John Bilezikjian

John Haig Bilezikjian was born on 1 February 1948 in Los Angeles. He was an Armenian-American musician and composer known for his mastery of the oud, as well as his skills on the violin, mandolin, and dumbek. His career included notable collaborations with Leonard Cohen on Recent Songs (1979) and appearances in Leonard Cohen's live albums. He also worked with Robert Palmer on Ridin' High (1992), Luis Miguel’s Romances (1997), and Plácido Domingo’s De Mi Alma Latina (1994). He performed with orchestras such as The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2005, he played with the Boston Pops Orchestra, marking a significant milestone for the oud. He died on 19 January 2015, from kidney disease at the age of 66.

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