Evin Agassi

Evin Agassi, also written as Evin Aghassi (Syriac: ܐܝܒܢ ܐܓܣܐ, born September 1945) , is an Assyrian singer who has become one of the most prolific Assyrian singers releasing over 20 albums during his career. His music career spans for 50 years; he was most prominent in the 1980s and 1990s. Agassi is one of the most well-known Assyrian singers, having toured the continents of Oceania, Europe and Asia. The majority of his songs, other than a few, 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, with an emphasis on the vowels.

Agassi was born in Kermanshah, 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, forgetting the strong censorship in Iran. These songs, which were about humanity, equality, and freedom, were ultimately collected by the Iranian government 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 by Saddam Hussein.

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, 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 and also has maintained a home in Sydney, in the suburb of Liverpool. Other than singing, Agassi can play the classical guitar and piano keyboard, where he has used them to create the melodies for his music.

Evin 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)