Paul Baghdadlian Passes Away

LOS ANGELES—Legendary Armenian singer Paul Baghdadlian passed away early Tuesday morning at Glendale Adventist Hospital after a long illness.

Born in Aleppo, Syria in 1953, Paul Baghdadlian is considered one of the most popular Armenian singers throughout the world.

Baghdadlian began his career in 1974 in Beirut, and in 1977 moved to Los Angeles. He has written and produced hundreds of hit songs, mainly love ballads that have captivated Armenians across the globe.

Baghdadlian’s Facebook page was inundated with condolences. “You will always be around in our homes and our hearts… you’re irreplaceable!” wrote one fan. “Paul, I grew up listening to your beautiful ballads, new and exciting pop songs and always looked forward to seeing you live…You were a beautiful person and will be missed,” wrote another.

In an interview in Beirut last year, Baghdadlian said that one of his happiest moments was hearing that two Armenians had gotten married after meeting at one of his concerts.

“It is with a clear conscience that I tell you now that I love and worship Armenia, my fatherland, even more than someone who was born and lived there,” he said on another occasion.

Asbarez will have more coverage of the late singer’s career and accomplishments in later editions.