refers to the Kurds, Kurdish-populated part of northern Iraq. It is considered one of the four parts of Greater Kurdistan in West Asia, which also includes parts of southeastern Turkey (Northern Kurdist ...

, to perform at the concerts and parties there. One of Agassi's last albums, "The Circle Of Life", released in 2012, was one of his most anticipated albums, after a seven-year hiatus.البير أبدل
لقاء مع الفنان الآشوري الكبير إيوان أغاسي
, هلمون نت Up until the 2020s, he had

concerts A concert, often known informally as a gig or show, is a live performance of music in front of an audience. The performance may be carried by a single musician, in which case it is sometimes called a recital, or by a musical ensemble such as an ...

regularly in North America, West Asia, Europe and Australia, and had visited England, Germany, Canada, France, Austria, Netherlands, Russia, Syria, Iran and Northern Iraq. Agassi had produced just over 500 songs by the 2020s. Agassi's last public performance was at an annual

Valentine's Day Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a Christian martyrs, martyr named Saint Valentine, Valentine, and ...

party in Chicago in February 2024, and his last overseas concert was in

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

in August 2023.

Illness and death

On 12 July 2024, Agassi shared the news that he is diagnosed with

glioblastoma Glioblastoma, previously known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is the most aggressive and most common type of cancer that originates in the brain, and has a very poor prognosis for survival. Initial signs and symptoms of glioblastoma are nons ...

in the left

frontal lobe The frontal lobe is the largest of the four major lobes of the brain in mammals, and is located at the front of each cerebral hemisphere (in front of the parietal lobe and the temporal lobe). It is parted from the parietal lobe by a Sulcus (neur ...

of the brain, which was described as an "aggressive inoperable form of brain cancer". He was set to perform in California's

Bay Area The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a region of California surrounding and including San Francisco Bay, and anchored by the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose. The Association of Bay Area Governments ...

later in July before cancelling due to his condition. Agassi was reportedly battling the disease for "several years", before his condition deteriorated in July. Following a comprehensive treatment plan, Agassi's cancer did not respond to radiation and

chemotherapy Chemotherapy (often abbreviated chemo, sometimes CTX and CTx) is the type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs (list of chemotherapeutic agents, chemotherapeutic agents or alkylating agents) in a standard chemotherapy re ...

. On 17 September 2024 at 6:49 pm, Agassi succumbed to his illness and died peacefully at the age of 78, with his family by his side. Agassi's funeral and interment were held at Turlock on 3 October.

Reaction

His death left a significant impact on Assyrian communities worldwide, since his songs were a message for stateless Assyrians to conserve their identity and history. On X, the ''Assyrian American National Federation'' stated Agassi's voice "was not just a sound, but a powerful force that united generations, carried our culture across borders, and kept the spirit of our heritage alive in every corner of the globe". The head of the ''Department of Ethnic and Religious Components at the Kurdistan Region Presidency'', Florin G. Seudin, offered her grief and condolences, where she stated that "we lost one of the greatest artists in the Assyrian nation". In an SBS podcast by Ninos Emmanuel, his death was described as leaving "an emotional void in the hearts of Assyrians across the world." Further adding, "His music was not merely entertainment; it was a lifeline, a call to resilience and survival for his people. Each of his hundreds of songs carried a message of hope, perseverance, and deep connection to

Assyrian identity Assyrian nationalism is a movement of the Assyrian people that advocates for independence or autonomy within the regions they inhabit in northern Iraq, northeastern Syria, northwestern Iran, and southeastern Turkey. Assyrian nationalists claim ...

. Before concluding, "His voice now echoes in the soul of a nation, a beacon that will continue to inspire generations to come." On 22 September, more than 700 people attended the St. Hurmizd Assyrian Church of the East in Greenfield Park, Sydney, for a memorial mass to honor the late singer. Tributes were made by Agassi's dedicated fans, that included local poets, Assyrian singers and Bishop Mar Meelis Zaia.

Discography

Agassi produced over 40 albums in his 50-year career. Here are his albums: * ''Records 1'' (1967) ** ''Records 2'' (1968) ** ''Record 3'' (1969) ** ''Record 4'' (1970) ** ''Record 5'' (1970) * ''Bakheelota'' (Enviousness) (1975) * ''Umta Burbista'' (Dispersed Nation) (1975) * '' Shamiram'' (1980) * '' Haft Sin'' (Persian album) (1981) * ''Dargooshta D Mardoota'' (Cradle of Civilization) (1982) * ''Winter'' (1982) * ''Alola'' (Alleyway) (1982) * ''Sayaada'' (Fisherman) (1983) * ''Cultivators (Khasade)'' (1983) * ''9 Nostalgic Hits 1959'' (1984) * ''7 Btabbakh'' (Seventh Storey) (1984) * ''Khazadee'' (Cultivators) (1984) * '' Habbania'' (1984) * ''Red Zero'' (1985) * ''Tomorrow's Country'' (1985) * ''Strength (Khela)'' (1986) * ''Mometa D-Ata'' (Flag's Promise) (1987) * ''Camp'' (1989) * ''Azaad (Free)'' (1989) * ''Orzeh (Men)'' (1990) * ''Gareh'' (Rooftops) (1992) * ''Sama Khwara'' (Drugs) (1992) * ''Sapar D Garbia'' (Flight To The Western World) (1993) * ''United Nations'' (1994) * ''Yesterday'' (1994) * ''Son of our Times (Bronet Zona)'' (1995) * ''Guardian'' (1995) * ''New Generation'' (1996) * ''Paradise'' (1997) * ''Fisherman'' (1998) * ''Broken Chain'' (1998) * ''Happiness'' (1998) * ''Baghdad'' (2000) * ''Letter to God'' (2000) * ''Memories'' (2005) * ''Happiness II (2006) * ''Circle of Life'' (2012) * ''45 Years of Singing'' (2017) * ''Madinkha'' (Eastern World) (2019) * ''Ghasreh'' (Castles) (2023)

References

Notes

External Links

Evin Agassi makes YouTube appeal to Assyrians
TheAssyrian
Profile at Qeenatha
* as Evin Aghassi {{DEFAULTSORT:Agassi, Evin 1945 births 2024 deaths Assyrian musicians American people of Assyrian descent American people of Iranian-Assyrian descent 20th-century Iranian male singers Syriac-language singers Musicians from Kermanshah Iranian Assyrian people Exiles of the Iranian Revolution in the United States Musicians from Modesto, California Iranian radio people Deaths from brain cancer in California Deaths from glioblastoma